Amateur First Tee

First Tee – Premier départ Québec and FitSpirit provide secondary school girls a new swing at confidence

First Tee
Photo By:Vanessa Cyr Photographie

For the third year in a row, First Tee – Premier départ Québec has partnered with FitSpirit to introduce more young girls to sport — and to golf, for the first time.

Between May 6 and May 27, First Tee coaches were on site at all five of FitSpirit’s Celebration events, which brought together thousands of girls aged 12 to 17 from secondary schools across Québec. The events — held at community parks in various regions — featured a mix of physical activities, social connection and leadership-building workshops in an inclusive, all-girls setting.

FitSpirit, a Québec-based non-profit, focuses on promoting physical activity and wellness among teenage girls. Its Celebration events aim to help girls build confidence, try new things and experience the joy of movement.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with First Tee – Premier départ Québec to offer golf discovery at FitSpirit Celebrations,” said Élisabeth Lagacé, program advisor at FitSpirit. “A welcoming, non-judgemental introduction to golf shows teenage girls that they belong in this sport and that trying something new can be exciting, rather than intimidating.”

Each participant was given a card to collect hole punches by completing different activities. The First Tee stations — each led by one of four female coaches — offered a welcoming space where girls could learn golf fundamentals and develop life skills through sport. Activities included a chipping target practice and a distance control putting challenge, all rooted in First Tee’s emphasis on confidence, respect and perseverance.

The Celebration events were held at Parc Maisonneuve (Montréal), Parc de la Pointe-aux- Lièvres (Québec City), Parc de la Terre-des-Loisirs (Trois-Rivières), Parc Beauséjour (Rimouski), and Centre de plein air Hélène-Larochelle (Gatineau).

Across the five events, nearly 3,350 girls participated — many experiencing golf for the first time.

“Over 95 per cent of FitSpirit participants were discovering golf for the first time,” said Marie-Michèle Richer, program manager for First Tee – Premier départ Québec. “It was incredible to see them focus on their tee shots and celebrate hitting the target. The more they played, the more they connected — with the game and with each other. We’re grateful to FitSpirit for welcoming us and making it possible to share golf with so many girls.”

At the conclusion of this year’s FitSpirit Celebrations, participation at the First Tee – Premier départ Québec stations rose by 55 per cent compared to 2024.

First Tee – Premier départ Québec aims to continue working with FitSpirit each season, using golf to empower more girls across the province to be active, confident and brave with anything that comes their way.

Learn more at firstteequebec.ca/en/register or fitspirit.ca.

Mobile App

Golf Canada app gets boost with new features aimed at user experience 

July 2025 app release

New features include group score posting, smartwatch support, GPS upgrades, referrals and achievements. 

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is enhancing how Canadians experience the game with new features now live in its free mobile app. 

The latest update to the Golf Canada app — the No. 1 golf app in the country — has launched with version 7.3.0, bringing a range of tools designed to make it easier for golfers to track scores, connect with playing partners and get more out of every round. 

Among the key upgrades is a feature that allows users to post scores for their playing partners, simplifying scorekeeping during group rounds. 

Android users can now access the app from select smartwatches, including Fossil, TicWatch, Skagen, Tag Heuer Connected, Montblanc Summit, Samsung Galaxy Watch (Watch 4 and newer), and Google Pixel Watch. The integration enables on-wrist GPS yardages and digital scoring, allowing players to stay focused on the game. 

To encourage community growth, a referral feature has been added. Members can share a unique referral code and earn entries into a season-long prize draw when new users sign up. 

An achievements system lets golfers unlock digital milestones based on rounds played, courses visited, hole-by-hole entries, provinces played and more. Friends’ achievements are also visible, adding a social layer to performance tracking. 

Also new is advanced GPS yardage functionality. The app now provides front, middle and back green distances to support more accurate club selection and course strategy. 

Privacy controls have also been improved. Users can now choose whether their scores appear in their friends’ feeds, giving them more control over how their information is shared. 

The Golf Canada app is available as a free download from the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android. Golfers can log in with an existing Golf Canada account or create one in-app to begin tracking their game. 

For a full list of Golf Canada app features, visit golfcanada.ca/app

Industry News

NGCOA Canada CEO Jeff Calderwood to retire after 34 years in Canadian golf industry

Ottawa, Ont. – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) has announced that longtime CEO Jeff Calderwood will retire on December 31, 2025, after a remarkable 34-year career helping to shape the Canadian golf industry.

Calderwood’s leadership helped grow NGCOA Canada from the ground up into a national network of nearly 1,500 golf courses and 170 industry partners. He introduced a wide range of impactful programs, including the Golfmax Purchasing Program, Take A Kid To The Course, and the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show, while expanding the Association’s advocacy, research, and sustainability efforts.

Beyond NGCOA Canada, Calderwood has played a key national role in advancing golf through policy wins, economic impact studies, and industry collaborations. He also served multiple terms as Chair of the National Allied Golf Associations.

Though retiring from his CEO role, Calderwood will remain involved in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition and ongoing industry support.

“Jeff’s vision and commitment have left a lasting legacy,” said NGCOA Canada Board President Richard Edmonds. “We thank him for everything he’s done for our association and for golf in Canada.”

Brooke Henderson CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Canadian sensation Brooke Henderson, World no. 1 Nelly Korda and three-time winner Lydia Ko headline early commitments in 2025 CPKC Women’s Open field

CPKC Women's Open 2025

Jeeno Thitikul, Minjee Lee, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang and defending champion Lauren Coughlin join Henderson, Korda and Ko in the field for the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open

CPKC Has Heart campaign to benefit official charity partner MacKids along with community charity beneficiary Trillium Health Partners

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Golf Canada and the LPGA Tour today announced the early commitments scheduled to compete in the 51st playing of the CPKC Women’s Open, August 20-24 at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

The list of early commitments features six of the current top 10 and 15 of the top 25 in the Rolex World Golf Rankings. The field also includes six of the top 10, 15 of the top 25 and 66 of the top 100 players on the 2025 Race to the CME Globe Standings. The final field will be announced on Friday, August 15.

Thirteen-time LPGA Tour winner and the winningest golfer in Canadian history, Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., will lead a field of 156 golfers that includes current world no. 1 Nelly Korda, three-time CPKC Women’s Open champion and 2024 Olympic Gold medalist Lydia Ko (world no. 3), and current leader in the Race to the CME Globe, Jeeno Thitikul (world no. 2). Other notables include Ruoning Yin (world no. 4), Haeran Ryu (world no. 5) and Hannah Green (world no. 8), along with rising stars Lilia Vu (world no. 11) and Rose Zhang (world no. 44). Minjee Lee (world no. 24) has also committed to compete in Mississauga. Lee recently won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, earning her 11th career win and third major championship.

The CPKC Women’s Open through CPKC Has Heart will once again leave a meaningful impact in the host community of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. For 2025, CPKC has selected MacKids, the arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to fundraising for MacMaster Children’s Hospital, as the primary charity partner with a goal to raise more than $2.8 million in support of pediatric cardiac care initiatives from newborn to adolescent. In addition, Trillium Health Partners will be the community charity partner with CPKC generously matching donations up to $250,000 in support of Trillium Health Partners cardiac program equipment needs, with up to $500,000 expected to be raised.

“The growth and impact of this incredible event, which continues to attract the world’s top golfers, is undeniable,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President & Chief Executive Officer. “Our ultimate goal with the CPKC Women’s Open has been, and always will be, to help the youngest hearts across Canada. We are excited for the community to come together to raise millions of dollars for MacKids.”

Last year, CPKC helped raise $4.3 million for heart health with donations of $3.8 million to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and $507,000 to the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation. Since 2014, this tournament, which is the marquee event of the CPKC Has Heart community investment program, has helped raise over $23 million in support of children’s heart health in North America.

Defending champion Lauren Coughlin is among six past CPKC Women’s Open champions competing for Canada’s Women’s National Open Championship including Megan Khang (2023), Jin Young Ko (2019), Brooke Henderson (2018), Brittany Lincicome (2011) and Lydia Ko (2015, 2013, 2012) who will be chasing a record fourth CPKC Women’s Open title.

Mississaugua Golf and Country Club will welcome eight LPGA Tour in-year winners, including Yealimi Noh (Founders Cup), Lydia Ko (HSBC Women’s World Championship), Madelene Sagstrom (T-Mobile Match Play), Haeran Ryu (Black Desert Championship), Jeeno Thitikul (Mizuho Americas Open), Jennifer Kupcho (ShopRite LPGA Classic), Carlota Ciganda (Meijer LPGA Classic) and Minjee Lee (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship).

Henderson, a CPKC Ambassador, made history at the Wascana Country Club in Regina in 2018 becoming the first Canadian since the late Jocelyne Bourassa won Canada’s National Women’s Open 45 years earlier. Henderson will be joined by fellow Canadians with LPGA Tour status, Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que.

In addition, an important pathway to the CPKC Women’s Open is through the She Plays Golf Championship Series, a three-stop circuit that offers competitive opportunities for elite Canadian players with exemptions into the tournament available. Two Team Canada athletes have claimed the first two exemptions as 14-year-old Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. won the Golf BC Group BC Women’s Open and 16-year-old Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., won The Peloton Glencoe Invitational. Both Ding and Liu will be making their first starts in an LPGA tour event. The final stop in the series will take place at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at Burlington Golf and Country Club, July 7-10. One additional exemption will be awarded to the player ranked highest on the order of merit for the series, if not already qualified. For more information, click here.

“We are excited to announce the early commitments led by Brooke Henderson, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko for the 51st playing of our National Women’s Open Championship. The CPKC Women’s Open draws one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour and we look forward to watching these incredible athletes compete in Mississauga,” said Claire Welsh, Tournament Director, CPKC Women’s Open. “We have welcomed nearly 1,000 volunteer registrations, highlighting the excitement to be part of this special tournament. The CPKC Women’s Open is one of the top yearly women’s sporting events in Canada and fans are in store for a very memorable week this August.”

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will take place on the Treaty 22 territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), on lands that were once home to the Credit River Mission Village. During tournament week, MCFN will share their culture, history, and enduring connection to the land through ceremony, storytelling, and educational elements on-site. This engagement is part of a broader effort to ensure the tournament honours the history of the territory and creates space for learning, reflection, and meaningful community connection.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CPKC Women’s Open is riding continued momentum from being named as the Gold Driver Award recipient for Best Volunteer Appreciation at the LPGA 2024 Gold Driver Awards. In addition, the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open was named Sport Tourism Canada’s International Sport Event of the Year at the 2025 Sport Tourism Canada PRESTIGE Awards.

The CPKC Women’s Open also earned the LPGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year award in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023. The 2023 tournament also won additional awards for Best Sponsorship Activation and Best Volunteer Appreciation at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022 and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT RETURNS

Golf Canada and CPKC will host the eighth annual CPKC Women’s Leadership summit on Tuesday, August 19 as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open. The summit will be held at the Boulevard Club in Toronto, Ont., and be hosted by TSN’s Lindsay Hamilton. The day will bring together like-minded business leaders from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment and philanthropy. For more information, click here.

HALL OF FAME DAY SET FOR TUESDAY OF TOURNAMENT WEEK
Golf Canada will host Hall of Fame Day on Tuesday, August 19. Accomplished amateur golfer, Richard Scott, former professional golfer Jerry Anderson (posthumous) and renowned course architect Charles Blair Macdonald (posthumous) will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. For more information on the honoured members, click here. In addition, Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. will be inducted into Golf Ontario’s Hall of Fame during the ceremony after previously being announced in March.

“THE RINK” HOLE AND THE FARE WAY FEATURING THE KEG FAN EXPERIENCE RETURNS

Fans of all ages will once again be able to experience the week-long celebration of golf highlighted by The Rink on the 10th hole at Mississaugua, and a variety of food and patio experiences in The Fare Way featuring the Keg.

KIDS 12-AND-UNDER GET IN FREE

As part of the championship’s commitment to junior golf, admission all week is free for youth aged 12-and-under. General admission tickets provide access to the golf course and enjoy fan activations throughout the property and experience the thrill of major professional golf.

MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE

Experience the CPKC Women’s Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news, and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.

Corey Conners PGA TOUR

Corey Conners withdraws from 2025 U.S. Open due to wrist injury

Corey Conners
Corey Conners (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

OAKMONT, Pa. – Canadian golfer Corey Conners has withdrawn from the final round of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club due to a right wrist injury.

The 33-year-old from Listowel, Ont., sustained the injury during the first round on Thursday when his club struck a television cable while playing from a bunker. Despite the setback, Conners completed rounds of 72, 74 and 72, positioning himself within the top 15 heading into Sunday’s final round. 

On Saturday, the injury worsened, prompting Conners to seek medical treatment and undergo imaging. He attempted to warm up on Sunday morning but was unable to continue, leading to his withdrawal just hours before his scheduled tee time alongside Ryan Fox, who recently won the RBC Canadian Open.

Conners has had a consistent season on the PGA TOUR, making 14 cuts in 15 events and securing five top-10 finishes. He was ranked ninth in the FedEx Cup standings entering the U.S. Open. His best major result this year was a tie for eighth at the Masters. 

The extent of Conners’ injury and its impact on his participation in upcoming tournaments, including the $20 million Travelers Championship, remains uncertain. 

PGA TOUR

Mike Weir honoured with induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame

Mike Weir inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame

Canadian golf legend Mike Weir has been officially inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, joining an esteemed group of national icons recognized for their exceptional contributions to Canadian culture and achievement. The induction ceremony took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Weir, born in Sarnia and raised in Brights Grove, Ontario, is celebrated for his historic victory at the 2003 Masters Tournament, where he became the first Canadian and the first left-handed golfer to win the prestigious event. Over his professional career, Weir has secured eight PGA Tour victories and has been a prominent figure in international golf competitions, including multiple appearances in the Presidents Cup as a player, assistant captain, and most recently as the captain of the International Team in 2024.

Beyond his achievements on the course, Weir has been a dedicated advocate for youth mental health. Through the Mike Weir Foundation, he played a pivotal role in establishing a youth wellness hub in downtown Sarnia, contributing approximately $1 million towards the $3 million project, which opened its doors in 2023.

Weir’s induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame places him among a distinguished group of 2025 honourees, including rock band Our Lady Peace, actress Tonya Williams, classical guitarist Liona Boyd, cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Tirone David, humanitarian Dr. Samantha Nutt, filmmaker Shawn Levy, hotelier Isadore Sharp, and the Toronto International Film Festival.

The ceremony celebrated the diverse accomplishments of these Canadians, with Walk of Fame CEO Jeffrey Latimer highlighting the unique voices and contributions of each inductee. A televised version of the induction ceremony is scheduled to air on July 1 at 7 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem.

Weir’s induction is a testament to his enduring impact on Canadian sports and his commitment to community service, solidifying his legacy as one of Canada’s most influential athletes.

Amateur First Tee

PING Canada Supports the Expansion of Junior Golf Across the Country

First Tee

Since 2024, PING Canada has significantly contributed to First Tee – Canada, helping introduce thousands of children to golf through programs delivered at golf courses, schools, and community organizations nationwide.

Launched in 2021 through a partnership between Golf Canada and First Tee, First Tee – Canada is a youth development program that provides life-enhancing experiences through golf for children from equity-deserving communities. Since its inception, the program has created inclusive and accessible pathways to the sport for more than 170,000 youth from coast to coast.

“PING Canada’s support is making a significant impact on Canadian golf,” said Adam Hunter, Executive Director, First Tee – Canada. “It has enabled us to expand programming into communities where it is needed most, introducing families—who may not have otherwise had the opportunity—to golf and its inherent values. Having an endemic golf brand invest in the future health of the sport in Canada is invaluable. We are immensely grateful.”

Thanks to PING Canada’s philanthropic support, First Tee – Canada has partnered with additional golf facilities, schools, and community organizations, providing the necessary equipment, training, and curriculum to offer the program to participants at no cost.

Participants, many of whom are new to golf, are gaining more than an introduction to the game. They are experiencing opportunities to build friendships and continue to learn life lessons like confidence, integrity and leadership, that extend far beyond the golf course.

“If and when possible, we believe every child should have the opportunity to play and grow through golf,” said Dave Wilson, General Manager, PING Canada. “It is exciting to be part of something that is helping shape the next generation—on and off the course.”

PING Canada has been a long-time supporter of junior golf and their continued support of First Tee – Canada is growing the game in meaningful ways.

For more information on First Tee – Canada’s efforts across the country, visit firstteecanada.ca.

Brooke Henderson LPGA Tour

U.S. Women’s Open Preview

Brooke Henderson

While there may be some debate over which is the most important of the four men’s golf majors — one that pits the Open Championship’s history against the mystique of the Masters — there is no such discussion when it comes to the women’s game. The U.S. Women’s Open is the queen bee of the LPGA Tour schedule.

Established in 1947, the U.S. Women’s Open is the oldest professional tournament in women’s golf and carries the biggest purse at $12 million (US). Its list of multiple winners is a who’s who of women’s golf — Besty Rawls, Mikey Wright, Babe Zaharias, Hollis Stacy, JoAnne Carner, Betsy King, Patty Sheehan, Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam to name a few. Last year, Yuka Saso added her name to that list when she prevailed at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.

This year’s 80th edition of the tournament is taking place in Wisconsin for the first time since 2012. Then, Na Yeon Choi took home the hardware at Blackwolf Run in Kohler. This week, Erin Hills is in the spotlight. It is a big, broad golf course that was the site of Brooks Koepka’s 2017 U.S. Open triumph, the first of his five major triumphs.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open.

The Course

Erin Hills is hosting its second U.S. Open, with the men’s major having taking place there in 2017. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP)

Erin Hills caught the fancy of the United States Golf Association immediately after it opened in 2006. At a time when the governing body was shifting away from tree-lined private country clubs for its championships, the public Erin Hills, built on a massive parcel of largely treeless land in rural Wisconsin, offered something new.

Original owner Bob Lang hired Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry to design the course, which they did with input from longtime Golf Digest architecture critic Ron Whitten. Lang had grand visions of championship golf at Erin Hills and two years after the course opened the USGA conducted the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links there. The USGA then awarded the 2017 U.S. Open to Erin Hills and brought the 2011 U.S. Amateur to the course as a test run. Lang had to sell the course amid financial hardships and the layout underwent a number of revisions requested by the USGA after it was purchased by Andrew Ziegler.

At over 7,800 yards (at elevation) for the first round, the course played as the longest in U.S. Open history in 2017, but its wide fairways and calm conditions made it easy pickings and Koepka won with a record-tying 16-under-par total. This week’s U.S. Women’s Open will be the first major at Erin Hills since that time, though the course did welcome the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur. The course will measure just over 6,800 yards and play as a par 72.

The Favourites

Jeeno Thitikul won the Mizuho Americas Open in her last start. (Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Jeeno Thitikul leads the LPGA Tour’s points race entering the U.S. Women’s Open thanks to her recent victory at the Mizuho Americas Open and five additional top 10s. The 22-year-old Thai golfer is in search of her first major victory this week, having racked up seven top 10s in 23 career major starts. She does not have a top-three finish, however, with her best result being a solo-fourth at the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She leads the LPGA Tour in strokes gained total this season.
Bet99 odds: +900

Nelly Korda remains atop the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, but the 15-time LPGA Tour winner is without a victory this season and sits 15th on the Race to CME Globe. After suffering a neck injury last fall that forced her out of two tournaments in Asia, Korda began 2025 with a runner-up finish in the Tournament of Championships but went without a top-five finish until two weeks ago at the Mizuho Americas Open. Nevertheless, she is second on tour in strokes gained total, first in scoring average and first in birdie percentage.
Bet99 odds: +1450

At 24, Haeran Ryu has taken over as the top women’s golfer from South Korea, sitting fifth in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. She captured the Black Desert Championship earlier this month by five shots, her third career LPGA Tour title. The five-time winner on the LPGA of Korea Tour has finished in the top 10 in four of the last six major championships. She leads the tour in strokes gained tee to green, a good stat for any U.S. Open.      
Bet99 odds: +1450

A three-time winner in 2024 and a two-time winner in 2023, Ruoning Yin hasn’t yet won this season, but she put together back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Chevron Championship, the season’s first major, and the Black Desert Championship. She was then T15 at the Mizuhos Americas Open. Those three results came after five finishes outside the top 20 to start the season, so clearly Yin has turned things around. Her lone major victory came at the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA.  
Bet99 odds: +1800

Former World No. 1 Jin Young Ko is winless since 2023, but she has four top 10s in eight starts this season, including two in her last two starts. She won two major championships in 2019, along with the CPKC Women’s Open, and tied for second in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. She tied for sixth at the Chevron Championship last month.
Bet99 odds: +2000

The Canadians

Brooke Henderson can turn her season around this week with a strong performance at Erin Hills. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Five Canadians will tee it up at Erin Hills with two-time major winner Brooke Henderson joined by four qualifiers: Vanessa BorovilosCeleste DaoAnna Huang and Leah John.

Henderson is still trying to find her form this season as the 13-time LPGA Tour winner sits in unfamiliar positions on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings (42nd) and Race to CME Globe (48th). Her lone top 10 — a T9 — came in the T-Mobile Match Play where she lost in the Round of 16. The 27-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., had a solid T12 finish at the Black Desert Championship but then missed the cut in her last event, the Mizuho Americas Open. Henderson’s best U.S. Women’s Open finish is a T5 in 2015, one of 16 career top 10s in majors.

Borovilos hails from the Toronto borough of Etobicoke and earned one of two spots available at a 36-hole qualifier at Elgin Country Club in Illinois. This will be the first major championship start for the 19-year-old amateur coming off her freshman season at Texas A&M University. Borovilos was the medallist at Elgin Country Club with two rounds of 68 for an 8-under-par total.

Dao is no stranger to the U.S. Women’s Open as the Quebecer has now qualified for the championship four times. However, this will be Dao’s first major appearance as a professional. She took the lone qualifier spot at Salem Country Club in Massachusetts with rounds of 72-71. She’s a University of Georgia alum.

Huang is one of three 16-year-olds in the field this week at Erin Hills, having finished as the runner-up at the qualifier at New Albany Country Club in Ohio. The Vancouver native turned professional in December after earning status on the Ladies European Tour and has made five cuts in six starts on that circuit this year.

John was the co-medallist at her qualifier in Sacramento at Del Paso Country Club. Also from Vancouver, John is plying her trade on the Epson Tour, the LPGA Tour’s developmental circuit, where she’s made three cuts in seven starts this season. She had two top-10 finishes in 12 starts on that tour last year after turning pro in the spring of 2024. John attended the University of Nevada.  

Chip Shots

– There were 1,904 entrants for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, the second most in tournament history.

– The semi-retired Lexi Thompson will make her 19th consecutive start in the U.S. Women’s Open. Now 30, Thompson has played in the tournament since she first qualified as a 12-year-old.

– Former World No. 1 Yani Tseng is making her first U.S. Women’s Open start since 2016 after successfully qualifying for the championship. The Taiwanese golfer won five major titles from 2008 to 2011 but her career nosedived in 2013 and she is now ranked 995th in the world. Since reappearing on the LPGA Tour in 2024, she has not made a cut in 14 starts. In fact, her last made cut came in 2018. She is a 15-time LPGA Tour winner.

– Emily Odwin will become the first golfer from Barbados — male or female — to play in a major championship when she tees it up Thursday. She qualified at the historic Olympic Club in San Francisco. Odwin learned the game at Royal Westmorland and now attends Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

PGA TOUR

Pendrith posts career-best Major finish at PGA Championship

Taylor Pendrith
Taylor Pendrith (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Taylor Pendrith delivered a standout performance at the 2025 PGA Championship, finishing tied for fifth at Quail Hollow Club to record his best result in a major championship.

The Richmond Hill, Ont., native carded rounds of 69, 70, 72, and a final-round 68 to close at 5-under-par 279. His Sunday surge vaulted him into a tie with J.T. Poston and Jhonattan Vegas, earning Pendrith a payday of $694,700.

Pendrith was the top Canadian finisher in the field, edging out compatriot Corey Conners, who tied for 19th at 2-under. The result marks a significant milestone for Pendrith, whose previous best at the PGA Championship was a tie for 29th in 2023.

“It feels great to put together four solid rounds on a major stage,” Pendrith said. “I’ve been working hard on my game, and to see it pay off here is really satisfying.”

Pendrith’s top-five finish places him among a select group of Canadian male golfers who have achieved similar feats in major championships. Notably, Mike Weir won the Masters in 2003, and George Knudson tied for second at the 1969 Masters. Stephen Ames also tied for fifth at the 1997 Open Championship.

The tournament was won by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who captured his third major title with a commanding five-shot victory. Scheffler finished at 11-under 273, holding off challenges from Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, and Davis Riley, who all tied for second at 6-under.

Scheffler’s win adds the Wanamaker Trophy to his growing collection and further cements his status as one of golf’s premier talents. The victory also came with a record-breaking $3.42 million prize from the $19 million purse, the highest in tournament history.

For Pendrith, the strong showing at Quail Hollow provides momentum as he continues his 2025 season—with sights set firmly on a home-soil appearance June 4-8 at the upcoming RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.

Handicapping

Understanding the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)

Golfer

The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) is one of the many tools that make the World Handicap System more dynamic and equitable. While largely invisible to the casual golfer, it plays a crucial role behind the scenes, ensuring your handicap truly reflects your ability—not just the luck of the weather.  The PCC is a statistical adjustment designed to account for unusual playing conditions. But what exactly is the PCC, and how does it work?

What is the PCC?

The Playing Conditions Calculation is a daily statistical analysis conducted based on golfers’ scores to reflect how much easier or harder the course played on a specific day. It recognizes that factors like weather, course conditions and course setup can influence scoring, and changes the players’ Score Differentials accordingly to reflect that the course played differently from how the Course & Slope Ratings were determined.

How Does the PCC Work? The PCC is automatically calculated in the Golf Canada Score Centre at the end of each day using all the scores posted at a given course. It analyzes how players performed relative to their expected performance based on their handicaps and the Course & Slope Ratings.

Here’s a breakdown of how it functions:

  • It is applied automatically— the only thing that golfers need to do is post their score before midnight!
  • The system gathers all scores posted to the course (for all sets of tees) on a given day.
  • A minimum of 8 acceptable scores (by golfers with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or less) must be posted for the day.
  • It calculates how those scores compare to what would normally be expected.
  • If a statistically significant difference is observed (suggesting the course played much harder or easier), a PCC value is determined and included in the Score Differential calculation for that day.
  • The adjustment can range from -1.0 to +3.0 strokes.
    • A minus PCC value (-1.0) indicates that the course played easier than normal

A positive PCC value (+1.0, +2.0, + 3.0) indicates that the course played more difficult than normal.

If a PCC value is determined, it is factored into the Score Differential calculation.  When a PCC value applies, you will see a hat (“^”) beside the Score Differential in your Golf Canada Scoring Record.  For a detailed explanation of how a Score Differential is calculated, you can also click on the value under the “Diff” column.

Why Is the PCC Important?

The goal of the PCC is to recognize that playing conditions impact the relative quality of a score.  Without this adjustment, scores recorded in especially tough conditions could unfairly inflate a player’s handicap, while scores in ideal conditions could deflate it.

For example:  A score of 85 made in challenging conditions might be a better demonstration of ability compared to a score of 85 made in good conditions.