UXBRIDGE, Ont. — Golf Ontario is pleased to announce this year’s Class of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Terrill Samuel, Dave Bunker and Warren Crosbie, will become the newest members of the Hall at the official induction ceremony on May 2, 2018 at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge. In addition, Wayne Redshaw will be receiving the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award, presented annually to accredited members of the Ontario media for “major contributions to golf.” In addition there will be a first for the Hall of Fame this year, a group of individuals will be recognized representing the early history of golf in Ontario.

Terrill Samuel

Toronto resident Terrill Samuel, 57, enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Amateur Golfer category. Samuel has captured many titles both provincially and nationally throughout her career. Provincially she has won the Ontario Women’s Amateur twice, Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur three times and the Ontario Senior Women’s. In addition, she has claimed the Ontario Women’s Match Play and Mixed 4-ball championships. On the national level, she has won the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, the Canadian Women’s Mid Master, and the Canadian Women’s Senior twice. She also finished second in the 2004 C.P.G.A. Ladies Open.

Samuel also represented Canada on the international stage multiple times. Highlights include winning the Mellsop Stroke Play at the 1990 New Zealand Ladies Golf Championship and defeating Annika Sorenstam in a match play event in the 1992 Ladies British Open Amateur Championship.

Samuel has been a member of Weston Golf and Country Club since 1983.

Dave Bunker

Entering the Hall in the Amateur Golfer category is Woodbridge’s Dave Bunker. Bunker, 53, has amassed an almost immeasurable amount of championships and accolades. Just some highlights of his career include capturing 15 provincial titles including three Ontario Mid-Master titles, countless course Championships and 8 Canadian titles including The Canadian Mid-Master and Mid-Amateur for three straight seasons.

Bunker has also achieved international success playing in the U.S. Senior Open twice, the Canadian Open twice and has been a part of Team Ontario playing international events around the world.

In 2010, Bunker was named Fairways Magazine’s Amateur Player of the Year and 2010 GJAC Canadian Male Amateur Player of the Year.

He has also topped the Ontario Mid-Amateur ranking an incredible eight times. Bunker also holds the club record at six different courses. He is a member of Brampton Golf Club and is a middle school teacher.

Warren Crosbie

Niagara-on-the-Lake resident Warren Crosbie is well known as one of Canada’s most respected golf developers and maintains significant involvement in the associations guiding his profession. He enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Builder category.

Crosbie has been a Golf Professional for 44 years including 32 years at Bayview Golf and Country Club. One of the remarkable aspects of Warren’s career is the number of golf professionals who he’s trained and mentored. Further Warren supports the junior program at Bayview and continues to teach young aspiring golf professionals.

His credentials include PGA of Canada President present 2006-08, Member of Professional Golfers’ Association since 1976 including honorary status in 2008, Honorary Director of PGA of America 2006-08, and board member of Golf Management Institute of Canada 2010-present (current chair). Crosbie is also currently the chair for the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame.

Wayne Redshaw – Lorne Rubenstein Media Award

Wayne Redshaw is a veteran sports writer and sports editor whose career began as a sports beat writer in 1962. His history in sports writing includes an extensive background including covering the Buffalo Sabres. Redshaw has covered the team since its inception in 1970, on many game nights doing triple duty by filing separate stories to the Canadian Press and the Associated Press.

Besides covering 30 Canadian Opens on the golf scene, he also covered the World Series in 1968 and again in 1992-93, when the Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back titles, as well as Grey Cup games played in Hamilton and Toronto.

Redshaw left the newspaper world in 1995 but not the industry. FORE! Golfers Only was launched a year later and for the next eight years he wrote stories that his late wife Dianne proof read, compiled columns of stats and sold ads for what at the time was Canada’s only weekly golf publication. As boss of DWR Sports Publications Redshaw would deliver as many as 20,000 magazines to golf courses and Avondale stores across the Niagara peninsula.

Redshaw is also a member of the Sabres Hall of Fame and life member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

BOGOTA, Colombia – West Virginia native Christian Brand began the 2017 Web.com Tour Season with conditional status, trying to make the most of each sponsor exemption he received. Brand was able to record four top-25 finishes but the performance wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in the Web.com Tour Finals. Come December, the 29-year-old found himself back at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament. This time, however, Brand’s play was enough to earn him a T23 finish and guarantee him starts at the beginning of the 2018 season.

The job security that came with his December finish is allowing Brand to play more stress-free golf, and it’s showing, as the Marshall University alum opened play at the Club Colombia Championship with a 5-under 66 to take a share of the lead alongside international players Rhein Gibson, Augusto Nunez and Albin Choi.

Brand, who began play on the back nine at Country Club de Bogota, opened with four-straight pars before carding a birdie on the par-4 14th. He went on to pick up five more birdies and a lone bogey during his opening round. As for what was clicking Thursday, Brand gives all the credit to his short game.

“The putter [was key],” Brand commented. “I putted well today. I kept it in play, which you have to do around here. We just kind of hit our numbers. With the greens being so firm, you have to land it on specific numbers and get the correct bounces, and we did that today, so that was good.”

Tied with Brand atop the leaderboard is Australian Rhein Gibson, who is looking to pick up his fourth-consecutive top-25 finish. The 32-year-old hit 17 of 18 greens during the opening round, allowing him to pick up seven birdies along the way. Gibson opened 2018 with a T3 finish at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay and went on to pick up a solo-third place the following week at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club and a T17 finish at last week’s Panama Championship. The start of the season is a relief for the Oklahoma Christian University alum, who currently sits at No. 5 on the money list.

“It has taken a lot of pressure off,” Gibson said of the start. “Last year was a bit of a struggle as I only just kept my Tour card, but to know I’ve pretty much solidified my spot in the Web.com Tour Finals this year – it just means I can make a good run at the top 25 (on the Regular Season money list).”

Argentinian Augusto Nunez joins the group atop the leaderboard as the highest-ranked Latin American player entering Friday. Nunez, who picked up his first professional win two years ago at the Flor de Cana Open presented by The Mortgage Store, currently holds the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica 72-hole record, earning his inaugural win after shooting a 25-under 259 for the week. Nunez made 20 starts on the Web.com Tour in 2017, picking up two top-10 finishes and ending the Regular Season at No. 39 on the money list.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Albin Choi rounds out the top of the leaderboard, claiming a piece of the first-round lead for the first time in his Tour career. The 25-year-old carded a bogey-free back nine to finish the day with a 5-under 66. Like the other tournament leaders, Choi knew coming into the week that the tight fairways and firm greens would prove to be a challenge for the field.

“The course really firmed up,” Choi remarked, “So I really took some conservative clubs off of the tee and it really paid off. Just being in the fairways and trying to hit as many greens as possible. You can really get in some trouble out here when you start missing greens, so I just stuck to the game plan and it worked out great.”

ETOBICOKE, Ont. – The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and The Toro Company are pleased to announce Mr. T-Jay Creamer from the Victoria Golf Course in Victoria, British Columbia, as the first CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year Award winner for 2017.

The new CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year award recognizes the specific achievements of a golf course assistant superintendent whose performance and contributions to the success of the facility go beyond those that would normally be expected. The award is to be presented to an individual who has contributed to his or her golf facility in a significant way and who has demonstrated professionalism, leadership, innovation and a team approach in their work.

T-Jay has been a CGSA member since 2016 and has been with the Victoria Golf Club (VGC) for over 12 seasons, the last 6 years as the Assistant Superintendent of Links. Paul Robertson nominated T-Jay for this inaugural award and said, “T-Jay has become our greatest asset embodying all the characteristics of a great assistant and ultimately the ideal superintendent. He has the depth, diversity, dedication and the dynamic management skills necessary to be a star in our industry. The ultimate goal of an assistant is to become a golf course superintendent. When I think of the perfect golf course superintendent, I think of T-Jay Creamer”.

“I first had the pleasure of getting to know T-Jay Creamer when he was a member of the 2017 CGSA Conference Planning Committee which helped organize the first ever ‘Assistants Night’ during the 2017 conference in Victoria that was a huge success. So, it gave me great pleasure to be the one who called him to inform him that he is the first winner of this prestigious award!”

– Jim Flett, AGS, CGSA President

As the CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year winner, T-Jay will receive an “All-Access” registration to THE CANADIAN 2018 Golf Course Management Conference in Quebec City, Quebec from February 26 – March 1, 2018, 4 nights’ accommodation and transportation costs. Toro will provide a $500 CAD VISA gift card for meals and incidental expenses during the conference. T-Jay is also invited to attend the Toro Experience for Assistant Superintendents, an exclusive event hosted at The Toro Company Headquarters in Bloomington MN in August of each year, including round-trip airfare and accommodations during the event.

“Toro is proud to honour outstanding Assistant Superintendents, like T-Jay, who represent the next generation of industry leaders. As part of our cultural legacy of giving back, we strive to provide opportunities for personal growth and career development for the people who have chosen a career in the golf industry. T-Jay will benefit from the experience and education while at The Canadian, and also join 30 Assistant Superintendent peers for networking and education during the upcoming Toro Experience for Assistant Superintendents.”

– Tony Ferguson, Sr. Golf Marketing and Business Development Manager, The Toro Company

T-Jay will be presented with the CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year award during the CGSA Awards Ceremony in Quebec on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 CJGA National Order of Merit, presented by TaylorMade. The CJGA National Order of Merit, presented by TaylorMade is a ranking system that awards points based on a player’s position at each CJGA event. Events are tiered based on the size and strength of the field.

Additionally, the CJGA would like to congratulate Sarah Gallagher of Burlington, Ontario this year’s recipient of the Helena Harbridge Award.The award is named after Helena Harbridge, an outstanding junior golfer and CJGA alum that passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University.

“I am honored to have been named this year’s recipient of the Helena Harbridge Award. This past year I have worked very hard on my game with my coach Bradlee Ryall” said Gallagher. “I was very pleased with my seasons results and enjoyed playing in many CJGA events. One of the highlights of my season was being chosen to play for Team East in the DeLaet Cup held in Saskatoon” Gallagher added. “Helena was an amazing young golfer, an exceptional student, and a role model for all junior golfers. It is great that the CJGA helps her legacy continue through this award. I would like to thank my parents, grandparents, and coach for all their help and support.”

Winners of the Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award receive a gorgeous custom trophy courtesy of Lorry Moffatt at Classic Awards as well as a complimentary life time membership to the CJGA.

2006 – Lauren Bowerman-Ritchie (Ontario)
2007 – Juanita Rico (Alberta)
2008 – Jocelyn Alford (Alberta)
2009 – Thea Hedemann (Saskatchewan)
2010 – Shannon Lee Greenshields (Quebec)
2011 – Marlies Klekner-Alt (Ontario)
2012 – Molly Molyneaux (Prince Edward Island)
2013 – Genevieve Stelmacovich (Ontario)
2014 – Bria Jansen (Alberta)
2015 – Michelle Kim (British Columbia)
2016 – Emily Romancew (Quebec)
2017 – Sarah Gallagher (Ontario)

“We are excited to announce the 2017 award winners and recognize them for their achievement” said Reegan Price, CJGA Director of Tour Operations. “Our Helena Harbridge Award embodies the characteristics of Helena in sportsmanship, dedication, and contribution to the game. The CJGA National Order of Merit adds depth to our competitions and allows juniors to challenge their abilities and strive for success.”

CJGA JUNIOR TOUR

Bantam Boys U15
The winner of the Bantam Boys (U15) division Peter Blazevic from Mississauga, ON played a full season with the CJGA with wins at the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA, the Larry Ungerman Cup, the DeLaet Cup Team East Qualifier and CJGA Junior at Heron Point.

Bantam Girls U15
Sarah Gallagher from Burlington, ON finished the season on top of the Order of Merit with wins at the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA, the Larry Ungerman Cup & the CJGA Mizuno National Junior Golf Championship.

Junior Boys U19
Romi Dilawri from Ottawa, ON worked his way up on the Order of Merit with a pair of runner up finishes at the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA and the Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy Series. Romi also won one of the David Hearn Junior Series, presented by KIA events.

Junior Girls U19
Tiana Cruz from Richmond Hill, ON finished atop the Junior Girls Order of Merit with wins at the Golfweek Canadian Junior Invitational, the Larry Ungerman Cup, the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA and the CJGA Mizuno National Junior Golf Championship.

CJGA LINKSTER TOUR

Novice Boys U9
Eddie Gu from Aurora, ON claims the Novice Boys Order of Merit title with first place finishes at the following events CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Rattlesnake, CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Wyndance & the CJGA Linkster Mid-Season Championship.

Novice Girls U9
Tierra Elchuk from Kelowna, BC has won the Novice Girls Order of Merit with wins at the CJGA BC Linkster Fall Series at Pitt Meadows, IMG Academy Junior World Championships Qualifier & CJGA BC Linkster Series at Greenacres.

Atom Boys U11
Jager Pain from Toronto, ON closes out the 2017 season on top of the Atom Boys Order of Merit. Jager had first place finishes at the US Kids Golf World Golf Championship Qualifier, the CJGA Linkster Mid-Season Championship & the CJGA Linkster Tour National Championship.

Atom Girls U11
Alexa Oullet from Toronto, ON finished in 1st place in the following events to move her to the top of the Aton Girls Order of Merit. CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Turnberry, CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Rattlesnake, CJGA Ontario Linkster Fall Series at Rolling Hills, US Kids Golf World Championship Qualifier & the CJGA Linkster Tour National Championship.

Peewee Boys U13
Jordan Hwang from Richmond Hill, ON wins the Peewee Boys Order of Merit with wins at the FCG Callaway World Championship Qualifier & CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Rolling Hills.

Peewee Girls U13
Mia Wong has won the Peewee Girls Order of Merit, winning the CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Conestoga, CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Bathurst Glen & CJGA Ontario Linkster Fall Series at Rolling Hills.

Bantam Boys U15
Ryan Nelson from Pickering, ON has won the Linksters Bantam Boys Order of Merit after first place finishes at the CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Winchester & CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Rolling Hills.

Bantam Girls U15
Roycee Southerland from Unionville, ON finishes atop the Linkster Bantam Girls Order after finishing atop the field at the following events: The US Kids Golf World Golf Championship Qualifier, CJGA Ontario Linksters at Maples of Ballantree & CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Country Club.

Helena Harbridge Award
The Helena Harbridge Award is an award dedicated to the memory of Helena Harbridge, a CJGA alumna, who passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University. The award exemplifies the traits that Helena exhibited throughout her career, both on and off the course: sportsmanship, dedication, and contribution to the game of golf. Each year, the Canadian Junior Golf Association selects one female junior member for this award. The award recipient will be one that holds the same characteristics that Helena exemplified. The recipient of the award will also receive a lifetime membership with the CJGA.

CALGARY, Alta. (Alberta Golf) – Alberta Golf is proud to announce our High Performance Squad for 2018. These players have not only shown an excellent ability to play and compete in the sport of golf, but they are also high quality individuals who proudly represent Alberta Golf nationally and internationally. The High Performance Squad is Tier 4 of our overall High Performance Athlete Development Strategy.

These players all met or exceeded a number of criteria to be invited on to this squad, which included being ranked in the Top 2500 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and being highly ranked on the Golf Canada Order of Merit, among numerous other benchmarks.

2018 High Performance Squad

Matt Williams, Calgary (2017 Mens Amateur Player of the Year)
Ethan Choi, Pincher Creek (2017 Junior Boys Player of the Year)
Brendan MacDougall, Calgary
Emmett Oh, Calgary
Max Sekulic, Rycroft
Patrick Murphy, Calgary
Andrew Harrison, Camrose
AJ Armstrong, St. Albert
Jack Wood, Banff
Jaxon Lynn, Sylvan Lake
Jaclyn Lee, Calgary (Team Canada & 2017 Ladies Amateur Player of the Year)
Kehler Koss, Calgary (2017 Junior Girls Player of the Year)
Sabrine Garrison, Calgary
Kat Kennedy, Okotoks
Kenna Hughes, Calgary
Devon Spriddle, Lethbridge
Cassidy Laidlaw, Calgary

Alberta Golf is also proud to announce our Team Alberta Boys for 2018. This talented group of players are all under 19 years of age and are striving to take their game to the next level. Under the supervision of Provincial Head Coach Randy Robb, these players meet regularly throughout the year to work on becoming the best, well-rounded athlete they can be. Given that most of these players have their sights set on post-secondary opportunities in golf, their competitive track record made them eligible for the team, once they applied for the program. The Team Alberta program is Tier 3 of our overall High Performance Strategy.

The Team Alberta Provincial program is the marquee component of Alberta Golf’s Player Support Program. 2018 marks the program’s tenth year with a proven track record of success enjoyed by athletes currently on the post-secondary circuit. Virtually all of the High Performance Squad athletes are graduates of the Team Alberta program.

2018 Team Alberta Boys

Carter Graf, Sylvan Lake
Ben Farrington, Fort McMurray
Kai Iguchi, Banff
Ethan De Graaf, Edmonton
Ty Steinbring, Barrhead
Brady McKinlay, Lacombe
Jordan Bean, Canmore

The Regional Development program introduces coaching on a regional basis to individuals registered for selected camps which are offered four times throughout the season. Players in the Regional Development program are invited to participate in provincial team challenges and competitions organized by regional coaches. All players who have qualified for an interprovincial team at any time in their playing career are invited to participate in the Regional Player Development program. This program is ideal for individuals looking for additional coaching without the time commitment of Team Alberta, or those who are over the age of 19.

“Bifurcation” is a word we’re hearing more and more in the world of golf. It means to divide into two parts. But don’t let that simple definition fool you. It’s an increasingly controversial concept that strikes at the heart of the game as we know it.

The first area of the current bifurcation debate relates to the Rules of Golf. Should there be one set of guidelines for recreational golfers and another for elite amateurs and professionals?

The second bone of contention, which has set off near panic among many of my colleagues in the golf media and some golf administrators, is this: Are golf courses too short? Do we need to stretch them to 8,000 yards? Do we need to rein in the ever-advancing ball and club technology?

No. And no.

Wally Uihlein, the recently retired CEO of Acushnet Co., makers of Titleist clubs and balls, is the standard bearer for the unification movement.

Back in 2013, he addressed the idea of two sets of Rules in a blog wherein he refutes the three arguments most popular among bifurcation advocates:

Today’s professional game does not mirror today’s amateur game; Golf participation has matured and the adoption of different sets of rules will allow the game to renew its participation growth; Golfers just want to have fun—They do not play by the rules and the formalization of multiple sets of rules is just sanctioning what is already reality.

In summary, his response was that amateurs enjoy trying to emulate their professional heroes, no matter what the disparity in ability; participation fluctuations in the game is a demographic issue, not a rules issue and, “if golfers don’t play by the one set of rules that exist today, why are two sets of rules required?”

On the second prong of the bifurcation tempest—the impact of technology—Uihlein spoke out last November, this time in response to comments that technology is making the game more expensive for everyone by requiring courses to be longer and longer to withstand the onslaught on par. In a letter published in the Wall Street Journal , he asked, “Is there any evidence to support this canard … the trickle-down cost argument? Where is the evidence to support the argument that golf course operating costs nationwide are being escalated due to advances in equipment technology?”

While there is no denying that Tour pros are hitting it farther every year, albeit incrementally, this has not caused a crisis among recreational golfers. Who among us has ever complained, “Dammit! I’m hitting the ball too far these days!”

Having said that, that specious argument spiked when Dustin Johnson hit a 433-yard drive to within inches of the cup on a par-4 in Hawaii a couple of weeks back. (Even though Johnson averages 333 yards per measured drive, it should be noted that there was a 30-mile-an-hour tailwind on the downhill hole with a firm, fast fairway.)

But even the world’s No.1-ranked player downplayed this perceived crisis. “It’s not like we’re dominating golf courses,” he said. “I don’t really understand what all the debate is about because it doesn’t matter how far it goes, it’s about getting it into the hole.”

While technology is important, many other factors such as fitness and course conditions impact how far top players are hitting it. Despite that reality, some at golf’s highest levels think a standardized reduced-distance ball should be required for all PGA TOUR events, arguing that some classic courses have been made “obsolete” by today’s longer players. While this would indeed protect the artificial concept of “par,” it would diminish greatly the entertainment value of professional golf. Who didn’t get a thrill out of DJ’s 433-yard poke?

Adam Helmer is Golf Canada’s Director of Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. His view is that bifurcation “is not the answer at this point in time; golf must continue to evaluate trends and to evolve with advances in our sport.” For example, he points out that as of Jan. 1, 2019, sweeping changes will be made to the Rules of Golf. As well, distance-measuring devices are legal for even the highest echelon of amateur golf and are not allowed on most of the professional tours. And tournament committees are allowed to set specific Conditions of Competition and make local rules to make the competition fair.

Fewer than 0.1 per cent of the estimated 61 million golfers around the world are professionals. That they are the catalyst for this bifurcation brouhaha is, in my opinion, a classic case of a very small tail wagging a very big dog.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming changes to the Rules of golf.

PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Canadian trio of Roger Sloan, Ryan Yip and Adam Svensson all finished inside the top 10 on Sunday at Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship.

Sloan, a Merritt, B.C. product, paced the Canadians with a final-round 66 to climb into sole possession of 4th place at 4 under par for the tournament. The finish marks his first top-10 finish early into the 2018 season (he collected four in 2017).

Yip, also of Calgary, finished the event at 3 under par. A final-round 72 (+2) pushed the 33-year-old down two spots into a share of 5th. After three events this season, Yip sits at No. 11 on the money list.

Team Canada graduate Adam Svensson maintained his hot play of late with four steady rounds (71-71-67-69) to finish tied for 7th. With the finish, the Surrey, B.C. native maintains his No. 2 standing on the money list—heavily influenced by his January victory at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic.

The trio gave chase to American Scott Langley, who collected his first Web.com Tour victory on the strength of a come-from-behind 65 on Sunday, closing at 7 under. Langley’s come-from-behind victory is the largest in tournament history, surpassing Miguel Angel Carballo’s five-stroke record from 2007. He also became the first player in tournament history to record an over-par score in the opening round and go on to win the tournament.

All three Canadians will be in action later this week at the Club Colombia Championship in Bogota, Colombia.

Click here for full scoring

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Gary Woodland was surprised to see infant son Jaxson with wife Gabby late Sunday afternoon at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

“My wife kind of surprised me with him,” Woodland said. “I didn’t think he was going to be there. I thought it would just be her. For her to bring him out, that was special and something I’ll never forget.”

Jaxson was born prematurely in June after a twin girl was lost in a miscarriage. On Sunday at TPC Scottsdale, he was in his father’s arms at the trophy celebration after a playoff victory.

“For him to be here, it’s obviously a miracle,” Woodland said. “I’m just so excited to share this with him and my family. Hopefully, it’s the start of something special.”

Woodland beat Chez Reavie with a par on the first extra hole.

Playing three groups ahead of Reavie, Woodland birdied three of the last four holes for a 7-under 64 – the best round of the day – to finish at 18-under 266. He opened with rounds of 67, 68 and 67 after getting some advice from instructor Butch Harmon.

“Butch sent me a text Thursday morning before I played and said, ‘Forget about everything else, let’s just put four rounds together. Don’t worry about what you shoot, don’t worry about winning, just put four good rounds together,”’ Woodland said. “I don’t know if that put me at ease or what, but I definitely put four good rounds together this week.”

Reavie, who got his lone victory at the 2008 RBC Canadian Open, made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to force the PGA Tour’s fourth straight playoff and the event’s third overtime finish in a row.

“It’s right up there with the putt I made to win in Canada,” the 36-year-old former Arizona State player said. “It was a lot of fun. Fortunately, I walked up and I really got a good read off it right away.”

In the playoff on 18, Woodland hit short of the green from the left fairway bunker and chipped to 2 feet to set up his third PGA Tour victory and first since 2013.

“It’s been coming. We knew it the last month,” Woodland said. “And sure enough today it all clicked and I made some putts early, gave me some confidence and really hit the ball well coming down the stretch.”

Reavie missed the green left in the playoff and couldn’t get an 11-footer to fall.

“I carried the sign board here growing up when I was in high school and junior high and to have a chance to win the tournament this week was a lot of fun,” Reavie said.

The crowd was estimated at 64,273 for a record weeklong total of 719,179. On Saturday, 216,818 jammed the grounds, the biggest turnout in golf history.

“They were great,” Reavie said. “Being a hometown guy, everyone’s rooting me on.”

He finished with a 66. After a bogey on the par-3 16th, he chipped to 3 feet for birdie on the par-4 17th.

Woodland two-putted for birdie on the par-5 15th, curled in an 8-footer on the par-3 16th, made a 5-footer on the par-4 17th and parred the par-4 18th.

“I was in the zone,” Woodland said. “I really had it going.”

Woodland birdied three of the first five, holed a 30-foot chip to save par on the par-4 sixth and added birdies on Nos. 8 and 9. He bogeyed the par-4 11th after hitting left into the desert, and got the stroke back with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 13th. He bogeyed the par-4 14th before making the late run.

Woodland also won in 2011 at Innisbrook and in 2013 in Nevada. He played college basketball at Washburn in Topeka, Kansas, as a freshman before transferring to Kansas to play golf.

Ollie Schniederjans (65) and Brendan Steele (67) tied for third at 15 under.

Adam Hadwin (71) of Abbotsford, B.C., was the low Canadian at 4 under. Ben Silverman (72) of Thornhill, Ont., was 3 under and Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor (69) was 2 under.

Phil Mickelson had the fans roaring with three straight birdies, the second a 30-footer on 16. But, needing an eagle on 18 to tie Woodland, he drove left into the church pew bunker that Woodland hit into in the playoff and made double bogey. The 47-year-old Hall of Famer tied for fifth at 14 under after a 69.

“I just didn’t get it going early,” Mickelson said. “It was fun to be in contention. I had a great time coming down the stretch. I didn’t like, obviously, the last hole. … I hate finishing like that.”

He made his record-tying 29th start in the event he won in 1996, 2005 and 2013.

Chesson Hadley (68), Matt Kuchar (67) and Bryson DeChambeau (70) matched Mickelson at 14 under.

Third-round leader Rickie Fowler (73) and second-ranked Jon Rahm (72) were six strokes back at 12 under. They played in the final group with Reavie.

“Just couldn’t buy a putt,” Fowler said. “That’s one of the best clubs in my bag. I felt like I hit a lot of good putts, so it was a little disappointing to not see really anything go in on the back nine.”

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Rickie Fowler birdied the last three holes to take the lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, overcoming a sluggish start in front of the largest crowd in golf history.

Justin Thomas went the other way, wasting a brilliant opening run with another late meltdown.

Fowler shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday to reach 14-under 199 with a round left at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, the fan-friendly layout packed with an estimated 216,818 fans on an 80-degree afternoon.

“I really made some good swings coming in,” Fowler said. “I just wasn’t getting the ball close enough and finally on the last few there I was able to get some good looks.”

The fourth-ranked Thomas, the PGA Tour player of the year after winning five times last season, birdied the first six holes to take the lead. But instead of making a run at his second sub-60 round in a little over a year, Thomas had to fight for an even-par 71 that left him eight shots back. He dropped six strokes in a three-hole stretch, making a bogey on the par-4 14th, a triple bogey on the par-5 15th and a double bogey on the rowdy par-3 16th. On Thursday in the first round, he had a double bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17.

Thomas left the course without speaking to the media.

Former Arizona State players Jon Rahm and Chez Reavie were a stroke back along with Bryson DeChambeau. Phil Mickelson was two shots behind, another former Sun Devils star riding the crowd support.

“It means a lot to me,” Mickelson said. “It’s very helpful and very important to my success. I think it’s been a big instrument in allowing me to get into the round and play and have fun and get out of the technical side.”

The crowd pushed the week total to 654,906, just short of the record of 655,434 set last year.

Fowler is trying to finally win in the desert. He finished a shot behind Hunter Mahan in 2010, lost to Hideki Matsuyama on the fourth extra hole in 2016, and tied for fourth last year.

“It’s just a matter of time,” Fowler said. “It would just be nice if it was sooner rather than later.”

The four-time tour winner began his birdie run with a 17-footer on 16 and connected from 9 feet on the par-4 17th and 18th holes. He also birdied 13 after playing the first 12 in even par with a birdie and a bogey.

“I just kind of had to fight through it,” Fowler said. “The swing was just a fraction off. It wasn’t bad, still made some good swings out there, but just had to try and get the ball in the short grass, get some looks and try not to make many mistakes.”

Rahm had a 65, playing alongside Mickelson and Schauffele for the third straight day. The 23-year-old Spaniard had five birdies in a seven-hole stretch on the back nine. He won two weeks ago in the California desert at La Quinta to jump to No. 2 in the world.

“I hit the ball really well off the tee, gave myself a lot of opportunities,” Rahm said. “But the main key today was my iron play. My game was a lot more accurate than the first few days and thanks to that I had a couple better birdie chances and a couple more went in.”

Reavie birdied the final two holes for a 67.

“To win tournaments out here is great, but to win one that you grew up going to would be very special,” Reavie said. “For me, this is a fifth major.”

DeChambeau shot 68. He lost the lead with a bogey on 17 after driving into the water.

“Tempo and rhythm,” DeChambeau said. “If I can control that and control my golf swing like I have been the past three days I think that I’ll be fine.”

Mickelson birdied the final two holes for a 66. He’s making his record-tying 29th start in the event he won in 1996, 2005 and 2013.

“If you look at it, it looks like a very simple, solid bogey-free round, 5 under,” Mickelson said. “It was anything but that. I made some really nice up-and-downs to keep the round going and when I did hit some good tee shots and hit some good shots into the fairway I was able to get aggressive and make some birdies.”

Xander Schauffele and Daniel Berger also were 12 under. Schauffele shot 66, and Berger had a 68.

Ben Silverman (70) of Thornhill, Ont., and Adam Hadwin (74) of Abbotsford, B.C., were the low Canadians at 4 under. Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor (73) is even.

“I’m getting the full experience playing with Phil and Jon,” Schauffele said. “Especially when all of us are playing well.”

Fowler is wearing a pin on his hat with a picture of Griffin Connell, the area boy he befriended at the event who died last week at age 7. Griffin was born with a rare airway disorder.

“We actually had a ball go a little left on 11 today and we joked about it that Griffin took one in the chest and kept it out for us,” Fowler said.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Rickie Fowler took a share of the lead into the weekend in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He knows from experience the party is just getting started.

“Just keep the gas pedal down,” Fowler said.

Fowler has had a lot of success at TPC Scottsdale without winning. He finished a shot behind Hunter Mahan in 2010, lost to Hideki Matsuyama on the fourth extra hole in 2016, and tied for fourth last year.

“From the first couple times I played it, I knew it was just kind of a matter of time before I would win here,” Fowler said. “I know I can win here. I put myself in position plenty of times.”

Fowler was tied with Bryson DeChambeau, with each shooting his second straight 5-under 66.

The festive tournament drew an estimated Friday-record crowd of 191,400 fans, bringing the week total to 439,088. The third-round mark of 204,906 set last year is expected to be shattered Saturday, and the week record of 655,434 from a year ago could fall with a day to spare.

DeChambeau birdied the final two holes, hitting a wedge to 8 inches on the par-4 18th late on another 80-degree afternoon.

“I missed a few short putts on the back nine, so definitely didn’t play my best,” DeChambeau said.

He won the John Deere Classic last year. In 2015, the former SMU star became the fifth player to win the NCAA individual title and U.S. Amateur in the same year.

Daniel Berger and former Arizona State player Chez Reavie were a stroke back.

Berger had a bogey-free 65.

“This is the fourth time I’ve been here, so I’ve kind of figured it out a little bit,” Berger said. “Mostly, it’s just about just enjoying yourself.”

Reavie eagled the 17th in a 65. He’s the only player without a bogey after two rounds.

“This is my home tournament, growing up here my whole life and coming to the tournament and carrying the sign board,” Reavie said. “So this is like the fifth major for me.”

Adam Hadwin (65)of Abbotsford, B.C., was the low Canadian in a tie for eighth at 7 under. Ben Silverman (68) of Thornhill, Ont., was in a group tied for 37th at 3 under and Nick Taylor (71), from Abbotsford, was tied for 50th at 2 under. Mac Hughes of Dundas, Ont., missed the cut.

The best shots and highlights from Round 2 @WMPhoenixOpen. pic.twitter.com/SpfjeklwKD

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 3, 2018

Fowler birdied four of the first six holes. He bogeyed his old nemesis, the 317-yard 17th, after driving short of the green to the left and chipping across and off the green.

“Funky little chip where we were in a good position to make birdie,” Fowler said.

Two years ago, he blew a two-stroke lead on 17 in regulation when he drove through the green and into the water, then handed the playoff to Matsuyama when he hit into the water again.

Fowler is wearing a pin on his hat with a picture of Griffin Connell, the area boy he befriended at the event who died last week at age 7. Connell was born with a rare airway disorder.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence he’s playing so well this week, either,” said Griffin’s father, Jim Connell. “Griffin, he’s not here with us, but we know he’s watching from above.”

Scott Stallings (65), Chesson Hadley (68) and Chris Kirk (68) were 8 under, and Phil Mickelson (65) and fellow former Arizona State player Jon Rahm (68) topped the group at 7 under.

The 47-year-old Hall of Famer is making his record-tying 29th start in the event he won in 1996, 2005 and 2013. He birdied the last three holes – getting the stadium-enclosed No. 16 for the second straight day – and four of the final six.

“There’s no question that I play better down the stretch with people here,” Mickelson said. “I can feel their energy and it helps me focus.”

Justin Thomas and first-round leader Bill Haas were 6 under.

The fourth-ranked Thomas had his second 68. He was bogey-free after dropping three strokes late Thursday with a double bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17.

“I was pretty upset and mad about that last night because I really let a good chance get away to shoot, I felt like, 7 or 8 under,” Thomas said. “But stretches like that are going to happen over the course of four days.”

Haas followed his opening 64 with a 72. He made a double bogey on the par-5 third.

The tournament lost some star power when Jordan Spieth missed the cut and two-time defending champion Matsuyama withdrew because of a left wrist injury.

Spieth shot 72-70, playing alongside Thomas. The third-ranked Spieth last failed to advance to weekend play in May, when he missed consecutive cuts in The Players Championship and the AT&T Byron Nelson. Matsuyama’s injury ended his bid to match Arnold Palmer’s event record of three straight victories.

Robert Garrigus had the shot of the day, a drive on the 17th that hit the flagstick and stopped inches away. He’s 2 under after a 69. Andrew Magee aced the hole in 2001, the only hole-in-one on a par 4 in PGA TOUR history.