Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada, caught up with journalist Ian Hutchinson of Golf News Now in a phone interview on Wednesday to discuss the successes of 2017 and what’s ahead for Golf Canada in 2018 and beyond.

Listen to the clip here.

Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) has extended its relationship with Adam Hadwin, a standout member of the Callaway Golf Tour Staff. A product of Abbotsford, B.C., Hadwin currently resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Playing Callaway Epic woods, Apex irons, Mack Daddy wedges, an Odyssey putter and a Chrome Soft ball, Hadwin enjoyed a breakout year on the PGA Tour in 2017, winning the Valspar Championship, carding a 59 in the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge, finishing 19th on the Official Money List and qualifying for the Presidents Cup’s International team for the first time.  He competed in the Masters, Open Championship and PGA Championship for the first time, and the U.S. Open for the third time.

While terms of the partnership were not released, Hadwin will continue to play a full bag of Callaway equipment.

“This was an easy decision,” said Hadwin. “Callaway equipment helped me take my game to the next level, and the Callaway Tour Team gives me the best support I’ve ever had.”

“Great player, great guy,” said Tim Reed, Callaway SVP, Global Sports Marketing. “We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with Adam and proud of his trust in Callaway equipment.”

Fifty-nine regional golf associations have entered into a new relationship with the United States Golf Association to enhance the golfer experience at the state and local levels in the United States. These Allied Golf Associations (AGAs), supported by the USGA’s five existing regional affairs offices, will administer the USGA Handicap and Course Rating Systems within defined geographic areas across the country. In addition, they will serve as the community’s primary resource for USGA services such as championship qualifiers, governance, golf facility support and programs that help grow and improve the long-term health of the game.

“Regional golf associations are a vital part of the golf community and the USGA,” said Mike Davis, USGA CEO. “As the game moves forward into the future, we feel this formalized new alliance of working together on grassroots programs will improve how we serve golfers and providing a healthy foundation from which the entire golf community can grow.”

Newly recognized AGAs were identified through a nearly year-long discovery process that encouraged collaboration among existing golf organizations within each state and region, sharing best practices and leveraging programs that have made a positive impact.

The resulting relationship will enable AGAs to provide a variety of competitive playing opportunities that engage more golfers of all levels within their region. The AGAs will also serve as local experts for education on topics such as modernizing golf’s rules, the new World Handicap System and related governance functions.

Each AGA will also have direct access to USGA research, funding for programs such as USGA P.J. Boatwright Internships, data and technology, additional expertise to better serve the health of golf facilities and support of national grow-the-game initiatives including PLAY9.

One of the alliance’s most significant benefits to golfers will be the centralized computation of USGA Handicap Indexes in the United States to improve efficiency, consistency and governance oversight. The move to a more modernized, digital platform will also empower Allied Golf Associations to more deeply engage golfers within their community through rich, real-time player data.

An AGA Council has been formed to share information, help ongoing service delivery and provide continuous feedback directly to the USGA to better serve golfers and golf clubs. The 12-member council consists of AGA executive directors who will represent regions and markets throughout the United States.

The alliance marks the latest step by the USGA to more deeply engage the local and regional golf community. It complements the USGA’s existing presence in all five major golf regions in the United States – Northeast, Great Lakes, Southeast, Central and West – where dedicated Regional Affairs directors currently serve in residence.

In addition to its five Regional Affairs directors, the USGA also supports golf clubs and facilities through the USGA Green Section, providing agronomic expertise through 13 regional offices.

The Symetra Tour is set to make a tournament stop in 2018 at a member course of the TPC Network operated by the PGA TOUR, as TPC River’s Bend will host the Prasco Charity Championship from Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 1.

Playing an event at a course owned and operated by the PGA TOUR will be a first in the history of women’s professional golf.

“Competing at a PGA TOUR venue is an important step in the growth of women’s golf and demonstrates how our relationship with the PGA TOUR continues to pay dividends for our members,” said LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan. “As our players continue to prepare for the LPGA Tour, we are thrilled that they will have the opportunity to compete at TPC River’s Bend, an outstanding championship golf course.”

Designed by Arnold Palmer, TPC River’s Bend opened in 2001 as a Golf Digest “Top 10 Best New Private Courses in the U.S.” and has been consistently recognized by the publication as one of Ohio’s “Best Courses in State” from 2005 to 2011, as well as 2015 and 2016. The course’s par-72 layout overlooks the historic Little Miami River, 25 miles northeast of Cincinnati. Complementing the golf course is an expansive TOUR-caliber, 12-acre practice facility featuring multiple chipping and putting areas.

TPC River’s Bend has been the site of several professional tournaments, including the PGA TOUR Champions Kroger Classic between 2002 and 2004, and the Chiquita Classic on the Web.com Tour from 2010 to 2012.

“The PGA TOUR is excited to welcome the LPGA’s Symetra Tour to TPC River’s Bend in 2018,” said PGA TOUR Chief Operating Officer Ron Price. “Everyone involved in this partnership is committed to helping grow the game. Having the LPGA compete at a TPC is a testament to that and the growing collaboration between our two organizations.”

In addition to hosting professional events, TPC River’s Bend was home to the 2017 Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships and will be again in 2018.

“I am super excited to hear we will be playing in southern Ohio where there is so much passion for golf, and especially women’s athletics,” said Dayton native and current Symetra Tour player Emma Jandel, also a former two-time Second-Team All-Big Ten selection for Ohio State University (2008, 2010). “The community will be extremely supportive and welcoming of the new event. Personally, I just can’t wait to play what is a sort of ‘home game’ for me.”

The event’s title sponsor—Prasco Laboratories—is also looking forward to having the Symetra Tour make a stop in southwest Ohio.

“Partnering with the Symetra Tour is a strategic fit for Prasco, as our values align closely with the Tour’s commitment to give back to local communities,” said Chris Arington, Prasco’s CEO. “We are pleased to bring women’s professional golf back to the Cincinnati area.”

Adam Hadwin had a career year in 2017, and as the calendar changes, he added two more honours.

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce Hadwin, Josh Whalen, Judith Kyrinis, and Brooke Henderson are the 2017 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country. Hadwin’s magical season where he notched his first PGA Tour victory, shot 59, and played on the Presidents Cup team was also named the Canadian Golf Story of the Year.

“GJAC is happy to honour these golfers and their accomplishments in 2017,” said Robert Thompson, GJAC president. “The accomplishments of the winners – and each of the nominees – show how strong Canadian golf is right now. GJAC wishes the best of luck to in the year ahead.”

Hadwin’s first PGA Tour victory came in March after a thrilling Sunday at the Valspar Championship, where he won by one over Patrick Cantlay. In January, Hadwin became the eighth golfer in PGA Tour history to shoot a sub-60 round.

Just weeks after his win, Hadwin got married and closed on his first home to cap a whirlwind start to 2017. He ascended to inside the Top 50 in the world (becoming Canada’s highest-ranked male golfer in the process), played all four majors, and participated in the Presidents Cup in September.

Henderson continued her impressive start to her LPGA Tour career, winning twice – at the Meijer LPGA Classic and the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open – and nearly defending her title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She finished sixth on the LPGA Tour’s 2017 money list, earning just over $1.5 million in 30 events (the most on Tour).

She was the only unanimous choice out of the four winners.

Kyrinis had a stellar 2017 campaign capped off with a victory in an all-Canadian final at the U.S. Senior Amateur. She also won the Ontario Women’s Senior Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships, along with finishing runner-up at the prestigious North and South Senior Women’s Amateur, and fifth at the Canadian Women’s Senior Amateur.

Whalen finished No. 1 on the Golf Canada Amateur Order of Merit for his fine campaign in 2017. He finished third at the Canadian Men’s Amateur and notched six top-20 finishes during his senior year at Kent State University.

The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announced on Tuesday that tournament prize money will increase by $25,000 (CA$) at every 2018 event. Regular, full-field tournaments will offer purses of $200,000, with the season-ending, limited-field (60 players) Freedom 55 Financial Championship providing a $225,000 purse.

“Thanks to the hard work of our tournament host organizations and our sponsors, who have helped establish and grow each tournament in their respective communities, Mackenzie Tour players will now be competing for more money as they aim to make their way to the Web.com Tour in 2019,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday.

The 2018 season will begin at the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, B.C. May 31-June 3 and conclude at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship at Highland Country Club in London, Ontario September 10-16, with the full 2018 schedule to be announced in the coming weeks.

Qualifying for the 2018 Mackenzie Tour season will take place at five sites this spring, with fields of 132 players competing for status at Qualifying Tournaments in Florida, California, Arizona and British Columbia.

The PGA TOUR announced today that Brad Fritsch has violated the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Policy’s ban on the use of performance-enhancing substances and has been suspended for three months. Mr. Fritsch self-reported this information after discovering that an ingredient in a supplement that he was taking was on the prohibited list. He has acknowledged his inadvertent error and accepted his suspension. He will be eligible to return on February 28, 2018.

Statement from Brad Fritsch’s Facebook page:

“Alright. We start Monday.”

That was a text I sent to my good friend Alex on Saturday Nov 11, the same day I had failed to advance at Second Stage of the Web.com Tour Q-School. Alex is a chiropractor, and he operates a really successful weight loss program out of his office as well. I had seen his commercials that run during the daytime soap operas (my WIFE watches General Hospital, not me; promise), advertising “lose a pound of fat per day.” My wife had done the program once before and lost 25 pounds. It seemed like the perfect time to, finally, lose some weight – I had turned 40 two days prior; I was pretty much the heaviest I’d ever been (242 pounds); and my kids were getting really fast. Plus, it looked like I would have a good two months off. I would lose the weight and simultaneously adapt my golf swing throughout the program with my instructor.

The majority of Alex’s program is low calorie, highly disciplined eating. You eat two meals per day (I did noon and 6pm), consisting of a small protein and whatever vegetables you want. Yes, I almost died in the first two weeks. If it sounds awful, that’s because it was. I tried to drink 120oz of water per day, and then took the supplements that every other program participant takes – a liquid multivitamin, even more vitamin D, a “body detox” solution, a probiotic, and a spray called BioSom.

“Hey, it’s not that spray that got Vijay in trouble, right?”

That was a text from November 30, from one of my brothers. I was telling him and my other brother what I was doing with the weight loss program. It felt like my heart sank into my stomach. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t checked all of the supplements against our Anti-Doping list. I immediately sent a text to Andy Levinson, head of the Tour’s Anti-Doping program.

I should give some background on my feelings about the Tour’s Anti-Doping program, because it has a lot to do with how this has come to this point. I’ve been a huge advocate in expanding its transparency, both in meetings for the Web and PGA Tour and also in private conversations with multiple PGA Tour employees. I like the truth, and I hate rumor and innuendo. I’ve been adamant that we should publicize every offender, no matter the offense. Truthfully, I was mainly thinking of recreational testing when I formulated my opinion, and never for one second considered I would one day be a part of a potential “performance enhancing” violation. The only thing I would ever test positive for is excessive Chick Fil A.

And so it was with my view of the Anti Doping program in mind that I texted Andy Levinson that day. Truthfully, it was 10% my assumption that everything was fine; however, it wasn’t fine. That last supplement ended up containing a substance called DHEA, and it is indeed banned on our Anti-Doping list. But 90% is my dislike of hypocrisy. How could I sit there all those times and say “if it happens, it’s the truth, and if it’s the truth, get it out there,” and when it was my turn, just lie about it?

I couldn’t. It’s not who I am. I believe in the program and if I’m to be suspended, then so be it. It is my own fault that I’m in this position.

I’m just so upset with myself that I didn’t think to question what was in the supplements. But I never did. And in the program rules, it stipulates that a self-report is the same as a positive test. I did know this when I sent the text to Andy Levinson – like I said above, I believe in the program. I’m a proud member of the PGA Tour and I don’t take that lightly. If there is any silver lining, it’s that I thankfully never played a competitive round during all of this. I don’t feel great about this situation, but I’ve had over a month to kind of process my feelings about it. I’m in a good place (and I’ve lost 28 pounds, so I’ve got that going for me). I’m not sure I’d feel exactly the same way if I had competed against my peers while using a banned substance, even if it was out of ignorance.

I just wish I had paid attention to the details. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t pay attention to the details.

I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation to my family, friends, and especially my sponsors, for their unwavering support.

I also want to thank the PGA Tour, Commissioner Jay Monahan, and Andy Levinson for bringing this to a speedy resolution.

To all those who believe in me, who cheer for me, who respect me – I hope those three things don’t change.

Sincerely,

Brad Fritsch

VICTORIA, Australia – National Squad members Hugo Bernard, Joey Savoie and Josh Whalen will be among the 78 elite amateur golfers competing in the 21st Australian Master of the Amateurs from Jan. 9-12 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

The Canadian trio will look to make their mark in their first competitive action of 2018 when the 72-hole stroke play event gets underway Tuesday. Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) will lead the contingent at 8:10 a.m. local time, followed by Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.) 8:40 a.m. and Whalen (Napanee, Ont.) at 12:20 p.m.

Defending champion and local native Charlie Dann will tee off at 11:50 a.m.

The 2018 Men’s Australian Master of the Amateurs champion receives exemptions into the 2018 Amateur Championship (UK), Porter Cup (USA), The Players Amateur (USA), and The Dogwood Invitational (USA).

For the first time in its 20-year history, the event will feature a female division with 21 athletes. The 2018 Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs Champion will receive exemptions into the 2018 Women’s Western Amateur Championship (USA) and the 2018 Women’s Porter Cup Championship (USA).

The event marks the beginning of a popular two-tournament swing down under, which also includes the Australian Amateur in the week following.

Click here for tee times.
Click here for full scoring.

KAPALUA, Hawaii – A new year brought out the best in Dustin Johnson, who powered his way to an 8-under 65 and an eight-shot victory Sunday in the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

In a field that featured the top five players in the world, Johnson made a strong opening statement that the No. 1 ranking he has held for nearly a year might be difficult to take away.

Johnson stretched a two-shot lead to six strokes at the turn, then delivered the biggest moment of the week with a drive on the par-4 12th hole that stopped 6 inches from the cup for a tap-in eagle.

He finished at 24-under 268 for his 17th career victory.

“Plenty of horsepower here.”

Tracking … TRACKING … ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/kiqBRT3U81

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2018

Jon Rahm closed with a 69 to finish second and move to No. 3 in the world.

Canadian Adam Hadwin of Abottsford, B.C., closed with a 1-under 72 to finish the event in 32nd place (+2).

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — PGA champion Justin Thomas is using a television on-course reporter to caddie for him next week in Honolulu while his regular caddie recovers from a foot injury.

But not just any TV reporter.

He said he’ll be using Jim “Bones” Mackay at the Sony Open. Mackay spent 25 years with Phil Mickelson until they parted ways last summer. Mackay now works for NBC and Golf Channel walking the course. He was with the Dustin Johnson pairing on Saturday at Kapalua.

Jimmy Johnson has been dealing with plantar fasciitis and a tear for the last few months. He was in a boot for 10 days before arriving at Kapalua, but the severe terrain has taken a toll. He likely will be in a protective boot for at least a month. Thomas’ father, Mike, caddied for his son Saturday.