RBC to continue sponsorship of PGA TOUR Signature Event and golf’s third-oldest national championship in multi-year agreement

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and TORONTO, Canada – The PGA TOUR and RBC, in partnership with the Heritage Classic Foundation and Golf Canada, today announced a multi-year extension of the bank’s title sponsorship of the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open. RBC is a long-standing supporter of golf at the professional and amateur levels and has been the title sponsor of the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open since 2012 and 2008, respectively.

The 2026 RBC Heritage, a PGA TOUR Signature Event, begins Thursday, April 16 at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and the 2026 RBC Canadian Open, Canada’s National Open, will return to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario, on Thursday, June 11.

“As the title sponsor of two events on the PGA TOUR schedule, RBC plays an essential role in golf, providing both critical development at the amateur level and life-changing moments for the world’s greatest players,” said PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp. “We are grateful to extend our relationship with RBC, Canada’s national championship at the RBC Canadian Open, as well as the RBC Heritage, the Signature Event culminating across the marina from Harbour Town’s iconic lighthouse.”

Since joining as title sponsor of the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open, RBC has helped contribute to communities in the U.S. and Canada by increasing access to the game and supporting charities in areas such as youth, education, the arts and more. RBC also supports a roster of Team RBC ambassadors on the PGA and LPGA TOUR.

“We are pleased to extend our long-standing relationship with the PGA TOUR, and to continue working with our partners to elevate the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open for players and fans,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “The unforgettable moments these events create bring our communities together and inspire golfers at every level, from grassroots to our Team RBC professionals. These world-class tournaments are also becoming powerful drivers of economic and social impact, with more than $56 million raised for local charities across North America, and nearly $250 million of economic impact generated in 2024 alone. We look forward to building on that momentum and continuing to support the lasting impact these events create both on and off the course.”

The RBC Heritage, which made its debut in 1969, ranks annually among the most-attended professional sporting events in the Carolinas. The Heritage Classic Foundation is the host organization of the RBC Heritage and donates tournament proceeds to charitable organizations in the Lowcountry. Recent champions include Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jordan Spieth.

“We are thrilled that RBC has extended our partnership, as their continued commitment strengthens our world-class PGA TOUR event on Hilton Head Island and fuels its profound impact across South Carolina,” said Steve Wilmot, Heritage Classic Foundation President and RBC Heritage Tournament Director. “The RBC Heritage is a major economic driver for our state and a powerful force for good. Having a steadfast partner like RBC allows us to grow our mission and deepen our reach, and we look forward to this exciting next chapter together.”

Dating to 1904, the RBC Canadian Open is the third-oldest national championship. Previous champions include Team RBC ambassador Nick Taylor and Rory McIlroy. In partnership with Golf Canada, RBC is committed to growing the game through RBC Community Junior Golf, which has introduced over 55,000 young people across Canada to the sport through First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course programming. RBC is also a proud supporter of Golf Canada’s National Team program, the Golf Canada Foundation, the CPKC Women’s Open and the She Plays Golf Festival.

“Golf Canada is extremely proud to celebrate the extension of a tremendous partnership with our friends at RBC as well as the PGA TOUR,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “From investing in access for the next generation of young golfers to supporting pros, RBC is the most committed, invested and engaged partner in Canadian golf, and the driving force behind the incredible growth of Canada’s historic National Open Championship.”

The 2026 RBC Heritage and 2026 RBC Canadian Open will be broadcast on CBS/Paramount+, GOLF Channel, PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, Sirius XM and distributed internationally via the TOUR’s World Feed.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.— Mackenzie Hughes of Canada birdied his last four holes Friday for an 8-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead after the first round of the Myrtle Beach Classic.

The winner of the PGA Tour event — held opposite a signature event at the Truist Championship this week — gets a spot in the PGA Championship if not already eligible.

That’s not the case for Hughes or two of the players one shot behind him — Seamus Power and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark — both already in the field next week at Quail Hollow.

Will Chandler also shot 64. He has yet to qualify for the PGA Championship.

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., finished with a flurry, making five birdies over the last six holes. He is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, though it has been more than two years since his last title.

He felt like his putting has let him down in recent week, so he changed up his routine by being quicker and more instinctive on the greens.

“Putted nicely today,” he said. “Then at the end there I kind of caught fire. I can’t remember the last time I birdied the last four holes. But it’s definitely a nice finish.”

The group at 66 included 44-year-old Nick Watney, who hasn’t won in 13 years, and 17-year-old Blades Brown in his first year as a pro.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida — The PGA TOUR today announced its schedule for the 2025 FedExCup Fall, a critical seven-event slate that helps finalize PGA TOUR eligibility for the 2026 season.

The FedExCup Fall kicks off with the Procore Championship (Sept. 8-14) at Silverado Resort in Napa, California, before taking a two-week break, during which the Ryder Cup will be contested at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. The FedExCup Fall resumes with the Sanderson Farms Championship (Sept. 29-Oct. 5) at The Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi. 

“Building on an incredibly compelling FedExCup Fall, the upcoming eligibility changes further heighten the drama and excitement for fans, with more at stake for players than ever before,” said Tyler Dennis, PGA TOUR Chief Competitions Officer. “With events in four U.S. states, Japan, Mexico and Bermuda, the conclusion to the 2025 golf calendar promises to be exciting for our fans worldwide, while also providing a lasting impact in the communities where we will play.”

As announced last week, the PGA TOUR’s event in Japan has both a new title sponsor and a new home. With the TOUR’s multi-year agreement with global consulting company Baycurrent, Inc., the newly named Baycurrent Classic (Oct. 6-12) will be contested for the first time at Yokohama Country Club, set in Yokohama, Japan. One of the premier golf courses in Japan, Yokohama Country Club was designed in 1960 by Takeo Aiyama and remodeled in 2016 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. 

The Black Desert Championship (Oct. 20-26) follows in Southern Utah at Black Desert Resort, as the TOUR builds upon a successful 2024 debut that marked the TOUR’s first trip to Utah in more than 60 years. 

The FedExCup Fall resumes in Los Cabos, Mexico, with the World Wide Technology Championship (Nov. 3-9) at El Cardonal at Diamante, a Tiger Woods-designed golf course. The season then concludes with the Butterfield Bermuda Championship (Nov. 10-16) at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda, followed by The RSM Classic (Nov. 17-23), with the FedExCup Fall standings being finalized at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

As previously announced, there are a number of eligibility changes for 2026 that will make the FedExCup Fall even more consequential in the coming year, most notably that the top 100 in the FedExCup standings through the 2025 FedExCup Fall will secure exempt status for the following PGA TOUR Season (a decrease from 125 in prior years), with Nos. 101-125 having conditional status. This change to the Priority Ranking, as recommended by the TOUR’s Player Advisory Council and approved by the Policy Board on November 18, ensures the 35 players who receive their cards via the Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour and PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry have a greater certainty of schedule and equitable playing opportunities.

The FedExCup Fall will finalize top 100 eligibility for 2026 FedExCup Regular Season, providing exempt status for Full-Field events as well as a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship. Among the significant benefits to winning during the FedExCup Fall are a two-year PGA TOUR exemption, 500 FedExCup points, entry into the season-opening The Sentry and eligibility into major championships that have traditionally invited PGA TOUR winners. Five of the seven winners from the 2023 FedExCup Fall went on to qualify for the 2024 FedExCup Playoffs – Sahith Theegala, Tom Kim, Collin Morikawa, Erik van Rooyen and Ludvig Åberg – while seven players in 2024 moved into the top 125 to secure fully exempt status for the 2025 season after beginning the FedExCup Fall outside the top 125.

Players who qualify for the 2025 FedExCup Playoffs (top 70) are exempt for the 2026 season, with players advancing to the BMW Championship (top 50) also being exempt into all Signature Events for 2026. Players ranked No. 51 and beyond will carry their FedExCup Points from the Regular Season and first FedExCup Playoffs event into the FedExCup Fall and will continue to accumulate FedExCup Points to finalize the FedExCup Fall standings and determine eligibility for the 2026 season. As part of the Aon Next 10, players ranked Nos. 51-60 through the FedExCup Fall earn their way into two early-season 2026 Signature Events, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.

All seven FedExCup Fall events will be televised on GOLF Channel and distributed via the World Feed with PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ providing featured group coverage on Thursday and Friday for the four U.S. domestic events.

The PGA TOUR’s Challenge Season, consisting of three events, will follow the FedExCup Fall: the Hero World Challenge (Dec. 1-7), hosted by Tiger Woods; the mixed-team Grant Thornton Invitational (Dec. 8-14), an event co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and LPGA; and the PNC Championship (Dec. 15-21). All three Challenge Season events will be televised on NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR announced the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas schedule, which features 16 tournaments contested across eight countries, beginning in March and culminating in September at the Fortinet Cup Championship, where Korn Ferry Tour membership will be awarded to the top 10 finishers on the season-long Fortinet Cup standings.

For the second consecutive season, the top 10 players in the final Fortinet Cup standings will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the 2026 season. A $225,000 USD purse will be contested for at each of the 16 events, totaling a $3.6 million USD pot for the season. Additionally, a $100,000 bonus pool will be shared among the top 10 players, with $25,000 awarded to the points leader, courtesy of Fortinet.

“On the heels of the success of the inaugural PGA TOUR Americas season, we are thrilled to continue building on that momentum in 2025,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin, who oversees PGA TOUR Pathways, which includes the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Americas, PGA TOUR University and PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. “We have added some exceptional golf courses to the 2025 schedule, and we remain confident PGA TOUR Americas will identify and prepare golf’s emerging stars as players continue on their journey to the Korn Ferry Tour and ultimately the PGA TOUR.”

The 2025 PGA TOUR Americas schedule features two segments – the Latin America Swing (Segment I) and the North America Swing (Segment II). The Latin America Swing includes six events in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and Colombia, while the North America Swing is comprised of 10 events – nine in Canada and one in the United States – and culminates with the Fortinet Cup Championship at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, British Columbia.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with PGA TOUR Americas as the season long cup sponsor, culminating in the Fortinet Cup Championship,” said Marc Asturias, Vice President of Marketing and Field CISO for Government at Fortinet for Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. “This year, we are excited to expand the Tour to include Cordoba, Argentina, and Mexico City, Mexico and to host the season finale in the greater Vancouver area, home to one of our major research and development centers. With over 24 years of leadership in the cybersecurity industry, Fortinet remains committed to bringing together our partners, customers, and communities to celebrate emerging golf talent, share the latest technology trends, and support local communities across the Americas.”

PGA TOUR Americas membership is comprised of players from the PGA TOUR Americas 2024 season and participants in the 2024 Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, as well as players from PGA TOUR Americas Q-School (to be contested between the two segments in 2025) and players finishing No. 11-25 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2025.

The PGA TOUR Americas season begins March 27-30 with the 93 Abierto del Centro Cordoba, held at Cordoba Golf Club in Argentina. After a one-year hiatus, PGA TOUR Americas will return to Argentina for the ninth edition of the Abierto del Centro (2013-19, 2022). Notable past champions of the event include PGA TOUR members Alejandro Tosti (2022), Tom Whitney (2019), and Cristobal Del Solar (2018).

Immediately following the season opener in Argentina, the Tour will return to the Rio Olympic Golf Course for the 70th Brazil Open (April 3-6). Recognized globally for hosting the 2016 Olympic Golf Competition, the Rio Olympic Golf Course will begin the first year of a three-year agreement which sees the Tour return to the famed course through at least 2027.

After a two-week break, the season resumes with the KIA Open (April 24-27) at Quito Tenis y Golf Club in Quito, Ecuador. As the only tournament to earn multiple awards in the 2024 season, the KIA Open was recognized for Best Tournament Brand Identity and Best Tournament Awareness.

The following week, the Tour will travel to Los Inkas Golf Club in Lima, Peru for the Diners Club Peru Open (May 1-4), which was named the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas Tournament of the Year. The Diners Club Peru Open enters its 12th year as a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event.

The three-week trip concludes with the Bupa Championship (May 8-11) at Club de Golf Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico. While the 2024 Bupa Championship was contested at Tulum Country Club, now host of the Korn Ferry Tour’s PGA Riviera Maya Championship, the 2025 Bupa Championship will see the Tour return to Club de Golf Mexico for the first time since 2013.

A one-week break in the schedule leads into the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship (May 22-25) at El Rincon Golf Club in Bogota, Colombia. The Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship marks the conclusion of the Latin America Swing, with the top 60 players in the Fortinet Cup retaining membership for Segment II in North America. The Nos. 1 and 2 players in the Fortinet Cup at the conclusion of the Latin America Swing will earn conditional membership for the Korn Ferry Tour 2026 season.

After the Latin America Swing and before the North America Swing, PGA TOUR Americas Q-School will be contested across six sites. Five sites will be in North America, while the sixth will be a new site in Colombia. The top nine finishers from each Q-School site will earn exempt membership for PGA TOUR Americas, starting with the 10-event North America Swing, while players finishing 10th-25th (and ties) from each site will earn conditional status.

The PGA TOUR Americas summer slate begins on the east coast of Canada and works westward, starting with the Explore NB Open (July 3-6) at Mactaquac Golf Course in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The following week, the Tour heads to the Bromont Open (July 10-13) at Golf Chateau-Bromont in Bromont, Quebec.

After a one-week break, the second three-week stint of the schedule begins with the Commissionaires Ottawa Open (July 24-27) at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Ottawa, Ontario. The Tour will then return to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (July 31-August 3), previously host of the 2024 season finale, for the Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates. With the North Course hosting the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, the 2025 Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates will be contested on the Heathlands Course. The BioSteel Championship (August 7-10) at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor will wrap up the three-week stretch of Ontario-based events.

The Tour returns from a week off with the Manitoba Open (August 21-24) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The 2025 tournament marks the beginning of a five-course rotation, with Breezy Bend Country Club serving as the first host venue. The Tour then heads to its only U.S. event, the CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center (August 28-31) at Cragun’s Legacy Courses in Brainerd, Minnesota.

After a one-week break, the closing stretch of the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas season commences with the ATB Classic (September 11-14) at Northern Bear Golf Course in Edmonton, Alberta, followed by the Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist (September 18-21) at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia. The top 120 players in the Fortinet Cup upon conclusion of the Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist will be eligible to compete at the season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship.

The Fortinet Cup Championship (September 25-28) will be contested at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, British Columbia. Morgan Creek Golf Course is the newest addition to the PGA TOUR Americas schedule, as the golf course will host its first PGA TOUR-sanctioned event to round out the Tour’s second season.

For more information on the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas season, please visit PGATOUR.com/americas.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and SURREY, B.C. – PGA TOUR Americas announced Tuesday that Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, British Columbia, will host the Fortinet Cup Championship in 2025. The 16th and final event of the PGA TOUR Americas season will include the top 120 players in the season-long Fortinet Cup and will be contested September 22-28, 2025. The 72-hole event will determine the Fortinet Cup Champion and the season’s top 10 players who will earn Korn Ferry Tour cards for the 2026 season.

“We’re delighted to partner with Morgan Creek and their fantastic team and look forward to contesting the Fortinet Cup Championship in the greater Vancouver area, for the first time in the history of the event,” said Scott Pritchard, Vice President of PGA TOUR Americas. “It’s been a mutual goal of ours and Fortinet to play the Fortinet Cup Championship in the Greater Vancouver Area since the inception of our partnership and we are looking forward to an amazing competition at one of British Columbia’s premier venues.”

Designed by Thomas McBroom, Morgan Creek has earned the reputation as one of the top golf courses in Canada since it opened in 1995. The course plays as a par 72 and just under 7,000 yards. For the Fortinet Cup Championship, players will play the course as a par 70, as two par 5s will be converted into par 4s. The Fortinet Cup Championship will be the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament hosted by Morgan Creek, however the club is no stranger to hosting national and international tournaments and has hosted Golf Canada, PGA of B.C. and Maple Leaf Junior Tour events. Additionally, Morgan Creek has hosted Open Qualifiers for the RBC Canadian Open and the LPGA’s CPKC Women’s Open.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome the Fortinet Cup Championship to Morgan Creek,” said Tom Doull, Director of Golf Operations at Morgan Creek Golf Course. “This prestigious event is the perfect match for our commitment to excellence in golf, and we are thrilled to showcase our course on an international stage. We can’t wait to celebrate the season’s top players and create a memorable experience for everyone involved.”

The Fortinet Cup Championship has proven to be a pivotal stop for the future stars of the PGA TOUR. Past participants of the Fortinet Cup Championship include PGA TOUR member and 2023 Fortinet Cup Champion Hayden Springer, Tony Finau, Jake Knapp and 2024 Presidents Cup International Team members Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith.

“We are very excited about the arrival of the Fortinet Cup Championship in British Columbia for 2025,” stated Gordon Phillips, Vice President of Western Canada at Fortinet. “This event will be the perfect opportunity to bring together our customers and partners and provide them with the best golf in Canada, as well as experience Fortinet’s industry-leading cybersecurity technology and commitment to the local community, built on more than 2,000 Fortinet employees based in the lower mainland in BC. Fortinet has strong ties with BC, home to our largest R&D facility and the FortiGuard´s threat intelligence team.”

“As the Title Sponsor for the Fortinet Cup Championship, we are proud to partner with PGA TOUR Americas to host this prestigious event at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, BC,” said Marc Asturias, Vice President of Marketing and Field CISO for Government at Fortinet Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. “For the last 25 years, Fortinet has been a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. This sponsorship allows us to further our commitment to excellence in cybersecurity, fostering community engagement, promoting young golf talent, and helping the local communities.”

Since Fortinet became the Cup sponsor and season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship title sponsor, the tournament has partnered with deserving charities, including the Corey and Mallory Conners Family Fund, Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids and most recently the First Tee of Ontario. Giving back to the community remains an integral pillar to this event and Fortinet will be announcing the charity partner in the coming months.

The 16-event PGA TOUR Americas season will consist of six events in Latin America, and 10 in North America, nine of which are in Canada. PGA TOUR Americas will announce the complete 2025 schedule in the coming weeks.

Rahontsá:waks Albany’s father had already planned to take his son to watch Thursday’s opening matches of the Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club.

Little did he know, the 12-year-old would end up being part of the day’s festivities, one of four First Tee participants selected to carry the flags of the United States, Canada, Quebec and the International Team at the event’s Opening Ceremonies.

“It was just like, what are the odds of having this opportunity?” Rahontsá:waks’ mother, Lacey Paul, says.

Rahontsá:waks, Nashtyn Mayo and Aronhiakèn:ra Martin were chosen from the Kahnawá:ke Mohawk Territory First Nations reserve and First Tee – Quebec’s partner, Club 24 Athletics. Club 24 seeks to build future leaders in the indigenous community through educational support and sports participation.

The fourth flag bearer, Jarred Pompey, is from nearby Montreal and a member of First Tee – Quebec, too. Earlier this year, he caddied at a charity shootout in conjunction with the Presidents Cup media day where First Tee – Canada received a $250,000 donation from the biennial match-play competition.

The other charitable beneficiaries of the Presidents Cup are McGill University Health Centre Foundation, One Drop Foundation and Montreal Children’s Hospital.

On a recent Zoom call, it was hard to tell who was more excited – Rahontsá:waks, whose name in Kanien’kéha, which is the Mohawk language, means “He shakes the Earth” – or his mother.

Paul, who works for the Kahnawá:ke Tourism office, was about to go into a strategic planning meeting when she was notified that her son had been chosen. She remembers bursting with pride and telling anyone who would listen.

“To see our little guy represent Kahnawá:ke on the international stage, it truly is an honor, to have and see indigenous representation at the Presidents Cup,” Paul says.

Kahnawá:ke, which comes from the Mohawk word meaning “place of the rapids,” is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, about an hour from Royal Montreal.

Paul is fiercely proud of her son and other indigenous athletes like Notah Begay III, a Native American and five-time winner on the PGA TOUR. Performers like Lily Gladstone, an actress raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana who was nominated for an Academy Award last year, have also raised awareness of the indigenous community.

“We have so many children who excel in sports that we’re going places,” Paul says. “The world is opening up, and seeing all the indigenous – the actors, the soccer players, the lacrosse players, the hockey players, even Brandon Montour who played for Florida Panthers. He’s from Six Nations.

“So, I think right there, it’s opening up a world like this international stage.”

Rahontsá:waks expects to be nervous on Thursday at Royal Montreal. But he is hoping for a chance to see his favorite player, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, and pick up any pointers he can during his visit to the prestigious competition that began in 1994. He’s been a member of the Club 24 program since it started three years ago and recently started competing in nine-hole events.

Club 24 Athletics seeks to build future leaders in the indigenous community through educational support and sports participation. (Courtesy Lacey Paul)

“It’s really nerve-wracking,” says Rahontsá:waks, flashing an engaging smile. “I never really played competitive golf, but I liked it. I made new friendships with other kids, and I want to go back to playing them next year, too, or even the 18-hole tournaments.”

Rahontsá:waks, who also plays lacrosse and hockey, started going to the golf course with his older brother, Tehorahkwaneken, during the COVID-19 lockdown. Tehorahkwaneken, who was recently invited to play in an amateur tournament in Dubai, attended the Hernan Rey Golf Academy in Orlando for the last two years.

Paul has seen her younger son grow beyond simply mastering the rules and fundamentals of the game. At 12, he’s become more self-confident and mature than he once was.

“But you’re still a kid,” she says. “(He’s learned) to play the game of golf and to have patience. … And that also golf is a mental game. And just for the love of golf to keep pursuing the game.”

According to Martin Barnard, CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation, the return of the Presidents Cup to Royal Montreal was the catalyst for the launch of First Tee – Canada. In a partnership announced in 2020, the PGA TOUR committed $250,000 to the effort, and the first chapters were created in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic a year later. There are now six chapters serving all 10 Canadian provinces.

“It is really a three-way partnership between Golf Canada, PGA TOUR and the Golf Canada Foundation, and that announcement really spurred all of this tremendous growth that’s happened since 2020,” Barnard said. “When we launched, we had to sort of set about saying, ‘Okay, we need the support of the philanthropic community. We needed the support of some of the corporate partners that we had as well.’ …

“And last year we were thrilled to announce that we’ve reached more than 100,000 kids through the program in Canada and more than 19 million raised since that time.”

Barnard says First Tee, which uses the game of golf to develop character and life skills, works with its local chapters to make sure they bring kids from a variety of backgrounds into the program to “better represent the fabric of Canada.” The partnership with the Presidents Cup will only add to that legacy.

“It’ll be hundreds of thousands of kids, to be honest, that’s affected by this announcement and by this tournament coming to Canada,” he says. “As you know, International Team Captain Mike Weir is an advocate for this. He’s been amazing. He’s given a ton of his time and energy into promoting First Tee. And so really at the end of the day, because the TOUR and the Presidents Cup got behind us, we were able to raise a lot of money.”

And many more kids like Rahontsá:waks will benefit.

MONTREAL – Justin Trudeau, the 23^rd and current Prime Minister of Canada, has accepted an invitation to serve as Honorary Chairman of the 2024 Presidents Cup when the competition returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, September 24-29. 

“With the return of the Presidents Cup to Canada, we are honored to have the support of Prime Minister Trudeau as our honorary chairman for the 2024 event,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “The Presidents Cup has customarily honored world leaders throughout its 30-year history, and Prime Minister Trudeau’s addition will greatly enhance our efforts to promote the global nature of golf through spirited team matches.”

Prime Minister Trudeau is part of a distinguished group of world leaders who have previously held the position of Honorary Chairman at the Presidents Cup. 

• 2022 – 46^th U.S. President, Joe Biden
• 2019 – Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australia
• 2017 – 45^th U.S. President, Donald J. Trump
• 2015 – President Park Geun-hye, South Korea
• 2013 – 44^th U.S. President, Barack Obama
• 2011 – Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia
• 2009 – 44^th U.S. President Barack Obama
• 2007 – Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada
• 2005 – 43^rd U.S. President, George W. Bush
• 2003 – President Thabo Mbeki, Republic of South Africa
• 2000 – 42^nd U.S. President, William Jefferson Clinton
• 1998 – Prime Minister John Howard, Australia
• 1996 – 41^st U.S. President, George H.W. Bush
• 1994 – 38^th U.S. President, Gerald R. Ford

The Presidents Cup, a team match play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top golfers – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – is held biennially, and since 1996 has alternated between the United States and international venues. The U.S. Team has won 12 of the 14 previous Presidents Cups, and the only win by the International Team came at the 1998 event in Melbourne. A historic 17-17 tie came in 2003 when the event was held in South Africa.

Canadian Mike Weir will lead the International Team as captain when the event returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club for the first time in 17 years, while Jim Furyk will captain the U.S. Team.

As host of the 2007 and 2024 Presidents Cups, The Royal Montreal Golf Club will become the second international venue to host the event more than once, joining The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, a three-time host.

For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com. 

MONTREAL – International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama as his fifth and final captain’s assistant for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Sept. 24-29. Maruyama joins fellow captains assistants Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas, who were announced in April. 

Maruyama competed in the Presidents Cup in 1998 and 2000, compiling a 6-2-0 record, including a 5-0-0 performance in the former, when the International Team defeated the U.S. Team in Australia, 20.5-11.5. He is one of only six players in Presidents Cup history to post a 5-0-0 record on the week.

“I am thrilled to announce Shigeki as my fifth captain’s assistant for the 2024 Presidents Cup,” said Weir. “His record in this event speaks for itself, but more importantly, he adds a trusted voice in our team room and is someone who will inspire these 12 players through his unwavering support and dynamic personality.”

Maruyama won three times during his PGA TOUR career, with his last victory coming at the 2003 Wyndham Championship. The 54-year-old posted three top-10 finishes in major championships, including a career-best T4 at the 2004 U.S. Open. Maruyama won 10 times on the Japan Golf Tour and represented Japan in the 2002 World Cup of Golf, partnering with Toshimitsu Izawa to notch a two-shot victory over the United States team of Phil Mickelson and David Toms.

“Representing the International Team in the Presidents Cup as both a player in 1998 and 2000 and later as a captain’s assistant in 2013 was one of the most valuable experiences in my golf career,” said Maruyama. “I am honored that Captain Weir has given me the chance to be part of this special brotherhood once again. I am looking forward to a great week in Montreal and helping to deliver an incredible atmosphere for our players and fans in Canada.”

RESORT VILLAGE OF ELK RIDGE, Saskatchewan – Team Canada member A.J. Ewart claimed his first professional victory at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open presented by Lake Country Co-op and moved into the No. 14 position of the Fortinet Cup. John Keefer captured his fourth runner-up finish alongside Grant Booth and Brendon Doyle. Six players tied for fifth.

Ewart made his fifth start of the PGA TOUR Americas season this week and gained entry into the field via sponsor exemption. The 25-year-old began and ended the tournament at the top of the leaderboard after finalizing Thursday’s first round in solo possession of the lead. Through 36 holes, Ewart shared the lead with three other players and reclaimed the individual lead by one stroke after Saturday’s third round. At one point Sunday afternoon, with four holes remaining, Ewart was part of a four-way tie for the lead. A birdie on No. 16 boosted Ewart back to the top, and with late bogeys from playing partners Chuan-Tai Lin and Bryce Lewis, Ewart claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole.

With his victory, Ewart became a fully exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas for the rest of the 2024 season and through the Latin America Swing of 2025. From relying on sponsor exemptions to get into events to now having a place to play until next season, Ewart relays, “It’s really special just having some job security, right, and knowing where you’re going to be and plan ahead. The last month and a half or two months have been kind of chaotic, I didn’t know where I was going to be or what I was going to be doing, just playing everywhere and whatnot. Now it’s nice to know exactly what’s going to happen.”

Not only did a victory secure Ewart exempt membership, but it moved him 155 spots up the Fortinet Cup to No. 14 in the points list. Given that Ewart is safely inside the top 120 of the Fortinet Cup, he is expected to play in the next two full-field events, as well as the limited-field, season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship. The top 10 players in the Fortinet Cup following the conclusion of the Fortinet Cup Championship will earn Korn Ferry Tour cards for the 2025 season.

“Yeah, obviously it’s special, right,” said Ewart on the opportunity to content for a Korn Ferry Tour card. “That’s what we want to be. We want to keep moving on up and eventually make our way to the PGA TOUR. To have a chance for a Korn Ferry Tour card is everything that I could wish for. I’m thankful to be in this position and looking to make the most of the opportunity.”

Prior to this season, the Coquitlam native entered into his first year as a professional after graduating from a four-year collegiate career at Barry University. He accounted for 14 collegiate victories, breaking the previous record held by PGA TOUR player Adam Svensson. Upon graduation, Ewart qualified for PGA TOUR Canada, but on the outcome of only three made cuts, finished No. 89 in the Fortinet Cup and lost status.

Moving into his second season as a professional in 2024, Ewart appeared in three other events (prior to the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open) on the basis of sponsor exemptions, as well as a fourth event due to his season-best and top-25 finish at the Explore NB Open (T25/-14). With Sunday’s victory, Ewart will round out the rest of the season as a fully exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas, and is expected to be in the field at next week’s CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open.

MONTREAL – With exactly 50 days to go until the Presidents Cup returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, U.S. and International Teams are starting to take shape with just three more events until the top six automatic qualifiers are locked up following the BMW Championship on Sunday, August 25.

Over the last two weeks, the only movement inside the top six for the U.S. Team has been Sahith Theegala and Patrick Cantlay switching spots, currently sitting at No. 5 and 6, respectively. The top four players have remained unchanged with Scottie Scheffler further cementing his spot at No. 1 following a final-round 62 in Paris to secure a gold medal in the Olympic men’s golf competition. 

“I think any time you can be part of the Olympics is really special and for golf to be on the Olympic stage is a tremendous amount of fun for us. I think after the first Olympics, I think it held pretty high place in our game and I think it still stands today,” said Scheffler. 

The 2024 U.S. Team will be comprised of six (6) automatic qualifiers and six (6) Captain’s picks, with a weighted system based on FedExCup Points from January 1, 2023, through August 25, 2024. The automatic qualifiers will be the top six eligible U.S. players in the OWGR after completion of the 2024 BMW Championship.

Top-6 U.S. Team standings:

1.         Scottie Scheffler

2.         Xander Schauffele

3.         Collin Morikawa

4.         Wyndham Clark

5.         Sahith Theegala

6.         Patrick Cantlay

For the International Team, Matsuyama remained atop the standings after earning the bronze medal in Paris, while Tom Kim moved up to No. 2 following an eighth-place finish. Outside of Kim and Sungjae Im switching spots between Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, the rest of the top six remains unchanged over the last two weeks with Jason Day, Byeong Hun An and Adam Scott rounding out the group.

With Canadian icon Mike Weir serving as captain of the International Team, much attention has been put on the top players from the host country for this year’s Presidents Cup. With three weeks to go, there are currently five Canadian players inside the top 15 in the International Team standings: Corey Conners (8), Nick Taylor (10), Adam Hadwin (12), Taylor Pendrith (13), and Mackenzie Hughes (15).

The 2024 International Team will be comprised of six (6) automatic qualifiers and (6) Captain’s picks, with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) being used to determine the former. The automatic qualifiers will be the top six eligible international players in the OWGR after completion of the 2024 BMW Championship. 

Top-6 International Team standings:

1. Hideki Matsuyama
2. Tom Kim
3. Sungjae Im
4. Jason Day
5. Byeong Hun An
6. Adam Scott

To view the complete 2024 Presidents Cup standings for both teams, please click here.