“I’m very proud to congratulate the 2019 PGA of Canada National Award winners and finalists,” said PGA of Canada president Mark Patterson. Our winners and finalists come from coast-to-coast and have an impressive list of achievements, from growing the game of golf to raising money for charities, supporting local communities, successfully managing facilities and retail operations, all while continuing to learn and improve themselves.”

This was the first time in the association’s history that the National Awards were live-streamed on Facebook and finalists were posted online. “This is a continued step to highlighting and recognizing the outstanding achievements of our members,” said PGA of Canada CEO Kevin Thistle. “We have so many great professionals across the country who live and breathe the PGA of Canada every day. We encourage you to learn more about the outstanding achievements of both our winners and finalists below.”

Murray Tucker Golf Professional of the Year – Jonathan Garron

Abercrombie Country Club is on pace for another exceptional fiscal year. Jonathan started a new social ladies golf program after applying and receiving funding through a Sport Nova Scotia grant. This program brought in 57 new women to learn the game and experience the club. Jonathan has also been able to tap into many different grant opportunities available to not-for-profits, bringing in approximately $20,000 to help the club in 2019 and nearly $75,000 over the last five years. Jonathan has an unparalleled commitment to the PGA of Canada and Atlantic Zone.

To read more about Jonathan and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year – Brian Schaal

Brian recognizes how important it is to be in the PGA of BC’s Top 100 PDP. To date, Brian and his team of four are all inside the Top 100. Brian takes enormous pride in knowing that he is setting the stage and standard for golf professionals to become ELITE golf professionals and outstanding members of the community. Brian’s role at Copper Point is not only to lead, mentor, guide, inspire and manage staff, but to make sure he understands each job that his team is required to perform.

To read more about Brian and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

George Knudson Teacher of the Year – Scott Cowx

Here is a quote from his student and PGA TOUR player Mackenzie Hughes: “Scott has been instrumental in my success as a professional golfer. We have been working together for over 14 years and he has played an integral part in me becoming a winner on the PGA TOUR. Scott has helped me build a swing that can challenge the best golfers in the world on a weekly basis. His insightfulness and attention to detail are world-class.”

“There is no one more suitable for my game than Scott. I can confidently state that there are not many other instructors in the world with his knowledge, experience and dedication to the game and his students. Scott is a true gentleman of the game and ambassador of the sport. A role model on and off the course, he would be an asset to anyone who has the privilege to work with him.”

To read more about Scott and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year – Paul Schatz

In 2019, Paul accepted the role of Associate Professional at the Tor Hill Golf Course. In this time, he started a non-profit business, Regina Junior Golf Inc. (RJG). The goal of RJG is to grow the game of golf at a grassroots level. This includes partnerships with the Regina School Boards, as well as the City of Regina. The company hires local golf professionals to help with Golf in Schools Nights, managing the junior leagues at Joanne Goulet and setting up field trips for local school children to take clinics and tour golf facilities. Paul is responsible for overseeing the junior programs at Tor Hill, Joanne Goulet Golf Course and Lakeview Par 3.

To read more about Paul and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Ben Kern Coach of the Year – Carla Munch-Miranda

As Class “A” Head Professional and co-owner of Cambridge Golf Club, Carla has been instrumental in implementing developmental golf programs at Cambridge Golf Club for players of all abilities. She is certified at the PGA of Canada Coaching of Developing Competitors level, is the Head Coach of the NJGDC at Cambridge Golf Club and has created the Cambridge Cobras Junior Golf Team.

To read more about Carla and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year – Steve Bryant

Steve focuses on knowing his customers and members to the best of his abilities. “We know our customers, but it is the responsibility of all retailers to know their customers, as well.” He knows what they wear, their size, what ball they play and what equipment they gravitate towards. Steve listens to his customers through annual surveys, paying attention every day and talking to the members. This information is crucial to buying products and sizes appropriately. Steve is always open to introducing new products and exposing our customers to new brands. Members like to try new things and Steve provides that opportunity each year.

To read more about Steve and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year – Chris Cooke

In his short time within our association, Chris has established himself as an involved PGA of Canada member by serving on the PGA of Alberta Consumer Show Committee, volunteering at the Calgary Consumer Show in many different capacities, playing in zone events and attending educational seminars.

To read more about Chris and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year – Samuel Kirkness

Samuel has won numerous awards with the PGA of Alberta, including Assistant Professional of the Year as an Apprentice in 2016 and as a Class “A” Professional in 2019, in addition to winning the Professional Development Award in 2018. Samuel is one of the top players in the PGA of Alberta, teaches over 300 hours on his own time, volunteers within the Alberta zone and manages his extensive list of responsibilities at the club. Samuel’s dedication and passion towards our profession and his growth as a golf professional are second-to-none.

To read more about Samuel and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Mike Weir Player of the Year – Wes Heffernan

Wes won the 2019 PGA of Canada Assistants’ Championship and Alberta Zone Championship. He also finished 2nd at the 2019 Alberta Assistants’ Championship and 4th at the 2019 PGA Championship of Canada.

To read more about Wes and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

Tex Noble Professional Development Award – Cory Kartusch

Cory has won several National and Zone Awards, including the 2014 Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year Award and the 2004 Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year Award. He is very involved at the zone level, participating and attending all zone-level seminars while serving as the Education Chair for the past three years, Past President (2015-2016) and sitting on the Manitoba Zone Board for eight years.

To read more about Cory and the rest of the winners, click HERE.

MELBOURNE, Australia – Ernie Els wanted to inspire his International team at the Presidents Cup, and he found the one video that might do the trick.

Then again, there wasn’t a lot to choose from.

Els is the lone person on this team, including his four assistants, who was at Royal Melbourne in 1998 for the only International victory. They took the lead after the opening session and never were challenged the rest of the way. At the time, it was the biggest loss an American team had ever endured.

“I watched a couple times because I love it,” said C.T. Pan, one of seven rookies on the International team who certainly didn’t play like one Thursday. “It’s been 21 long years. I know it’s day one, we still have a lot of work to do. That video definitely pumped and excited everyone on the International team.”

It sure looked that way.

Tiger Woods did his part, at least as a player. The first playing captain in 25 years, he opened with two birdies for a 2-up lead and finished with two more birdies as he and Justin Thomas won the opening fourballs match at Royal Melbourne.

And then he resumed his role as captain and watched the International team post one victory after another, hitting all the right shots in the two matches that went to the 18th hole.

When it was over, the International team had a 4-1 lead, its first time in front since 2005.

“I didn’t envision 4-1, no,” Els said. “So it’s a nice start. We haven’t had a a start like this for many, many years.”

That was the extent of his optimism, as much as Els would allow himself. He already was looking ahead to the five matches of foursomes on Friday, an American strength while winning the last seven times. During that stretch, the Americans have outscored the International team 50.5 to 22.5 in foursomes.

At Royal Melbourne in 1998, the International had an 8-2 advantage in the alternate-shot format.

More memories. More hope.

On the first tee for the start Thursday was Craig Parry and Carlos Francos, two players from the 1998 team. All were invited to take part in these matches, a reminder of what can happen. Half of the team was able to make the long trip.

“It was great to see the guys in ’98 giving us a bit of advice and how it felt for them starting the week back then, and what it feels like winning a Cup,” Louis Oosthuizen said. “We have a few boys of ’98 in the team room, as well, and I think we are in a really good place. But we are set on what we want to do. We have a massive goal.”

And the International team still has a long way to go.

Els stuck to his plan, which is geared around analytics. Even a resounding start was not enough to tempt the International captain to keep partnerships that were so successful in the opening session. He broke them all up, just like he planned.

Abraham Ancer and Oosthuizen birdied the opening five holes for a 4-up lead that Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland could not overcome in a 4-and-3 victory. Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An _ the replacement for Jason Day _ never trailed in beating Tony Finau and Bryson DeChambeau. Hideki Matsuyama delivered the clutch putt from 25 feet on the 17th hole as he and C.T. Pan beat Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson, 1 up.

Scott will have Oosthuizen for foursomes. Ancer will play with Marc Leishman. Matsuyama plays with An.

“We’ve gone this route, and we keep going.” Els said. “The guys played well today in their respective pairings, and tomorrow we’ve got whatever pairings we have. We’ll feel comfortable with them.”

There is a quiet confidence, much like International captain Peter Thomson had in 1998.

Woods appeared to make one change. He is playing again with Thomas, and he might have been subject to criticism if he didn’t. He was the best American at Royal Melbourne. Woods was asked if his performance dictated his Friday lineup, if he would have stuck to being the captain if the team had fared better.

“We had a couple of different options rolling into this entire Cup,” Woods said. “The guys have known the game plan, different possible options. And this is one of the scenarios.”

Woods kept together two other teams, even in defeat _ Reed and Simpson, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.

Some of his players were not even in high school the last time the Americans trailed, and Woods was not about to worry about one day.

“Just because we lost the session doesn’t mean the Cup’s over,” Woods said. “There’s a long way to go. A lot of points available. The guys will regroup and we’ll come out tomorrow ready to go.”

Els gave his team the same message.

“Keep the jets down,” Els said. “There’s a long way to go. Don’t get too excited. This is a strong team, and they’re going to come back strong.”

MELBOURNE, Australia – Tiger Woods lightly pumped his fist with another birdie. He raised his hands over his head in applause to salute a brilliant play by Justin Thomas that led to another hole won. He thoroughly enjoyed his return to competition in the Presidents Cup.

His match won, Woods took the radio and inserted the ear piece as he resumed his role as U.S. captain.

And there was little else to cheer.

Ernie Els and his inspired International team won the day, and won it big.

Els got solid performances from Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen and remarkable play from his rookies that led to a 4-1 lead after the opening session of fourballs Thursday.

“I didn’t envision 4-1, no,” Els said.

It was the first time the International team won the opening session since 2005, which also was the last time it led after any session in an event the Americans have won 10 out of 12 times, including the last seven in a row.

Woods assembled the strongest U.S. team ever for the Presidents based on the world ranking. The first playing captain in 25 years, he inserted himself in the first match and made six birdies, the most of anyone at Royal Melbourne.

When it was over, the U.S. team found itself in foreign territory – trailing for the first time in 14 years.

“We have to earn this cup,” Woods said, perhaps a reminder that history means little inside the ropes. “Just because we lost the session doesn’t mean the Cup’s over. There’s a long way to go, a lot of points available. The guys will regroup, and we’ll come out tomorrow ready to go.”

That was a message Els preached to his team after a dynamic performance.

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Mood. #PresidentsCup

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Scott overcame a snap hook on the opening hole to make five birdies as he and Byeong Hun An – the replacement for Jason Day – won in 17 holes. Hideki Matsuyama holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that carried the Japanese star and C.T. Pan to a 1-up victory over Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson.

Oosthuizen and Abraham Ancer, the Mexican rookie who has received praise all week for his fire and confidence, opened with five straight birdies in a crushing defeat over the American power duo of Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland.

But it was just a start.

“Keep the jets down,” Els said. “There’s a long way to go. Don’t get too excited. This is a strong team, and they’re going to come back strong.”

Woods was so strong that he decided to play again in Friday foursomes, again paired with Thomas. Woods kept two other teams together – Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, and Reed and Simpson – even though both lost.

Els is sending out five new partnerships, sticking to a plan that so far is working quite well.

“He had a system going in. We are his soldiers, so we follow his instruction, and that’s what we did today,” C.T. Pan said. “And it works great.”

Woods showed off an exquisite short game, building a 2-up lead after two holes with pitch-and-run shots that set up easy birdies. He chipped in for birdie on the par-5 fifth, and closed out the match with an 8-foot birdie on the par-3 14th and a 5-footer on the next hole, his sixth birdie in the 15 holes he and Thomas needed to beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann.

Asked what worked well in their first time playing together, Thomas replied, “Tiger was working well.”

Little else did for the Americans, but that was more a product of great play by the International team that Els assembled to try to win the Presidents Cup for the first time since 1998, its only victory.

The International team walked off the course with arms around shoulders, a most happy occasion after having lost seven in a row since the tie in South Africa in 2003.

The middle three matches is where the International team seized control in the opening session. Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im won the 16th hole with a par, and Schauffele and Cantlay didn’t have good birdie looks over the final two holes to lose.

“We have a good team. We know we have a good team,” said Hadwin. “It’s about us going out and executing golf shots, and our goal was to get them down early, get the crowd into it and on our side and hopefully carry some momentum these next three days.”

The biggest of Scott’s five birdies was a 12-footer to halve the 14th and protect a 2-up lead that led to victory on the 17th hole over Tony Finau and Bryson DeChambeau, now winless in first four matches in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

The last chance for the Americans to at least get a half-point came in the last match on the course. Reed, who heard his share of needling from the crowd over his rules violation in the sand last week in the Bahamas, made a 12-foot birdie putt to square the match on the 16th, only for Matsuyama to deliver his big putt on the next hole.

Reed’s 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th to halve the match stayed above the hole.

Perhaps typical of the Americans’ day was when Johnson, playing for the first time since Aug. 25 because of knee surgery, smashed driver on the 330-yard 11th hole to just inside 4 feet. He missed the eagle putt, Ancer made a 12-foot birdie to keep the 3-up lead and the American team never got any closer.

It was only the fourth time the International team has led after the opening session, and it was their largest margin after one day.

“This is the start we needed,” Scott said. “We’ve got to try to keep this lead now as long as possible, and hopefully the week runs out.”

MELBOURNE, Australia – Tiger Woods deferred the first pick for pairings in the Presidents Cup, and then made sure he was in the opening match Thursday against the Australian who led qualifying for the International team at Royal Melbourne.

Woods is the first playing captain since Hale Irwin in the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994, and first captain to be pick himself with a wild-card selection after winning in Japan for his 82nd career PGA Tour victory.

Woods said Steve Stricker, one of his three assistants, would serve as captain while he was playing. Stricker was the U.S. captain at the 2017 Presidents Cup.

The Americans are defending champions and had the first pick who they wanted for the first of five fourballs matches. Instead, Woods let International captain Ernie Els start, and Els sent out Marc Leishman with Joaquin Niemann of Chile, one of a record-tying seven rookies on his team.

Patrick Reed, the subject of so much conversation this week from his rules violation in the Bahamas last week, is in the fourth spot with Webb Simpson. They play Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan.

All five of the U.S. partnerships are new for a Presidents Cup or a Ryder Cup.

Dustin Johnson, who competes for the first time since Aug. 25 at the Tour Championship, has played with Matt Kuchar in various team events. This time he will have Presidents Cup newcomer Gary Woodland, giving the U.S. a big-hitting team on the short, fast track of Royal Melbourne. They will face Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen.

In the other matches, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay give the Americans an all-rookie team against Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im, while Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau face Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An.

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Book it! @ahadwingolf is paired with @sungjaeim330 in the opening match of the #PresidentsCup. They’ll square off against rookie duo of @xanderschauffele and @patrickcantlay at 5:47 p.m. ET

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Woods opted to sit out Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler, the last addition to the U.S. team when Brooks Koepka had to withdraw with a knee injury. Els left out Li Haotong and Cameron Smith, one of three Aussies on the International team.

Friday’s second session features five foursomes matches, with four matches of each format on Saturday and 12 singles matches on Sunday.

Key for the International team is a strong start. The Americans have dominated this event, winning 10 out of 12 times and tying one event in South Africa. More telling of the one-sided nature of these matches is that the Americans have not trailed after any session since the second day in 2005.

“Whoever is out there, it’s the most important match of the week for them,” Scott said. “We have to get off to a good start – as long as we can hang with them. Tomorrow is not super important, but our team doesn’t need to be chasing its tail out here. We don’t need to be mounting a huge comeback.”

MELBOURNE, Australia – As if being the first playing captain in 25 years at the Presidents Cup weren’t enough, Tiger Woods filled yet another role Tuesday at Royal Melbourne.

This wasn’t necessarily by design.

Woods had Patrick Reed in his group for the first full practice round for a U.S. team still trying to shake off the jet lag from a 23-hour flight from the Bahamas.

“It’s always great playing with Tiger because he kind of frees you up,” Reed said. “Everyone’s focused on what Tiger’s doing.”

Woods got plenty of love from the fans, many fearing they might never get a chance to see him Down Under after his career was in jeopardy from four back surgeries. Woods won the Australian Masters at nearby Kingston Heath in 2009 and made the clinching putt in 2011 the last time the Presidents Cup was at Royal Melbourne.

Not that Reed was ignored.

He was the biggest topic on the first day of interviews because of his rules violation last week at the Hero World Challenge when he twice scooped away sand behind his ball while playing from a waste area. Reed was penalized two shots after seeing the video. He says it wasn’t intentional and he wasn’t helped; he didn’t feel or see his club scrape back the sand; and the camera angle didn’t show his club far enough behind the ball.

Fans didn’t wait until the start of the matches Thursday to needle him.

Reed played in a foursome with Woods, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay. As he prepared to tee off, a fan in the bleachers said, “Now on the tee, The Excavator.”

Reed turned toward the fan and tipped his cap, then drilled his iron down the fairway.

Eleven of the 15 players and captains who were available for interviews Tuesday were asked about Reed. That included Reed, and one of the questions directed to him was, “You didn’t cheat?”

A closer look at Patrick Reed’s two-stroke penalty during Round 3 of the Hero World Challenge. pic.twitter.com/z2aqkajnYq

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 7, 2019

“No, of course not,” Reed replied.

He stood patiently before the largest group of media, answering every question about what happened, whether it bothers him to hear the word “cheat” bandied about or if he even cares what people think of him.

Reed just wants to get on with the Presidents Cup, and his teammates felt the same way.

“That’s something that’s great about Patrick is he’s been a great team player and he’s always wanted to win points for the team,” Justin Thomas said. “So I think the only way it could become a distraction is what the headlines are and how much we read into it. We’re not here to read articles and get into this or that. We are here to try to win points for the U.S. team in the Presidents Cup. … It’s in the past. And I understand it’s going to be something that continues to get brought up, but none of us worry about it.”

That didn’t stop Thomas.

He was in the bunker on one hole, stood up to the shot and purposely took two practice swings that swiped away sand, then stood there laughing before dropping the ball elsewhere.

“It’s all in good fun,” Thomas said. “We needle each other all the time but it’s never anything personal.”

Still to be determined is whether it becomes personal to anyone else, inside or outside the ropes.

Marc Leishman was outspoken last week after seeing the Reed violation on television from the Australian Open. Asked about it again Tuesday, he said, “I only saw what everyone else saw. I guess we’ve all made up our own minds about it.”

“I think we’re just going to let that one go and try and beat him on the course,” Leishman said. “I think we’ve said enough, or I’ve said enough about it. I don’t need to add any fuel to the fire. … We know we have to play well to beat the Americans, and that’s what we’re preparing for.”

This is a big year for the International team, led by Ernie Els. It has only one victory in the 25 years since the Presidents Cup was created to give players from outside Europe matches styled after the Ryder Cup. That was in 1998 at Royal Melbourne, the only other time the matches were held in December.

The underdog label, even for a home game, has never fit so well. The International team has seven rookies, with Adam Scott the highest-ranked player at No. 18. The average world ranking of the American team is 12.3.

“This week, this is probably the best chance we will have with this golf course, this crowd, and I think the way our guys are playing,” Louis Ooshtuizen said. “It’s no fun going out and everyone is saying, `They’re just going to run over them again.”’

Woods is required to play at least once before the 12 singles matches Sunday. He paired himself with Thomas for the opening round of the Bahamas, and it appears likely they will be partners, particularly with Cantlay and Reed having played together in the team event in New Orleans the last few years.

Or maybe he will play again with Reed, after having gone 0-2 at the Ryder Cup last year.

Either way, Woods is sure to draw a crowd.

“It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, I think people are going to root for him,” Thomas said.

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia – Ernie Els has selected British Columbia’s Adam Hadwin as one of his final four picks for the International Team at next month’s Presidents Cup, the captain announced today via teleconference. Hadwin joins Jason Day of Australia, Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Sungjae Im of South Korea as the final international representatives.

The Presidents Cup returns to Melbourne, Australia and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time, December 9-15, when the International Team will take on the U.S. Team led by Captain Tiger Woods.

Hadwin will make his second consecutive Presidents Cup appearance and first as a captain’s pick. The 31-year-old finished with five top-10 finishes during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season but made his best case for a captain’s pick after finishing runner-up in his first start of the 2019-20 season at the Safeway Open. That was followed up with a T4 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

“With this Presidents Cup approaching and me starting to play some good golf again, I was just hungry for a second chance,” Hadwin said. “That’s not how I would like my contribution to The Presidents Cup to be remembered and I’m looking forward to having a second chance down at Royal Melbourne, a part of an incredible International Team, and hopefully we can right some of the wrongs that we’ve had in the past and do Captain Els proud.”

The Abbotsford, British Columbia, native is just one of three Canadians to compete in the Presidents Cup, joining 2019 captain’s assistant Mike Weir and Graham DeLaet.

 

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BIG congrats to Canada’s @ahadwingolf on earning a captain’s selection to the #PresidentsCup International Team. Play well, Adam! ??? #TeamRBC

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Hadwin finished with a 0-2-1 record in his Presidents Cup debut at Liberty National.

The International Team has 22 previous Presidents Cup appearances amongst its members with six players making their Presidents Cup debuts, which matches the second-most first-timers in team history (7, 2013).

Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman, Abraham Ancer, Haotong Li, Cameron Smith and C.T. Pan round out the rest of the international team. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., was strongly considered by Els to join the team but just missed the final cut.

“Between (Hadwin) and Corey Conners, it was a very, very tight race,” said Els. “One of the difficult calls I had to make was to Corey. He was very gracious and he wished us good luck heading into these matches.

“But Adam, I love his game. He’s just very solid all around. There’s not really any weakness there.”

Conners missed the cut at the Sanderson Farms Championship but then tied for 13th at the Safeway Open, tied for 12th at the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, tied for sixth at the ZOZO Championship and tied for 20th at the World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions. He’s ranked 55th in the world _ one spot below Niemann _ and 24th on the FedExCup rankings.

Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay will represent the United States. Tiger Woods will announce his four captain’s picks _ potentially including himself _ on Thursday.

Captain Els will lead the youngest International Team in Presidents Cup history, with the average age of his 12 players totaling just over 29 years old. This is the fourth consecutive International Team that has been younger than the previous team.

Let’s get it! ??#PresidentsCup https://t.co/UeKUYkoBKe

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) November 7, 2019

Canadians in the Presidents Cup

The USGA and The R&A are conducting a review of the Rules of Amateur Status to make them easier to understand and apply.

The comprehensive evaluation is part of the continued joint effort to modernize the Rules by reducing complexity and ensuring the Rules effectively guide how the game is played today.

As part of a review process that began earlier this year, the governing bodies will seek the perspectives of golf’s stakeholders as an integral component of the review process, including elite amateur golfers, golf event organizers, national golf associations, professional golf associations and other industry partners.

The aim is to provide the golf community with a modernized set of the Amateur Status Rules in late 2021, with the goal of an effective date of January 1, 2022.

Adam Helmer, director of Rules and Amateur Status for Golf Canada, said, “We are embarking on an important review with golf’s governing bodies to take a fundamental examination of the implications of the Rules of Amateur Status to our sport. We will work closely with our provincial and national association partners to gain valuable feedback from all our stakeholders to ensure the best interests of our golfers and being met. As our sport evolves, it’s paramount the Rules remain relevant to provide fair competition and help with our continued efforts to grow the game.”

Thomas Pagel, senior managing director of Governance at the USGA, said, “One of golf’s greatest benefits is that it can be played by all ages and played for a lifetime. It is our goal to ensure that the fundamental concept of what it means to be an amateur golfer is clear and retained to promote fair competition and enjoyment for everyone, while still addressing many issues that seek to protect the game. This is a forward-thinking approach and engaging golfers is a key component of doing what’s best for golf.”

Grant Moir, director – Rules at The R&A, said, “We will be looking at the Rules of Amateur Status carefully and considering ways in which we can modernize them and bring them more into line with the way the modern sport is played. The code remains a fundamental framework for amateur golf and we will be listening to the views of players, officials and associations to give us a fully rounded view of how we can improve them.”

In a separate move, effective January 1, 2020, the USGA and The R&A will introduce one change to Rule 3-2b of the Rules of Amateur Status, which regulates hole-in-one prizes. The Rules will no longer limit the prize an amateur golfer may win when making a hole-in-one outside a round of golf, including “stand-alone” and “multiple-entry” hole-in-one events. It is hoped the change will help to promote the game and cater to new audiences as well, and eliminate unnecessary restrictions for event organizers.

New Rule 3-2b will read as follows:

Rule 3-2b. Hole-in-One Prizes

An amateur golfer may accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during a round of golf on a golf course.

An amateur golfer may also accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during contests held outside a round of golf, including multiple-entry contests and contests conducted other than on a golf course (e.g., on a driving range, golf simulator or putting green) provided in all cases that the length of the shot is at least 50 yards.

Alena Sharp is never home for a Canadian Thanksgiving turkey dinner, so she enjoys celebrating instead in late November. This year she had even more to celebrate at the end of the 2019 LPGA Tour season.

“This year is probably my best year that I’ve played,” Sharp said from Arizona, a week removed from her American thanksgiving celebration.

Indeed, the native of Hamilton, Ontario had one of her steadiest performances in her decade-plus as a professional on the LPGA Tour this past season. While she didn’t earn as much money as in 2016 – she played the U.S. Women’s Open that year, the richest purse in women’s golf – she had more top-10 finishes than any other year in her career and, overall, she’s never felt better at a season’s conclusion.

“I put myself into contention more often. I had more top-10’s in a year than I’ve ever had. I really can look back and say I played solid and steady, especially the last couple months,” said Sharp.

Sharp said what she was able to do on the greens was the key to her success this year.

In 2018 Sharp ranked 150th on Tour in Putting Average. This year, she rocketed up to 15th in the same statistic.

“That just goes to show you why my year was better, right there,” said Sharp, who continued to work with Vancouver-based coach Brett Saunders.

Sharp said Saunders identified that his pupil was not using her left-eye properly, although she is left-eye dominant. Sharp changed the way she looked down her putting line and thanks to Saunders’ equipment set-up (“He’s got cameras on every angle”) Sharp was able to, well, sharpen, her short game.

“I got into a putting routine and I never really had one in the past,” said Sharp, “and I definitely felt like I had a lot more confidence, especially on the greens.”

Sharp’s best finish of the year was a fifth-place result at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, a team event that saw her paired with Brooke Henderson for the week. She had three other top-10’s on the season.

Sharp said it’s been great to see Henderson’s ongoing fan support because the Canadian fans cheering Henderson on at tournaments around the world are also following Sharp most weeks, too.

It’s basically a forgone conclusion that the pair will also represent Canada at the Olympics in 2020 given where they’re at in the Rolex Rankings.

While Sharp is excited to represent the red-and-white again in Tokyo, she has her own individual goals she’s hoping to achieve as well – including finding the winner’s circle on the LPGA Tour for the first time.

To do that she’s going to have to top a field of LPGA Tour golfers that is getting stronger and stronger with each passing year.

“It’s way more challenging,” Sharp said of the level of competition now versus when she first joined the LPGA Tour. “Cuts are lower and it’s hard to win. You have to have four good rounds and even-par rounds don’t help you.

“It just goes to show you how the level of competition in women’s golf has increased. It’s made me as a player step up my game and step up my practice and be more focused on all those things.”

Sharp said creating a routine has been the key. Her putting success is thanks to her new routine and extra work in practice, but the whole of her approach to golf is built around trying to work smarter not harder.

“Have a plan for every day and once you’re done, you leave. You don’t stay out there to put the quantity (of work) in… it’s more about quality. As I get older it’s more about that because I don’t have as much energy as I used to,” said Sharp. “Being really smart on what I’m practicing, for how long, and the frequency of it per week is really important. That’s come up more often in the last couple years than when I was first on Tour.”

To put a bow on 2019 Sharp was also named a Player Director on the LPGA Tour’s Board, saying the reason why she followed through on joining the Board was because she wants to leave the Tour in a better place than when she first started playing.

With her newly elected post and her fine results, it was a big year for Alena Sharp both off the course and on.

She’ll enjoy a well-deserved break – with a quick trip back home in mid-December – before getting back to it and trying to achieve some of her big goals in 2020. Before she gets back into a routine and starts working hard again, she can reflect proudly on the year that was.

“There was a lot of hard work that paid off,” said Sharp.

Three Canadian juniors will be among the 80 competitors in the sixth annual Drive, Chip and Putt championship at Augusta National on April 5, 2020.

In the Girls 7-9 division, Canada will be represented by the duo of Alexis Card (Cambridge, Ont.) and Anna Wu (Victoria, B.C.). Card punched her ticket to Augusta with a score of 107 at the Oakmont Country Club qualifier while Wu posted a total of 122 at Chambers Bay Golf Course.

The Canadians are rounded out by Cole Roberts of Oshawa, Ont., who qualified at TPC River Highlands with a score of 107.

OAKMONT, PA – SEPTEMBER 07: Alexis Card participates in the girls 7-9 putting competition during the regional round of the Drive, Putt, and Chip competition at Oakmont Country Club on September 7, 2019 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

Canada has seen three juniors take home titles at the Drive, Chip and Putt nationals in as many years. Savannah Grewal (Mississauga, Ont.) won in 2017, followed by Vanessa Borovilos (Toronto) in 2018 and Nicole Gal (Oakville, Ont.) in 2019.

Local qualifying for the seventh season began in May and was held at more than 300 sites throughout all 50 states this summer. The top-three scorers per venue, in each of the four age categories in separate boys’ and girls’ divisions, advanced to more than 60 sub-regional qualifiers in July and August.

The top two juniors in each age and gender division then competed at the regional level in September and October. Regional qualifying was held at 10 courses around the country, including several U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues.

Championship scoring at the local, subregional and regional qualifiers was based on a 25-point-per-shot basis, with each participant taking three shots per skill. Each participant accumulated points per shot in all three skills (maximum of 75 points per skill = 25 points per shot x 3). The overall winner in each age category was determined by the participant with the most points accumulated between all three skills (maximum of 225 points = 75 points per skill x 3).

Click here for all regional qualifying results.

The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— took place at Magna Golf Club in 2019. Learn more here.

CALGARY—Canadians made a major mark on the 2019 edition of the Shaw Charity Classic by chipping in to raise a record $14,071,188 for 200 youth-based charities across Alberta.

The seventh-straight record-setting donation for any event on the PGA TOUR Champions now brings the award-winning tournament’s fundraising totals to more than $48 million since it first teed off in Calgary in 2013.

“It is an absolute thrill for me to look back on another record-setting year and realize this spectacular tournament continues to have a tremendous impact on our youth, which was the core goal in bringing the event to Calgary,” said Jim Riddell, who was determined to build on his late father Clay’s legacy of ensuring the Shaw Charity Classic continues to have a positive impact on Alberta youth when he took over as Tournament Chairman last fall.

“I firmly believe it takes an entire community to build a successful international event of this magnitude, so this accomplishment should be celebrated by everyone – from the more than 1,400 volunteers, to our generous corporate community, friends in the media, and all of the great citizens of this amazing city who came down to Canyon Meadows this summer. Each of you have made Calgary one of the top stops on the PGA TOUR Champions, and for that, I thank you.”

With the tournament’s charitable spirit rooted in the generous leadership of its corporate partners of the Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program, the record donation in 2019 will have a positive impact on thousands of youth representing 200 charities that includes the areas of sports, arts, health, development and counselling.

“The Shaw Charity Classic has become a powerful example of what can be accomplished when family, charity, and community rally together for a common cause,” said Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications. “Over the past seven years, we have seen the Calgary community support this tournament in ways we never could have imagined, and we are exceptionally grateful for their continued enthusiasm and generosity as we continue to grow the Shaw Charity Classic to help more kids and their families.”

The Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program, which ramped up the tournament’s charitable giving arm when it was created in 2015, welcomed donations from Canadians in all corners of the country.

“In the five years since we helped launch the Shaw Birdies for Kids Presented by AltaLink program, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of Albertans in supporting hundreds of children’s charities throughout our province,” said Scott Thon, AltaLink President & CEO. “The incredible growth of Birdies for Kids means that more kids are getting the assistance they need for a bright future. We know that supporting kids today leads to a great community and province tomorrow.”

The records didn’t stop with the financial side of the tournament in 2019. A star-studded field of PGA TOUR Champions players highlighted by six World Golf Hall of Fame members including: Bernhard Langer, Davis Love III, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara and Vijay Singh put on a stellar show in 2019. In the end, it was Wes Short Jr. who sported the winner’s white Smithbilt Cowboy Hat after holding off two-time defending champion, Scott McCarron. Short had luck on his side when his ball took a favourable bounce off a rock in the water hazard on the final hole to land on the green. Short went on to two-putt for his second PGA TOUR Champions title.

Another highlight in 2019 was the inaugural Super Saturday at the Shaw Charity Classic, presented by Freedom Mobile which featured a live concert experience with country music artist, Chad Brownlee, on the 10th fairway. The concert took centre stage following a nine-hole Celebrity Shootout where Brownlee battled with NHL and CFL greats, along with many of Canada’s Olympic best for $40,000 in charity prize money. Each participant received $1,000 for their charity of their choice in the Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink initiative.

NHL Hall-of-Fame goaltender, Grant Fuhr, took the top prize in the golf exhibition, earning an additional $15,000 for Children’s Wish Foundation. Olympic alpine ski champion, Kerrin Lee-Gartner, locked up second place and $7,000 for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Olympic curling champion, Ben Hebert, won $5,000 for KidSport Calgary thanks to his third-place finish.

The award-winning golf tournament will return to Calgary through to 2022.