VIRGINIA WATER, Eng. — Turkey is back in the race to host the 2022 Ryder Cup, a day after announcing the withdrawal of its bid because it would require cutting down up to 15,000 trees to accommodate grandstands at its chosen course.

The European Tour said Thursday that Turkey was one of six nations to formally declare their intention to submit a bid for the event, along with Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

The tour says Denmark has pulled out of the running.

The six countries will host meetings and inspection visits by European Ryder Cup officials by April 30, 2015. That is the date formal bids must be submitted.

If you’ve been playing golf in Canada recently and entering your scores into the Golf Canada Handicap System, chances are those scores have not been counting towards your Golf Canada Handicap Factor.

In Canada, each province has an “active season” (listed below), during which period one must register all golf scores to establish a legitimate Golf Canada Handicap Factor.

Any rounds played at a golf club observing an inactive season can be posted, however, they will not count towards your handicap factor.

Golf Canada’s Handicap Manual stipulates each player is responsible for returning all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record from rounds played on courses observing their active season, which is when optimal playing conditions exist.

Each year, provincial associations analyze numerous factors to determine the parameters of their active seasons. This ensures the consistency of scores posted by the majority of golfers to help keep factors accurate and fair.

The rationale behind this is that posting scores during inactive seasons (periods of poor course conditions) could artificially impact a player’s handicap factor. Knowingly using a false handicap factor is not acceptable, and when a handicap is artificially inflated it is referred to in golf as ‘sandbagging’.

For golf fanatics trying to squeeze in the last few rounds of the season, or for those planning on heading south this winter, it’s important to note the “active season” in the region, province or country you’re playing in.

In Canada, the active season in each province is as follows:

• BC = Mar. 1 – Nov. 15
• AB = Mar. 1 – Oct. 31
• SK = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
• MB = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
• ON = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
• QC = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
• NS = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
• NB = May. 1 – Oct. 31
• PE = Apr. 16 – Nov. 14
• NL = Apr. 1 – Nov. 30

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of authorized provincial golf association to declare active and inactive periods, and it is the responsibility of the area club and golfers to observe these dates for posting purposes.

Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club from which the player receives a Handicap Factor is observing an inactive season. This means that if you play some golf in the southern US this winter, you must report your scores to your Canadian golf club.

The club’s Handicap Committee must make it possible for a player to post these away scores at the beginning of the active season. Golf Canada assists here with access to post scores through this site – golfcanada.ca – or by downloading our score posting app which can be downloaded here.

It’s also important to note that if you are travelling to other countries, you should determine their active seasons to prevent posting unacceptable scores. Your home club needs all acceptable scores to ensure your Handicap Factor is accurate once recalculated at the beginning of the season.

For a detailed list of active and inactive schedule in the United States, click here.

For more information on handicapping, click here.

With 14 participants in the mix at this year’s 2nd stage of the Web.com qualifying, Canada is well represented.

Three 2nd stage events take place this week at courses in Texas (2) and Florida (1).

Brad Fritsch, who had three top 10s on the PGA Tour last season, followed up his first round 70 at the TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Tex. with a 1-under par 71. The 37-year-old is currently tied for eighth with Kyle Scott of Decatur, Ga.

Playing alongside the Ottawa native at Craig Ranch are fellow Canadians Beon Yeong Lee of Montreal, Cam Burke of Kitchener, Ont., Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont.

Lee began the week strong, firing a 3-under par 69 Tuesday, but gave all three strokes back in second round action, carding a 72.  He is tied for 23rd.

Pendrith, who turned heads with gargantuan drives at the 2014 RBC Canadian Open in Montreal, has struggled in his first two rounds (75, 73).  After making four bogeys and a double to accompany his five birdies in Rd. 2, the long-bomber is T46.

Burke and Shin both finished Rd. 2 tied for 33rd spot at +2.

Just less than 500 km away at the qualifier in Kingwood, Tex, four Canadians have gotten off to a tremendous start and all sit within the Top 25 after Day 2.

Peterborough’s Ted Brown is 12th at 1-over after carding a 1-under 71 at Deerwood Golf Club Wednesday.  Devin Carrey of Burnaby, B.C. and Albin Choi of Toronto are one-stroke back of Brown, as both players are tied for 15th at 2-over.  Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (T22) is also in the mix, trailing Choi and Carrey by a shot at +3.

Meanwhile, Toronto native Christian Westhorpe shot a 5-under par 67 on Wednesday to finish tied for 8th at the qualifier in Florida.  His countryman Wilson Bateman of Edmonton is also in a good position, tied for 19th  after carding rounds of 69 and 71.

Both players have a good chance of advancing to the final qualifying stage next month if they continue to play well this week at Southern Hills Plantation Club.

Also in the field in Florida this week are Canadians Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., Christopher Ross of Dundas, Ont., and Matt Hill of Sarnia, Ont.

Gligic opened with rounds of 69-75 and sits tied for 47.

Ross, who has recorded three albatrosses in 2014, is +4 (T69) and will have to go low in Rds. 3 & 4 if he is to advance.

Hill, who won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit in 2012, is T47 with an accumulative score of even par after two days.

For all web.com 2nd stage qualifying information and scores, click here.

The PGA of Ontario has announced its 2014 award winners:

Player of the Year: Brian McCann (Brampton Golf Club)

Coach of the Year: Henry Brunton (Henry Brunton Golf)

Class “A” Professional of the Year: Sheldon Friske (Thornhill Golf Club)

Golf Professional of the Year: Colin Imrie (Weston Golf and Country Club)

Retailer of the Year: Jamie Trenholme (Eagle’s Nest GC)

Candidate for Membership of the Year: JP Van Rooyen (Taboo Muskoka Resort)

Junior Leader of the Year: Jeff Overholt (Golf Performance Coaches)

Teacher of the Year: Liam Mucklow (The Golf Lab)

Professional Development Award: Adam Wagner (Ambassador Golf Club)

Founded in 1927, the roughly 1300 men and women who belong to the PGA of Ontario Zone, are located at 350 facilities throughout the province, and have chosen the game of golf as a career, promoting the game each and every day to Ontario’s 1.2 million golfers.

The organization builds programs to train and educate golf professionals to learn and adapt to the ever changing industry. This includes various teaching workshops, accreditation programs and industry seminars, each designed to help ensure that golf professionals remain current within the golf industry and are able to provide the expertise expected of them in their day to day functions.

PGA of Canada Members in Ontario work in a number of capacities within the golf industry ranging from administrators, chief operating officers, teachers, sales representatives, expert club fitters, tournament directors, special event coordinators and tireless promoters of the game to name a few.

What does a 26-year-old pro golfer who just won his first PGA Tour event and US$720,000 do immediately following his victory?

If you’re Nick Taylor, you do your laundry.

Taylor overcame a four-shot deficit Sunday to capture his maiden PGA Tour victory in just his 13th start on golf’s top circuit. He shot 6-under-par 66 in his final round – despite a three-putt bogey on the 72nd hole –  for a two-shot victory over Americans Boo Weekley and Jason Bohn.

After the win, he and fellow Canadian and longtime roommate Adam Hadwin, along with their caddies, went for dinner to celebrate. But right after, Taylor was back cleaning and packing his clothes. He was in bed by 10 p.m.

“I was wiped out,” he said during a conference call with reporters Monday. “I was in bed reflecting and trying to respond back to as many people as possible.”

There was an outpouring of well wishes on Twitter as “Nick Taylor” was trending across Canada for nearly an hour after his win.

The native of Abbotsford, B.C., has had quite the year already, but this win was the icing on the cake.

He got married in May and he missed six straight cuts on the Web.com Tour in the summer. Then he shot the best final round of his life in September at the Web.com Tour Championship to snatch up PGA Tour status for 2014-15.

“I called my wife and she’s in tears,” Taylor said after his win on Sunday. “She doesn’t know what’s going on. I don’t really know what’s going on either.”

Aside from the big payday, Taylor earned an exemption into The Players Championship and the PGA Championship. Most importantly for Taylor, though, was earning a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

“Now that I can actually pick my schedule, that’s the biggest thing that will sink in,” he said. “I want to play every event because it’s my first season. You’ll have to get a leash on me so then I don’t wear myself out.”

With the win, Taylor became the first Canadian winner on the PGA Tour since Stephen Ames, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who is now a Canadian citizen living in Calgary. He captured the Children’s Miracle Network Classic November 15, 2009 – nearly five years to the day prior to Taylor’s win Sunday.

Taylor was tipped as Canada’s “next big thing” in golf after wins at the Canadian Junior and Canadian Amateur Championships. He spent 21 weeks as the world’s no.1-ranked amateur, but then toiled on the Canadian Tour – now PGA Tour Canada – and the Web.com Tour for the last five years.

“You could have picked me out of a pile of great players, and I was lucky enough to break through,” he said.

Taylor and Hadwin grew up playing junior and amateur golf together and got their starts on the Vancouver Golf Tour, the brainchild of Fraser Mulholland.

“We’re very proud they’ve come across our Tour and used it to learn how to win,” said Mulholland. “Last Spring, 1/8Taylor 3/8 played in 11 of our events prior to the PGA Tour Canada season, and he won eight of them. I was not surprised for him to get to the PGA Tour, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win again.”

Scott Simmons, the CEO of Golf Canada, was also excited for Taylor. Taylor was a member of Golf Canada’s national team from 2008 to 2010, and Simmons said he is at the very front of the player development process it is trying to instil across the country.

“No system can make up for someone who doesn’t have the internal DNA,” said Simmons. “But if you take that kind of DNA and surround it with the support system we now have in Canada, I think it’s a recipe for success.”

A Canadian-born golfer hadn’t raised a PGA Trophy since Mike Weir in 2007.

Industry pundits thought one of the more experienced players would end Canada’s winless drought.

But it was Taylor.

He admitted it was good news for golf in Canada.

“I’m proud and lucky I was the first one to win, but I have no doubt in my mind that I won’t be the last, even this season,” Taylor said. “It’s looking bright for Canadian golf, that’s for sure.”

And maybe one day, he’ll have someone else do his laundry.

What does it take to win a PGA TOUR event? In your rookie season? Or any season?

In a typical Canadian understatement, Nick Taylor says all it takes is “getting the ball in the hole.”

If it were only that simple!

Starting four shots back at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi on Sunday, Taylor shot a near-flawless 66 to blow away a mighty impressive group of fellow contenders including 54-hole leader John Rollins, the 2002 RBC Canadian Open champ.

After picking up the trophy and the winner’s cheque of US$720,000 at sundown Sunday, Taylor and his caddie went out for dinner, did their laundry and turned the lights out at 10 p.m. (Yawn.) He probably didn’t sleep (more yawns) until his conference call with the media at 9:30 the next morning where he was grilled about just about everything he did or thought last week. (Even more yawns.)

Well, at least, the Winnipeg-born 26-year-old who learned the game at Ledgeview Golf and Country Club in Abbotsford, B.C., didn’t do the stereotypical Canadian thing and apologize for beating a pretty solid field for his maiden victory.

And, truth be told, he had absolutely nothing to apologize for. Nick Taylor was full value for this victory.

Five years ago, Taylor was the world’s No. 1-ranked amateur. He had won just about everything worth winning at that point: the 2006 Canadian Junior, the 2007 Canadian Amateur, low amateur in the 2009 U.S. Open, and so on.

What did all those accolades get him when he turned pro in 2010? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Hello, Vancouver Island Tour, PGA TOUR Canada, Web.com Tour… A grim and gritty reality check for even the world’s best golfers. The bottom ranks of pro golf are a relentless filter, a merciless litmus test that many attempt and few survive.

But, to his credit, Nick Taylor didn’t expect anything else. “I was playing professional golf for a living, and it doesn’t get any better than that. I knew I had to earn everything. There were times when I was discouraged, when I doubted myself.” But he persevered. And finally got that ball into the hole, when it mattered, on golf’s greatest stage.

In winning Sunday, Taylor became the first Canadian-born winner on the PGA TOUR since Mike Weir in 2007. (Factual footnote: Calgary’s Stephen Ames, a four-time winner on TOUR, was born in Trinidad and Tobago. While we’re at it, for you trivia buffs, the last Canadian-born winner of the RBC Canadian Open was Karl Keffer of Tottenham, Ont., in 1909 and 1914. Pat Fletcher, who won our Open in 1954, was born in England and moved here as an infant.)

So many promising amateur players never make the successful transition to the pro ranks. (For more, see my previous column, Celebrating the career amateur.)

Based on last week’s snapshot, could Taylor be the exception and, if so, why?

Assuming his innate talent and indefatigable work ethic, there was an unyielding foundation upon which his success was built.

“My team helped me get here. My parents, my wife Andie, my agent [Chris Armstrong of Wasserman Media], Golf Canada … they all helped me every step of the way. My former Team Canada coach Derek Ingram showed up to support me when I was playing in Winnipeg in a PGA TOUR Canada event. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Years ago, there was a TV commercial for investment house Smith Barney, featuring Oscar-winner John Houseman. The gist was, “We do it the old-fashioned way. We earn it.”

Nick is, no doubt, too young to recall that commercial.

Nevertheless, he gets the message. And, chances are, he will continue to deliver that message to the rest of his PGA TOUR colleagues for years to come. To their collective dismay, we hope.

To listen to a full interview with Nick Taylor following his Sanderson Farms victory, click here.

What began in 2004 with a few shoe styles, personalization and colorful leathers has evolved into a global program with more than 14 million ways of customizing the golf shoe.

To commemorate 10 years of custom shoes, FootJoy is introducing a premier line of leathers to the MyJoys program.

The outstanding Premier category allows customers to design their shoes to include the finest Snake and Lizard print Italian leathers. Available in a bicycle toe pattern in cleated FJ ICON and FJ ICON Boa styles, as well as the spikeless FJ Professional, the Premier line offers black, brown and red snake prints in addition to pearl and charcoal lizard print leathers.

Since FootJoy’s custom MyJoys program was introduced in 2004:

• 184 different leathers have been offered
• Shoes have been shipped to 53 countries
• 67 different shoe upper patterns have been available
• 2,980 logos have been used
• Each pair has been made from scratch

Today, golfers can choose from 23 different upper patterns across cleated and spikeless outsoles on the largest size chart in golf. Sizes range from 4 extra narrow to 17 extra extra wide – which equates to 138 different size options. Consumers even have the opportunity to order different sizes for each foot, if necessary.

Customization options, including choices in leathers, continue to evolve on a regular basis. Currently, MyJoys offers 21 smooth leathers in a wide variety of colors, 3 metallics, 20 limited edition animal prints (blue iguana, lilac lizard, banana croc, etc) and 10 patent leathers.

In addition, golfers can personalize their MyJoys shoes and choose to add a name or message up to six characters in length and can select from a library of logos, including 114 novelty logos and 90 country flags. All personalization is embroidered on the shoe for a premium appearance and maximum durability.

“MyJoys enables FJ to uphold its commitment of creating golf shoes for every type of player,” said Rita Lepage, MyJoys Marketing Manager. “No matter what you’re looking for in golf footwear – whether it be men’s or women’s, cleated or spikeless, a size that’s difficult to find or a truly unique color combination – you are likely to find it in the MyJoys custom program and our constantly evolving menu of custom options.”

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Canada won its first ever Tailhade Cup at the Los Lagartos Country Club on Sunday, defeating defending champion Spain by 19 strokes.

The two-man team of Austin Connelly and Corey Conners played solid golf in the final round to add to an already insurmountable lead heading into the day.

Connelly, a dual citizen who resides in Nova Scotia and Texas, shot a 2-under par 69 on Sunday, while Conners, a 22-year old native of Listowel, Ont., carded a 68.

“It feels great to win this championship, we played at high level and really enjoyed ourselves,” said Connelly.  “The key for me this week was to stay calm in every round, especially because the course conditions became more difficult, especially on the green. Luckily I was able to hole many putts and that’s what led me to make good scores.”

Conners was also ecstatic to earn the win.

“I’m very happy and proud to win this major championship for the first time for our country,” said Conners, who finished runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Amateur. Today we were reassured by the difference we had … I hit all the greens in regulation and I am satisfied with the work I did with Austin, who played outstanding.”

Finishing behind Spain in third place was Chile, whose 577 total strokes marked the country’s best finish ever at the tournament.

Connelly also convincingly won the individual honours, finishing at 11-under par (273), seven strokes better than runner-up Alejandro Tosti of Argentina (280).  Conners finished in third place with 281 total strokes on the week.

JACKSON, Miss. – Nick Taylor was down on his game over the summer, struggling with his putter as he fought to earn a PGA Tour card.

So even he was a little stunned Sunday when he was holding a big bronze rooster and celebrating a comeback victory in the Sanderson Farms Championship.

The 26-year-old Taylor overcame a four-shot deficit at the Country Club of Jackson, shooting a 6-under 66 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Boo Weekley and Jason Bohn. Taylor, a former member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team, is the first Canadian-born winner on the PGA Tour since Mike Weir in 2007.

“It’s kind of hard to believe that I’m in that category now,” Taylor said.

Taylor, who said he grew up admiring Weir, won the tournament with nearly flawless work on the greens. He played the front nine in 4 under to pull even with the leaders and took control with birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 15. He made four birdies from 15 feet or more, charging up the leaderboard and then staying at the top.

Even though it was just his 13th PGA Tour start – and seventh as a professional – he handled the final holes with little drama. He calmly made a 9-foot putt to save par on No. 16 and his tap-in for bogey on 18 was easily good enough for the win.

“Going into today, I was feeling good about my game,” Taylor said. “But until it really happens, you never really expect it. It’s very surreal. I putted unbelievable today.”

A former University of Washington player from Abbotsford, B.C, Taylor three-putted for bogey on No. 18 after taking a three-shot lead into the final hole. He finished at 16-under 272 and earned $720,000. He is now exempt through the end of the 2016-17 season and will play next year in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the Players Championship and PGA Championship.

Weekley had a bogey-free 66, and Bohn shot 69.

“I didn’t drive the ball as well as I wanted the first three days and kind of worked on some things yesterday and it came together today,” Weekley said.

But nobody was catching Taylor.

John Rollins had a two-shot lead coming into Sunday, but faded with a 73 to tie for fourth at 13 under with Peter Uihlein (65) and Justin Thomas (67).

Taylor started the day among a clump of contenders, but quickly moved to the forefront with three birdies on the first five holes. And it was his recently-found touch on the greens that helped him rally.

“I just wanted to hit as many greens as possible because I knew I was rolling it really well,” Taylor said.

Taylor earned his PGA Tour card in dramatic fashion less than two months ago by shooting a 63 in the final round of the Web.com Tour Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

The course gave up some low scores on Sunday thanks to ideal cool and windless conditions. Taylor was among the lowest and by the end of the day, he was holding the Sanderson Farms trophy, which is a bronze rooster. Sanderson Farms, the tournament sponsor, produces chicken products.

“I like roosters now,” Taylor said, grinning. “It’s my favorite animal.”

Stephen Ames, a naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad and Tobago, won a PGA Tour event in 2009.

In other Canadian results Sunday, David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot a final round of 67 to finish tied for 14th at 9 under. Adam Hadwin, also of Abbotsford, shot 74 to finish tied for 73rd at 3 over.