We are proud to announce the IAGA will honor our longtime Golf Ontario Executive Director Dave Mills with its Distinguished Service Award, to be presented on Nov 6th at the 2018 IAGA Annual Conference @Innisbrook Congrats from all of us Dave on your accomplishments! #golfontario pic.twitter.com/HnfNGZ2KdD

— Golf Ontario (@TheGolfOntario) September 20, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn., – One day prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, teen entrepreneurs myCryptoHippo from Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Ontario won the second annual FedEx Junior Business Challenge program for their business presentation and secured a $75,000 donation from FedEx to further support youth entrepreneurship.

myCryptoHippo, which aims to educate Generation Z about cryptocurrencies and blockchain through the use of their integrated cryptocurrency simulator, presented its business to a panel of judges, including Warrick Dunn (3-time Pro Bowler and Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor member), David Cunningham (president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express), Ryan Lane (owner of Dream Beard and FedEx Small Business Grant Recipient) and Marc Leishman (3-time PGA TOUR tournament winner who is competing for the coveted FedExCup).

Through its PGA TOUR sponsorship, FedEx teed off the second annual FedEx Junior Business Challenge program earlier this year at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship (Austin, Texas) and held three other qualifying events at THE PLAYERS Championship (Jacksonville, Florida), the RBC Canadian Open (Ontario) and Dell Technologies Championship (Boston).  Judging panels comprised of PGA TOUR players, business leaders and local celebrities selected one junior achievement business at each qualifying event to move on to the FedEx Junior Business Challenge finals. myCryptoHippo was the JA champter that moved on from the 2018 RBC Canadian Open held at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

The four student-led companies that qualified for the finals were evaluated on their pitch skills, presentation content, visual aids and connection to innovation, sustainability, job creation or trade industry.  myCryptoHippo came out on top for their integrated cryptocurrency simulator, impressing the judges with their goal to make blockchain technology easy to learn and investing in cryptocurrencies less intimidating by providing a hands-on learning experience.

“It was incredible to see these teenagers from JA chapters across the country showcase their entrepreneurial skills and ambition, in addition to their innovation and intellectual curiosity,” said Warrick Dunn.  “I don’t remember what I was doing at their age, but I wasn’t starting a business.  I’m inspired by these young entrepreneurs and it’s comforting to know the kids from JA will be tomorrow’s business leaders.”

In just two years, the FedEx Junior Business Challenge program has provided more than 30 JA student-led companies the chance to present their businesses at more than ten PGA TOUR tournaments, and awarded $150,000 to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“Every day around the world, businesses are faced with new challenges, and to stay ahead of competition, companies and leaders need to be creative, agile and innovative,” said David Cunningham, president and CEO, FedEx Express.  “Success in small business and entrepreneurship is paramount to FedEx, and the JA students who participated in today’s FedEx Junior Business Challenge finals proved that the future is bright.”

Since 1996, FedEx has donated nearly $14 million to JA Worldwide in support of small businesses and future entrepreneurs.  As a part of FedEx Cares global giving initiative, the FedEx Junior Business Challenge program is part of FedEx’s goal of investing $200 million in more than 200 global communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver solutions for people around the world.  The JA Worldwide network reaches more than 10 million young people in more than 100 countries, making JA a natural partner for FedEx Cares.

With FedEx as the official sponsor of the PGA TOUR since 2002, FedEx and the PGA TOUR have a long-standing relationship.  In 2007, the PGA TOUR introduced the FedExCup as the first season-long competitive and promotional platform, transforming the competitive landscape of professional golf.  The performance-based point structure culminates with the FedExCup Playoffs, a four-tournament playoff at the end of the season to determine the FedExCup Champion.

The last time Roger Sloan had long hair, he was playing on the PGA Tour.

After a tie for second at Sunday’s Albertsons Boise Open, the native of Meritt, B.C. locked up a return to the top circuit in men’s golf. And, he said, there was a consensus amongst his family it was time to “grow the flow” again.

While the long locks might make a return, Sloan will hope his scorecards have a different look from when he last played on the PGA Tour full time in 2015. He appeared in 20 tournaments but made only seven cuts that year, and has been playing on the feeder Web.com Tour since 2016.

With his tie for second Sunday, Sloan moved to 10th on money list of the Web.com Tour Finals – a four-tournament series where the top 25 earn status on the PGA Tour – and has already secured a promotion with one event left to play.

“It all came together and I was able to play Roger Sloan golf,” Sloan said in a phone interview. “At the end of the day it was a great score and we had a chance to win and we’re walking away with a job promotion. All in all it was a great tournament.”

The 31-year-old will cap his Web.com season when the circuit’s Tour Championship starts Thursday at the Atlantic Beach Country Club in Florida.

The 2018-19 PGA Tour season starts Oct. 4 at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif.

Sloan will join fellow British Columbian Adam Svensson, who earned his first PGA Tour card by finishing in the top 25 of the regular season money list on the Web.com Tour, along with Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners, David Hearn, and Ben Silverman as part of the Canadian contingent on the PGA Tour next season.

Sloan credited the work he’s done with mental coach Paul Dewland and swing coach Jeff Barton as keys for his success this year.

“He’s worked really hard, and that’s what it takes. Everyone gets mystical about the mental game but it’s just habits and skills. You’ve just got to work at it, and has,” said Dewland. “He’s ready for the PGA Tour.”

Sloan’s runner-up result Sunday was his best finish on the Web.com Tour since he won the Nova Scotia Open in 2014. He finished tied for ninth in Boise in 2017 and said the familiarity with the golf course helped him to a near-win.

“You just really have to be patient and tactical. That combination suits me, and how I prep for a golf tournament,” said Sloan. “Boise is also a very similar climate to where I grew up in Meritt, and there are a lot of similarities. Plus Boise is a great city, and my wife and I love being there.”

Sloan and his wife, Casey, welcomed their first child – Leighton Maddox – last September. Her first birthday is September 19, and Sloan said there would be a small celebration this week, followed by a big family party next week to also celebrate his promotion to the PGA Tour.

He said travelling with an infant while playing golf this year was like “throwing a wrench into an engine” in terms of his routine, but said it was an “easy” adjustment to make.

“I got to see first-hand my daughter growing up, whereas the alternative was to see her a few weeks throughout the course of the season. I wouldn’t have changed it for the world,” said Sloan, whose wife and daughter joined him on the road this year.

The trio will continue to travel together this year on the PGA Tour.

“It was a huge upgrade for my wife because there is consistent, quality health care at every event,” said Sloan. “She is more pumped than I am.”

Sloan played one PGA Tour event this summer, the RBC Canadian Open in Oakville, Ont. He made the cut and finished tied for 37th.

He said that week he knew he was “good enough” for the next level.

“I didn’t have the greatest week at the Canadian Open but I still was able to have a decent finish,” he said. “That validated the whole processed we’ve devoted ourselves to, and I’m excited for the next several months, and the rest of my career too.”

MARCHAND, SHARP LOCK UP LPGA TOUR STATUS

After Sunday’s final round at The Evian Championship, both Alena Sharp and Brittany Marchand secured LPGA Tour status for 2019.

At the LPGA Tour’s final major of the year, Sharp, of Hamilton, Ont., finished tied for 37th, while Marchand, of Orangeville, Ont., finished tied for 49th.

The top 100 on the money list after Sunday earned LPGA Tour status for next year.

Sharp was 92nd while Marchand, a rookie this year, was 89th.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. is second on the money list and finished tied for 10th at the Evian.

AMES, Iowa – They had both recently turned 22 and were residing in the same Iowa college town but their lives couldn’t have been more different before allegedly intersecting in the most violent way.

Celia Barquin Arozamena was a top amateur golfer from Spain who was finishing her degree at Iowa State University. Collin Daniel Richards was a former inmate from small-town Iowa with a history of violence.

The Big 12 conference champion, Barquin had dreams of making the pro tour and spent hours practicing at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. Jobless and homeless, Richards had been living in a tent in an encampment near the course and had spoken of his desire to “rape and kill a woman,” police said.

Richards was charged with stabbing Barquin to death during a random attack while she was golfing by herself in broad daylight on Monday morning. Barquin’s body was found in a pond on the course near the ninth hole after fellow golfers noticed her abandoned bag and called police. Richards was arrested within hours, suffering from injuries to his face and hand after Barquin apparently tried to fight him off, investigators said.

As Barquin’s colleagues began grieving the loss of a talented teammate and classmate, Richards was ordered jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond at the county jail and facing the rest of his life in prison. It was, said Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell, a “cowardly act of violence.”

The university had planned to honour Barquin at its football game Saturday for being its female athlete of the year – news that had brought Barquin to tears, according to athletic director Jamie Pollard. Instead, football players will wear helmet decals with her initials to mourn the loss.

“We’re all devastated and heartbroken,” said Pollard, who choked back tears at a news conference.

The golf course issued a statement calling Barquin an amazing young woman with an infectious smile who “made the people around her better.”

Barquin was a top golfer in Spain as a teenager and came to Iowa State to pursue her career, drawn by its facilities, coaches, and picturesque campus. She became one of the best in school history and was completing her civil engineering degree after exhausting her athletic eligibility earlier this year. She recently won an amateur tournament in Europe and competed in the U.S. Women’s Open Championship.

Richards had lived in small towns throughout western Iowa, residing with his mother, father and grandparents at various times. He ended up in Ames in January 2017 when he was placed in a halfway house there after violating his probation, court records show. By then, he had convictions for burglary, theft, criminal mischief and harassment. A judge revoked his probation, and he was sent to prison in November 2017.

Richards left a state prison in southeastern Iowa in June after completing the sentence. Soon he was back in Ames, arrested weeks later after being found passed out at a liquor store and admitting that he drank heavily after taking antidepressants.

Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff said homicides are rare in the city, and it’s “very troubling for something like this to happen in broad daylight.”

Police said officers recovered a knife that Richards had given to acquaintances after the slaying, as well as bloody clothing from his belongings.

Officers were called to the course around 10:20 a.m. Monday to investigate a possible missing female player. They found Barquin’s body in the pond with several stab wounds to her upper torso, head and neck, according to the complaint filed Tuesday against Richards.

A police dog tracked Barquin’s scent to a homeless encampment along a creek near the golf course where Richards had been living in a tent, the complaint said. Officers found Richards with several fresh scratches on his face consistent with fighting and a deep laceration in his left hand that he tried to hide, it said.

“What did he do to her?” an acquaintance of Richards allegedly asked officers who were searching the area.

That man told investigators Richards had said in recent days that he had “an urge to rape and kill a woman,” the complaint said. A second acquaintance told police that Richards arrived at his nearby home on Monday appearing “disheveled and covered in blood, sand and water” before bathing and leaving.

Paul Rounds, a public defender representing Richards, declined comment.

Court records show that since 2014, Richards had been charged with abusing a former girlfriend, stealing a pickup truck after wrecking his own vehicle, using a baseball bat to smash a car window and burglarizing a gas station. In one case, the Iowa State Patrol seized a long knife from him during a traffic stop. In another, he threatened to return to a convenience store to shoot clerks after they caught him shoplifting.

Barquin’s former team announced Tuesday it was pulling out of the East & West Match Play in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to grieve their loss. Women’s golf coach Christie Martens said Barquin was an “outstanding representative of our school.”

Professional golfer Sergio Garcia, one of Barquin’s favourite players, tweeted that he was heartbroken by the news.

Heartbroken over what happened to #CeliaBarquinArozamena I had the pleasure of meeting her and I know she was a special person. Sending my thoughts and prayers to her family and loved ones in this difficult time

— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) September 18, 2018

Garcia wasn’t the only golfer to take to social media to express their condolences. Several Canadian golfers also shared their thoughts.

You can’t even explain such lose. RIP Celia???? https://t.co/pGbxEYUYxh

— Lorie Kane (@loriekanelpga) September 18, 2018

So heartbreaking?… As a former college golfer and student, if there was any place that was safe, the golf course was just that. My heart goes out to the family, friends and teammates. RIP Celia https://t.co/LBlrtcnEU6

— Brittany Marchand (@Britt_Marchand) September 18, 2018

This really brings tears to my eyes. Cannot believe such a horrible thing could Happen to such a nice person. Can’t even describe in words how I’m feeling right now. RIP Celia. https://t.co/4oV3N1o8HC

— Albin Choi (@AlbinChoi) September 19, 2018

I cannot imagine why this would happen to anyone. To her family, friends and teammates you are in my thoughts. Rest In Peace Celia. https://t.co/HV6QDkOhkI

— Alisha Lau (@alishalau13) September 19, 2018

How many times have we enjoyed the solitude of playing a round on our own? Early morning, late evening, just you and the course. I can’t fully wrap my head around something like this happening. RIP https://t.co/2m67vHYQZP

— Jessica Wallace (@JessWGolf) September 19, 2018

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that the Thornhill Club will host the 15th annual Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event on Sept. 24.

The event will mark a celebration of the success of all Golf Fore the Cure events held nationwide during the 2018 season. Since its inception in 2003, Golf Fore the Cure has introduced the sport to over 14,000 women while simultaneously raising over $6.4 million for breast cancer research, with proceeds going to program partners Canadian Cancer Society and Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.

“The Thornhill Club is proud to be the host venue for the 2018 Golf Fore the Cure National Event,” said Todd McGrath, Head PGA of Canada professional at Thornhill Club. “We have a very strong female membership and are proud to host an event that supports both the growth of women’s golf and breast cancer research.”

The 18-hole charity event expects over 120 women, including the top-three fundraising teams from across Canada as well as program ambassador and Rogers Sportsnet broadcaster Evanka Osmak, who will be delivering opening remarks.

Founded in 1922, Thornhill Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Stanley Thompson. The club has a long tradition of hosting major events including the 1987 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, the 2006 Canadian University/College Championship and the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. In addition, Thornhill was the site that played host to 1945 Canadian Open where Byron Nelson claimed his remarkable 11th victory in a row.

The day will culminate with a special presentation involving representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society, who will be on hand to accept the cheque for funds raised nationally through this program during the summer.

Presenting partner Subaru continues to extend their commitment to the program with the “Subaru Safest Drive” mini-game, adding to their generous gifting at the event. Pink Partner adidas Golf will be providing an apparel piece to all participants in addition to providing the top-three fundraising teams with a winter gift package including golf pants, sweater and shoes. The evening will commence with a three-course dinner, coupled with speeches from keynote speakers and followed by a special prize draw.

Registration is open to public and corporate teams.

Click here to register.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – With the upcoming 2018-19 PGA TOUR schedule reflecting previously announced, significant structural changes, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan today unveiled further innovations that elevate the entire FedExCup season – from the Regular Season through the FedExCup Playoffs and ultimately, at the Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship. These changes include a simplified scoring system at the TOUR Championship that will determine the FedExCup Champion and a new $10 million program for the FedExCup Regular Season sponsored by Wyndham Rewards: the “Wyndham Rewards Top 10.”

The FedExCup Playoffs – which have been reduced from four to three events beginning next season and will conclude before Labor Day, allowing the TOUR to compete to own the August sports calendar – will feature fields of 125 for THE NORTHERN TRUST, 70 for the BMW Championship and 30 for the TOUR Championship, where the FedExCup Champion will be determined. While the points structure for the first two events will remain the same (awarding quadruple points compared to FedExCup Regular Season events), there will be a significant change to the format for the TOUR Championship.

Instead of a points reset at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, beginning with the 2018-19 event the TOUR is instituting a strokes-based bonus system related to the FedExCup standings through the BMW Championship. The FedExCup points leader after the first two Playoffs events will begin the TOUR Championship at 10-under par. The next four players will start at 8-under through 5-under, respectively. The next five will begin at 4-under, regressing by one stroke per five players until those ranked Nos. 26-30 start at even par.

With the implementation of this change, the player with the lowest total score will be the FedExCup Champion and be credited with an official victory in the TOUR Championship competition.

“This is a significant and exciting change for the PGA TOUR, our players, our partners and – most importantly – our fans,” said Monahan. “As soon as the TOUR Championship begins, any fan – no matter if they’ve followed the PGA TOUR all season or are just tuning in for the final event – can immediately understand what’s going on and what’s at stake for every single player in the field. And, of course, players will know exactly where they stand at all times while in play, which will ratchet up the drama, consequence and volatility of the competition down the stretch.

“Compared to the current system, the beauty here is in the simplicity. Fans are very familiar with golf leaderboards in relation to par, so they will have a clear understanding of the impact every shot makes during the final run for the FedExCup – ultimately leading to a singular champion without conflicting storylines.”

“It has been gratifying to witness the growth, popularity and importance of the FedExCup since its launch in 2007,” said Davis Love III, a current Player Director on the PGA TOUR Policy Board who also served on the Board during the development and launch of the FedExCup. “Several important refinements have been made along the way to help accelerate the FedExCup’s universal acceptance as a tremendous achievement in professional golf.

However, I believe this new strokes-based bonus system for the TOUR Championship might well be the most important of them all, as it will lend absolute clarity to where everyone in the field stands and what exactly they must do to win the FedExCup. It will make for a very exciting and dramatic four days.”

Meanwhile, the new $10 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10 not only will add drama to the Wyndham Championship as the final event before the FedExCup Playoffs but will also put an even greater premium on excelling over the course of the FedExCup Regular Season. The top-10 Regular Season finishers in FedExCup points through the Wyndham Championship – also sponsored by Wyndham Rewards – will reap the benefits of the Wyndham Rewards Top 10. The leader will earn $2 million, followed by $1.5 million for the runner-up with the 10th-place finisher earning $500,000. Additionally, each player in the top 10 will be invited into Wyndham Rewards at its most exclusive Diamond level, unlocking all the travel perks and unique Wyndham benefits that go along with it.

And while the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 will be recognized at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, the impact of the program will be felt throughout the season; a player’s performance every week becomes more critical than ever before, elevating the significance of each tournament on the schedule and producing drama for PGA TOUR fans at every turn.

“We are excited to unveil the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 next year, which will place an even greater premium on excelling over the course of the Regular Season,” said Andy Pazder, Chief Tournament and Competitions Officer for the PGA TOUR. “Season-long success is tantamount to qualifying for and advancing through the FedExCup Playoffs, and this is an exciting way to reward the best of the best and provide an added layer of drama for our fans in each market and around the world.”

In addition to the $10 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10, the existing FedExCup bonus pool will increase by $25 million, to $60 million. The FedExCup Champion will receive $15 million, versus the $10 million prize from previous years.

“Our players and fans have invested in the FedExCup over the past 12 seasons, and with these enhancements, we are reinvesting in the FedExCup in order to raise the stakes, so to speak, for their benefit,” said Monahan. “We are able to grow and diversify our fan base because we have the best athletes on the planet competing on the PGA TOUR. Now is the time to make these changes, and thanks to significant input in the process by our players, partners and fans, I believe we’re making exactly the right moves.

“To that end, these changes wouldn’t have been possible without the full support of the TOUR Championship’s outstanding Proud Partners – Coca-Cola and Southern Company – as well as longtime partner FedEx and an enhanced partnership with Wyndham Rewards,” he added. “They shared our vision for how we can challenge ourselves to raise level of excitement and fan engagement throughout the season up until the moment our FedExCup Champion is determined.”

New Zealand set a record for lowest second-round score to take the top spot of a tightly packed leader board at 20-under-par 270 through 36 holes by one stroke over Denmark, Thailand and host Ireland.

The Kiwis posted a 13-under 131 on the par-72 Montgomerie Course with a 65 from Daniel Hillier, who holed a birdie putt on the 18th for the outright team lead, and a 66 from Denzel Ieremia to jump from fifth place to the lead.

Thailand had earlier posted the same score of 131 on the ‘Monty’ with a 65 from World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR™) No. 13. Sadom Kaewkanjana and a 66 from Witchavanon Chothirunrungrueng.

After a morning of rain, temperatures rose and scoring conditions improved, producing a slew of under-par scores and shifts on the scoreboard.

Playing the par-73 O’Meara Course, first-round leader Denmark posted a 7-under 139 (69 from John Axelsen and identical 70s from identical twins Ramus and World No. 7 Nicolai Hjogaard). Home side Ireland posted 9-under 133 on a 68 from No. 10 Robin Dawson and a 69 from Conor Purcell.

Also making a significant move up the scoreboard with a 13-under score of 133 was Canada, who sits fifth at 18 under thanks to a 66 from Hugo Bernard and a 67 from Joey Savoie.

Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., is the leading Canadian in individual play.  The 24-year-old sits T19 at 7-under 138.

Bernard, 23, from Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., and Garrett Rank, 30, of Elmira, Ont., are among a pack of players holding a share of 31st at 5-under 140.

ETOBICOKE, Ont – The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and Bayer Environmental Science (Bayer) announced Dean Baker from Burlington Golf & Country  Club in Burlington, Ont., as their CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year for 2018.

The CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year award recognizes a member of the CGSA who has held the position of golf course superintendent for a minimum of five years and who has distinguished her or himself through dedication to the profession, performance as a golf course superintendent and contributions to their profession and their community.

“Dean Baker is one of the most influential golf course superintendents in Ontario and truly one of the most dedicated members who instills the importance of involvement and participation in associations,” said Kendall Costain, CGSA President. “Between his teaching at the University of Guelph and all the mentoring he has done; he has had a tremendous impact on an entire generation of turf managers. His dedication to supporting not only the CGSA but also the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association (OGSA) make it clear how  fortunate we are to have him as an ambassador. He genuinely wants everybody to succeed.”

Baker has been a CGSA member since 1989.  He has also been a 25 year plus member of the OGSA and the GCSAA.

“I love my job,” said Baker, who graduated in 1985 from the University of Guelph with a Turf Management Diploma. “There isn’t a day that goes by where I hesitate waking up and going to work.  It’s a job I’ve enjoyed since I was 15 years old.”

Dean  was hired as an assistant-in-training at Glen Abbey Golf Club.  He went on to become the superintendent at Glen Abbey in 1989, a position he held until 2000, when he moved to The Club at North Halton and worked as superintendent from 2000 – 2012.  He moved again in 2012 where he became the Golf Course Superintendent at the Burlington Golf & Country Club, where he still oversees the golf course maintenance today.

He has hosted 12 RBC Canadian Opens and he was recognized by Jack Nicklaus back in the late 90’s as having the best maintained Nicklaus designed golf course (Glen Abbey Golf Club). He has taught for over 10 years at the University of Guelph and he is an Audubon certified member as well as a certified Golf Course Superintendent through the GCSAA.

Baker will receive the CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year award at the 2019 CGSA awards ceremony at the Banff Springs Hotel as part of The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference.

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FAIRHAVEN, Mass. – A two-year mission to design greater speed into every detail of driver technology has led to the introduction of the new Titleist TS drivers, available in golf shops Sept. 28 with fitting events beginning today at locations nationwide.

This mission – the “Titleist Speed Project,” as it was referenced internally by the Titleist Metalwoods R&D team – began with a challenge from the game’s best players to make Titleist drivers as fast as possible. What followed was a relentless pursuit to solicit speed from every micron and milligram of the driver head, culminating with the development of two new driver models – TS2 and TS3 – engineered to deliver faster ball speed with higher launch, lower spin and increased MOI for more distance and game-changing forgiveness.

At the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, the first week that TS (“Titleist Speed”) drivers were available for competition, it became immediately clear that the new TS2 and TS3 models had passed the test. Seventeen players put TS drivers in play – including Justin Thomas, who unleashed a career-long 422-yard drive in Round 1 – an unprecedented shift for the week of a major championship. Three starts later, Thomas earned his first World Golf Championships title with a four-shot victory at Firestone, crediting the performance gains of his TS3 9.5º driver.

The future of “Titleist Speed” is driven by the creation of the new Titleist Speed Chassis, comprising four key innovations:

• Ultra-Thin Titanium Crown. The thinnest cast titanium crown in the game (20 percent thinner than 917 drivers) allows weight to be shifted lower and deeper.
• Thinner, Faster Face. The fastest face Titleist has ever made – a refined Radial VFT (variable face thickness) that reduces weight by up to six grams – delivers faster ball speeds and increased forgiveness. The TS face is so thin that the score lines must be lasered on (instead of etched into the face like prior generations).

• New Streamlined Shape. Enhanced aerodynamic shaping reduces drag by up to 20 percent, allowing golfers to swing faster, increasing club head speed for more distance.

• Optimized Weight Distribution. Refined crown and variable face thicknesses create the lowest CG ever in a Titleist driver for higher launch and lower spin. The resulting MOI is up to 12 percent higher than 917, creating a powerful combination of speed and stability.

“From start to finish, the TS Project was about driving ball speed and unlocking a level of performance that golfers simply couldn’t ignore,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “In order to do that, we knew we had to look at things differently. We challenged ourselves to deconstruct the driver and then literally build it back up, piece by piece, to be faster, longer and better in every way possible. R&D had been exploring some unique constructions early on that were really compelling in theory, but they simply couldn’t beat the performance of our all-titanium Speed Chassis. We know performance is the story that golfers care about. From the ball speed and distance gains we’re seeing both on tour and with amateur golfers, it’s clear that TS metals deliver a new level of Titleist Speed.”

TWO WAYS TO SPEED: TS drivers bring more speed to golfers through two distinct designs. The new TS2 lets golfers swing aggressively with maximum forgiveness across the face, while TS3 offers speed-tuned distance with dynamic forgiveness through SureFit CG. Both models feature Titleist’s patented SureFit hosel with 16 independent loft and lie settings to create a more consistent and optimized ball flight through precision fitting.

TS2 DRIVERS – STRAIGHT SPEED.

• Explosive distance across the face and maximum forgiveness
• Adjustable Swingweight, Fixed CG Location
• High Launch, Low Spin
• Modern Shape, 460cc
• Available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 11.5°
 lofts

TS3 DRIVERS – SPECIALIZED SPEED.

• Speed-tuned distance and dynamic forgiveness.
• Adjustable Swingweight & SureFit CG
• Mid Launch, Low Spin
• Traditional Shape, 460cc
• Available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°
 lofts

PREMIUM STOCK SHAFTS: The TS drivers stock shaft lineup features four new aftermarket models – KURO KAGE Black Dual Core 50 (High launch and moderate spin), TENSEI AV Series Blue 55 (Mid launch and spin), HZRDUS Smoke Black 60 (Low/mid launch and spin) and Even Flow T1100 White 65 (Low launch and spin) – developed by the game’s top shaft manufacturers using insights from Titleist’s industry-best motion capture and consumer testing. Each of these shafts will be making their market debut with TS drivers.

Moderate swing speed players will benefit from Mitsubishi’s new Straight Flight Weighting (SFW) technology, which promotes straight flight in lightweight driver shaft options (KURO KAGE Black Dual Core 50 and TENSEI AV Series Blue 55).

In addition, Titleist offers an industry-leading number of custom shaft choices.

INSTANT TOUR ADOPTION: Since the debut of TS drivers at the U.S. Open, more than 100 players around the world have switched to new TS2 and TS3 models, including Justin Thomas (TS3 9.5º), Adam Scott (TS3 10.5º), Bill Haas (TS2 9.5º), Jimmy Walker (TS3 8.5º), Brian Harman (TS2 9.5º), Cameron Smith (TS2 9.5º), Rafa Cabrera Bello (TS3 9.5º), Webb Simpson (TS3 10.5º), Byeong-Hun An (TS3 9.5º), Charley Hoffman (TS3 9.5º), Peter Uihlein (TS3 9.5º), Chesson Hadley (TS2 10.5º) and Ian Poulter (TS3 9.5º).

In June, Michael Kim (TS2 10.5º) became the first player to post a victory with the new Titleist TS driver, winning the John Deere Classic by a record eight shots. For the tournament, Kim averaged five yards more off the tee (294.8) and was nearly 30 percentage points (82.14%) higher in Driving Accuracy compared to his 2017-18 season averages.

FREE TRIAL & FITTINGS: Beginning Sept. 6, golfers can experience the speed of TS drivers by attending a Titleist Fitting Day or Trial event (including Titleist Thursdays) being held at locations nationwide. To find an event, or book a free TS metals fitting with a Titleist Product Specialist, golfers can visit www.titleist.ca/events.

AVAILABILITY: Titleist TS drivers are available in golf shops worldwide beginning Sept. 28 at a price of $659.99.

L’Île-Bizard, QC – Montreal’s Caroline Ciot will make history this week at the Mackenzie Investments Open. In the field on a sponsor exemption, Ciot will become the second female to play the PGA TOUR-era Mackenzie Tour, with the first being Jacqueline Bendrick at the 2016 GolfBC Championship.

It’s also important to note that in the pre-PGA TOUR era, Isabelle Beisiegel impressively earned a Tour card in 2011.

Ciot, now 25, started playing golf at age 17 after competing as a high-level gymnast until then. She played at the University of Montreal from 2012-2015 and won eight of the 12 university tournaments she played in Quebec. She was first on the Golf Quebec Order of Merit in 2015 and turned professional in 2017.

Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year Race
The top Canadian on the Mackenzie Tour following the Freedom 55 Financial Championship will claim the Dan Halldorson trophy, along with a $25,000 bonus. Last season, Jared du Toit claimed the trophy as the 23^rd ranked player on the Order of Merit, with Ryan Williams the runner-up at spot 31.

The race is likely to come down to the wire this season, as Michael Gligic holds the lead in the 13^th spot on the Order of Merit with $37,720 with Riley Wheeldon being his closest chaser at $31,408.

Meanwhile, du Toit folds into the 31^st spot at $17,442 with Taylor Pendrith right behind him at 32 with $17,352.