OPELIKA, Ala. – The PGA Tour is headed to Alabama next year.

The new tournament will be played July 13-18, 2015, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika. Shaving product company Barbasol will sponsor the tournament for four years.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and PGA Tour officials announced the event Monday. Bentley said the tour will generate millions in tourism revenue for Alabama and put the state in the international spotlight as some of the world’s best golfers come to the state.

“I hope this is the start of a long relationship between Alabama and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and the PGA,” Bentley said.

The Barbasol Championship, scheduled for the same weekend as the British Open, will become part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup competition.

Grand National in Opelika is one of 11 facilities of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail throughout Alabama.

The PGA Championship, run by the PGA of America, was played at Shoal Creek in Birmingham in 1990.

“This is for four years. This is a big deal,” said David Bronner, chief executive officer of Retirement Systems of Alabama. The Retirement Systems developed the golf trail across Alabama.

The Alabama Tourism Department is providing $200,000 to help host the event.

OPELIKA, Ala. – The PGA Tour is headed to Alabama next year.

The new tournament will be played July 13-18, 2015, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika. Shaving product company Barbasol will sponsor the tournament for four years.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and PGA Tour officials announced the event Monday. Bentley said the tour will generate millions in tourism revenue for Alabama and put the state in the international spotlight as some of the world’s best golfers come to the state.

“I hope this is the start of a long relationship between Alabama and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and the PGA,” Bentley said.

The Barbasol Championship, scheduled for the same weekend as the British Open, will become part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup competition.

Grand National in Opelika is one of 11 facilities of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail throughout Alabama.

The PGA Championship, run by the PGA of America, was played at Shoal Creek in Birmingham in 1990.

“This is for four years. This is a big deal,” said David Bronner, chief executive officer of Retirement Systems of Alabama. The Retirement Systems developed the golf trail across Alabama.

The Alabama Tourism Department is providing $200,000 to help host the event.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Jimmy Beck, Taylor Moore and British teenager Sam Horsfield shared the lead at 6-under-par after the first round of stroke play qualifying at the U.S. Amateur Championship on Monday.

Beck, from Columbus, Georgia, had a 65 on the Atlanta Athletic Club’s par-71 Highlands Course and Horsfield and Moore each shot 66 on the par-72 Riverside Course.

Lee McCoy of Clarkesville, Georgia, was one shot back after a 67 on Riverside. Tied for fifth at 4-under were Jonathan Garrick of Atherton, California, who shot 67 on Highlands, and Cameron Young of Scarsborough, New York, who had a 68 on Riverside.

The field of 312 players will be cut to 64 after Tuesday’s round. The format then switches to match play on Wednesday, leading up to the championship on Sunday.

Beck, a senior at Kennesaw State University, won the 2013 Georgia Amateur champion and finished second in the Georgia Open two weeks ago. He got off to a fast start Monday with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 and finished with seven birdies and one bogey.

“I’ve been playing well coming into this and just to see putts fall, continue to fall and just hit it where you want to hit it, it’s a good feeling,” Beck said. “I was just really trying to have fun and end the summer right and what better way to do it than right here in Georgia.”

Moore, a junior at the University of Arkansas, also had seven birdies and one bogey.

“Shooting 66 puts me in a good spot,” Moore said. “I’ve got to stay aggressive, keep hitting greens and not let off the gas.”

Horsfield, 17, is playing in his second U.S. Amateur and has an impressive record in USGA events. He reached the semifinals at this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur and has made match play three times at the U.S. Public Links Championship.

“Hopefully I won’t have to worry about the cut,” Horsfield said after a round with six birdies and no bogeys. “Hopefully I can just go out there and play toward the center of the greens, don’t do anything stupid. I don’t have to fire at pins like I would if I was close to the cut line.”

The outcome was a surprise for McCoy, a junior at the University of Georgia, who was frustrated by his poor performance on the practice tee prior to the first round.

“I had probably the worst warmup session in my life this morning,” McCoy said. “Going to the first tee, I told my dad, `I’m hitting it sideways.’ I was hitting it so bad. I had a good swing thought on the first tee. Something kind of clicked and had a good tee ball and I kind of rolled from there, made a couple long putts I should have made.”

In danger of failing to advance to match play is world No. 1-ranked amateur Ollie Schniederjans of Powder Springs, Georgia. The Georgia Tech senior shot a 2-over 73 on Highlands and is tied for 106th. Second-ranked Robby Shelton of Wilmer, Alabama, is among 10 players tied for seventh at 3 under. Also in the group at 3 under are Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C.

The Highlands Course, which hosted the 1976 U.S. Open and three PGA Championships, played to an average of 74.6. The Riverside Course, site of the 1990 U.S. Women’s Open, played to an average of 74.9.

London, Ont. – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific are pleased to announce the names of 16 players who have received exemptions into next week’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, set to take place at London Hunt and Country Club from August 18 – 24, 2014.

Headlining the list of exemptions is previously confirmed 16-year old Team Canada member Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., fresh off her runner-up finish at this past weekend’s U.S. Women’s Amateur. Henderson, who earned her exemption by winning the Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario stop in June, is currently the second ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). She won the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada last month in a season that includes a tie for 10^th at the US Women’s Open and the Jocelyn Bourassa Player of Year Award on the Canadian Women’s Tour. She will be making her third consecutive start in Canada’ National Women’s Open Golf Championship.

Two other Team Canada amateurs have also been offered exemptions including Jennifer Ha, 20, of Calgary, and Brittany Marchand, 21, of Orangeville, Ont. Currently ranked No. 68 on the WAGR, Ha will make her second appearance in the championship. The Kent State University student won the 2014 NCAA Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational and had runner-up finishes at both the 2014 Porter Cup and 2014 Alberta Ladies Amateur. Marchand, ranked No. 71 and a North Carolina State University student, will make her third appearance in the national championship.

Six Canadians competing on the Symetra Tour have also been granted exemptions including Brantford, Ont. native Nicole Vandermade, who won a Tour event earlier this year and sits no. 14 on the Symetra Tour Money List. A five year member of Canada’s National Amateur Team, Vandermade will be joined by LPGA members and fellow Team Canada graduates Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que. and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que. and who sit 15^th and 19^th respectively on the Symetra Tour Money List. The trio will be joined by Natalie Gleadall of Stratford, Ont., Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C. and Erica Rivard of Tecumseh, Ont. who sit 74^th, 98^th and 122^nd respectively on the Symetra Tour Money List.

Previously announced exemptions include Michelle Piyapattra of Corona, Calif., Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C. and Simin Feng of Windermere, Fla. who joined Brooke Henderson in earning their spots through the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour. Piyapattra is exempt after winning the Canadian Women’s Tour stop at Morningstar Golf and Country Club in Parksville, B.C. while Richdale and Feng received their exemptions based on the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.

Among the international rising stars granted exemptions are English teen sensation Charley Hull and Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland. Hull is currently ranked No. 3 on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, while Meadow’s professional debut was a third place finish at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. Thailand’s Jutanugarn sisters Moriya and Ariya, winner of the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship) will also be competing.

The 16 players earning exemptions into Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will join a world-class field at London Hunt and Country Club that includes two-time defending champion and Rolex Rankings no. 2 Lydia Ko, Rolex Rankings no. 1 Stacey Lewis, no. 3 Inbee Park, no. 6 Lexi Thompson and no. 12 Paula Creamer.

In addition to Ko, past Canadian Women’s Open champions confirmed to compete include Brittany Lincicome (2011), Suzann Pettersen (2009), Katherine Hull-Kirk (2008) and Cristie Kerr (2006) who won the event when it was last held at the London Hunt and Country Club. Previously confirmed past champion Michelle Wie (2010) withdrew from the event this past weekend due to a hand injury that will sideline her for three to five weeks.

The 10 Canucks offered exemptions will join a Canadian contingent that includes CP ambassador Lorie Kane as well as fellow LPGA Tour players Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C.

“The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is not only set to feature arguably the strongest field on the LPGA Tour, but alsp the very best rising talents in Canadian and international golf,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “Golf fans are sure to be treated to an unbelievable showcase of world-class golf.”

CP Ticket Rally for Heart…

As an added incentive, title sponsor CP has stepped up to encourage spectators to buy advance tickets to the event for the benefit of the Children’s Health Foundation in London Ontario. Through the CP Ticket Rally for Heart campaign, for every eligible ticket purchased to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open until August 17^th, 2014, Canadian Pacific will donate at least $100 per ticket to the Children’s Health Foundation in support of paediatric heart health programs.

“CP’s advance Ticket Rally for Heart program has already raised over $400,000 for Children’s Health Foundation but I know that London has it in them to raise pre-ticket sales in these final days,” added McLaughlin. “Purchase those spectator tickets early – you buy a ticket and CP donates $100 to support paediatric heart health at the Children’s Hospital. It’s that easy.”

A field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse when the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open makes its return to London Hunt and Country Club for the first time since 2006.

On Monday August 18, 2014, the LPGA will conduct an 18-hole stroke play competition at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club to determine the four lowest qualifiers. Each of these qualifiers will receive exemptions directly into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Tickets for all tournament days of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open are still available with children aged 17 and under getting in free all week with a ticketed adult.

The first time the LPGA visited the London Hunt and Country Club was in 1993 when Brandie Burton defeated Betsy King on the first playoff hole in what was then called the du Maurier Classic.

Coincidentally, it was the first time I had been there, too, and to say I was impressed was an understatement.

Since then, being impressed when at this historic club has become a theme for anyone fortunate enough to enter the gates. Sure, it is a pleasure to play, but when you are there, as a player or spectator, for a major event, it is even more impressive.

I guess I should put “major” in quotation marks, as next week’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is just that, in everything but official status. Our national women’s Open was an LPGA major from 1979 to 2000. Despite the loss of that elite status, it continues to be one of the most prestigious championships on the women’s circuit.

When the LPGA returned to London Hunt in 2006, the atmosphere was fantastic. The aura definitely was that of a major. Crowds of upwards of 20,000 showed up every day to watch Cristie Kerr come from eight shots back starting the final round to edge Angela Stanford by a shot.

Next week’s championship will be the inaugural Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, as the railroad company takes over sponsorship from Canadian National without missing a beat. The US$2.25-million purse is among the largest on the LPGA Tour, matching this week’s Wegman’s LPGA Championship in fact. Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin said in a conference call Monday that not only the purse is exceptional, but so are the course conditions and the spectator experience opportunities.

At 17, LPGA rookie Lydia Ko has won our women’s Open the past two years, as an amateur, no less. She turned pro last October. This teen phenom was on Monday’s conference call as well, and raved about the overall experience, a feeling she says is shared by her colleagues on tour. She enthused over the course, the fans, and the superior tournament operations overall.

One of the most outstanding initiatives of this year’s championship is the Ticket Rally for Heart. For every ticket purchased before tournament week begins on Aug. 17, CP will donate $100 to the event’s official charity, the Children’s Health Foundation, which provides cardiac research and care of children from the London area and across southwestern Ontario.

“Our railroad recently announced our new North American-wide community investment program, CP Has Heart, and the Children’s Health Foundation is our ideal partner to improve children’s heart health,” Canadian Pacific CEO E. Hunter Harrison said in announcing the program.

On Monday, McLaughlin said the amount raised so far is nearing half a million dollars.

With just under a week to go, the goal of $750,000 is still attainable.

Now, that would be “major.”

(You can do your part by ordering your Canadian Pacific Women’s Open tickets before August 18th at www.cpwomensopen.com.)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – U.S. captain Tom Watson said he would be foolish not to consider Tiger Woods as one of his three wild-card selections, a decision that ultimately would be based on Woods’ words instead of his actions.

Watson has said all year he wanted Woods on his team if he were healthy and playing well. Even though Woods is injured and not playing for the next month, Watson wouldn’t rule him out Monday.

“I can’t assess his medical condition and I honestly can’t assess how he’s playing,” Watson said. “It really is going to be having to come from information from Tiger himself. But, again, I don’t make this comment loosely. He is Tiger Woods and he brings a lot to the team – if he has the ability to play and he’s healthy. He brings a lot to the team. And I’d be a fool not to consider him.”

Nine players qualified for the American team after the PGA Championship. Watson has three weeks before he announces his three captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup, which is Sept. 26-28 at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Woods’ season ended when he missed the cut by five shots at the PGA Championship, where he said he played through the pain of a nagging back injury. He is not playing the Wyndham Championship this week in North Carolina, and Woods is not eligible for the two FedEx Cup playoff events that will serve as an audition for Watson.

“I’ll be very, very focused on the players who are high up in the ranks,” Watson said.

As for Woods?

He made it sound as if he would have a telephone glued to his ear.

“I will continue to speak with Tiger over the next three weeks to monitor his situation,” Watson said. “Obviously, he has not been playing well. But I think it’s been a result, as you well know, of his injury and his coming back from back surgery.”

Woods has gone more than a year without winning, and this injury-filled year has been like no other. He played eight tournaments and completed 72 holes only three times. He missed two cuts, withdrew from the final round of two other tournaments and missed a 54-hole cut at Torrey Pines, where he is an eight-time winner. His best finish was a tie for 25th at Doral, where Woods played in the next-to-last group on Sunday and posted his highest score ever (78) in the final round.

He finished at No. 70 in the Ryder Cup standings.

Woods hurt his back again at Firestone, though he said it was unrelated to his microdiscectomy surgery in March. He said a trainer popped a joint back into place and he was pain free Wednesday at the PGA. He reported stiffness Thursday and his back “went out on me” while warming up for the second round.

Can he be trusted to be forthcoming with Watson?

“Absolutely,” Watson replied sternly, looking away to make his point.

The 64-year-old captain was asked if Woods’ might want to play so badly that he might tell Watson he is better than he really is.

“Again, I trust Tiger to give me the straight skinny,” Watson said. “I trust him inherently.”

It was difficult to read Watson’s plans for Woods – if any – on this Ryder Cup team because they have never been close. Paul Azinger, captain of the only U.S. team that won the Ryder Cup in the last 15 years, said over the weekend he would not pick Woods because he was injured, not playing well and didn’t know where the golf ball was going.

Watson made it sound as if he were leaning more on Woods’ past than the current state of his game, not to mention his health.

“He is Tiger Woods. He brings something to the team in a big way,” Watson said. “He’s been really good in the team room of recent and he’s a factor with the players. I know that for a fact. He’s a very positive influence on the players. But the most important thing is can he play? Can he physically play and is he playing well? Get back to those two points. Like I said, I’ll monitor that situation in the next three weeks.”

The American team already is missing Dustin Johnson, who has taken a “voluntary leave” for what he described as “personal challenges.” Matt Kuchar withdrew from the final major of the year with a back injury. Bubba Watson has finished in the top 10 only once in the four months since winning the Masters.

Tom Watson said he was happy with the nine players who made the team – Watson, Kuchar, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Zach Johnson. For his picks, he said he wants players in good form and with guts.

“We have got players that can get the job done,” he said.

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. –  Sadena Parks fired a 5-under 67 and defeated fellow Big Break Florida contestant Jackie Stoelting on the second playoff hole to win her second event in three weeks at the New England Charity Classic presented by PTC on Sunday.

“It’s very exciting, I knew I had one more win under my belt,” said Parks, who won the SEFCU Championship at Capital Hills two weeks ago in Albany.  “Playing against Jackie was really, really hard, but we both put in a good fight and I can’t wait to see her on the LPGA Tour with me next year.”

Parks, who birdied five holes on the back nine, still had work to do on the 18^th hole to force a playoff.  She stood at 7-under, one back of Stoelting, who finished a 6-under 66 and was 8-under about an hour prior.

“I hit my drive right into the bunker and didn’t think I had a shot into the green.  I knew if I hit a punch 4-iron fade I could get it out and leave myself a little short.  It happened to roll on the green, which was awesome.  I left my third putt (eagle putt for the lead) a little short.”

Parks needed to make an 8-foot putt to force the playoff.

“I drained the putt, it was clutch. I think I threw a strong fist pump in there somewhere.”

Prior to the first playoff hole beginning, Stoelting and Parks, who are good friends from their days on Golf Channel, exchanged a friendly fist-pound to say good luck.

Parks and Stoelting both made birdie on the first playoff hole, which was the par-5 18^th hole.  The two proceeded to the par-4 17^th hole to play the second playoff hole.  Both players missed their birdie putts and Parks tapped in for par.  Stoelting had a longer look at par and lipped out.

“This second win just shows how much I’ve improved over the year.  It not only means a lot to me, but I know it means a lot to my fans, supporters and my team.”

Two weeks ago, Parks become the first African-American to win on the Symetra Tour since LaRee Sugg in 1997.  She is now the first African-American to win twice in the 34-year history of the Symetra Tour.

Parks moved from sixth to third on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with her $15,000 winner’s check.  The 24-year-old has now accumulated $51,615 in 13 events played.  She has made $43,596 in her last five events, which includes two wins and a solo second place finish.

“I don’t want to say that I have my LPGA Tour card yet, but it’s looking pretty good right now.”

With four events left in the season, Parks has all but solidified a spot in the top-10.

“Ever since I was nine years old, the LPGA Tour was my goal and it has been a long journey and now I am almost there.”

Parks becomes the third two-time winner on the Symetra Tour this year.  Min Seo Kwak, who ranks first on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and Marissa Steen, who is second on the money list, are the other two-time winners.

Stoelting earned her 16^th career top-10 finish on the Symetra Tour and her fifth this season to add $9,007 to her total earnings.  Stoelting jumped from seventh to sixth on the money list at $44,787.

The 28-year-old from Vero Beach, Florida birdied five of nine holes on the back nine including the 18^th to get to 8-under.

Lacey Agnew and Lindy Duncan finished in a tie for third at 7-under 209.  Duncan went from 16^th to tenth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.

Samantha Richdale finished as top Canadian, tying for eighth at 5-under 211.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The challenge finally arrived for Rory McIlroy, and he was better than ever Sunday to win the PGA Championship.

On a back nine filled with clutch shots and as much tension as a major can provide, McIlroy emerged from a four-man race to outlast Phil Mickelson and the darkness at Valhalla to capture his second straight major.

McIlroy closed with a 3-under 68 and became only the fourth player in the last century of golf to win four majors at 25 or younger. The others were Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Bobby Jones, three of the game’s greatest players.

Boy Wonder appears on his way to belonging in that group.

“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams I’d have a summer like this,” said McIlroy, only the seventh player to win the last two majors of the year. “I played the best golf of my life. I really gutted it out today.”

But one of the greatest shows on soggy turf came with a most peculiar ending.

Three shots behind going to the back nine, McIlroy rallied to take the lead and then hit a 9-iron from the fairway bunker to 10 feet for birdie on the 17th hole for a two-shot lead going to the par-5 18th. Because of a two-hour rain delay earlier, darkness was falling quickly and it wasn’t certain McIlroy would be able to finish.

McIlroy was allowed to hit his tee shot before Mickelson and Rickie Fowler had reached their drives. Both were only two shots behind, still in the game. McIlroy came within a yard of hitting in a hazard right of the fairway.

Then, the PGA of America allowed McIlroy to hit his second shot. Mickelson and Fowler had to stand to the side of the green.

“We were cool with hitting the tee shot,” Fowler said. “We weren’t expecting the approach shots.”

Fowler had a 50-foot eagle attempt to tie for the lead. He was well off the mark, and missed the short birdie putt attempt that cost him his third straight runner-up finish in a major. Mickelson was short of the green, and his chip came within inches of dropping for an eagle that would have tied him for the lead.

Mickelson appeared upset that they had to wait to finish the hole – not standard procedure in a PGA Tour event – and he made two references in a TV interview that this is the only championship the PGA of America runs all year.

“It didn’t affect the outcome of the championship at all, I don’t think,” Mickelson said. “It’s not what we normally do. It’s not a big deal either way.”

Mickelson closed with a 66 and was runner-up for the ninth time in a major.

Fowler became the first player in history to finish in the top five at all four majors without winning one. He closed with a 68 and tied for third with Henrik Stenson, who fell out of a share of the lead by missing a 3-foot par putt on the 14th hole. Stenson shot a 66.

McIlroy hit his second shot into a bunker, and he had to two-putt from 35 feet for the win. He lagged the first one to tap-in range, and the major was his. McIlroy repeatedly pumped his fist before letting out a scream above the gallery that had been treated to one of the best shows ever in a major.

He won his first two majors by eight shots at the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA Championship. Only a month ago, McIlroy took a six-shot lead into the final round of the British Open and completed a wire-to-wire win with only a brief scare.

This was his first big test, and it took some of his best golf to come through.

“I think I showed a lot of guts out there to get the job done,” he said.

The winning shot turned out to be that 9-iron from the bunker and the birdie putt on the 17th hole that gave him a two-shot lead, the largest margin for anyone on a day when as many as five players claimed a share of the lead.

It might not have been possible without a 3-wood on the par-5 10th hole.

Standing in the fairway, McIlroy watched Fowler drain a 30-foot birdie putt to take the outright lead. McIlroy was 281 yards away, slightly uphill, and his short caught the left side of the fairway and rolled onto the green before stopping 7 feet away for an eagle that got him back in the game.

Mickelson holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole to tie Fowler, and it looked to be his day when he rolled in a 30-foot par putt on the 12th. Stenson hit a bold shot to the island-green 13th for a short birdie to tie for the lead, only to fall back.

McIlroy caught the leaders with a birdie on the 13th.

None of the other contenders made another birdie the rest of the way until it was too late.

All that was left after an exhausting day of raw emotions was the coronation. Not since Woods in 2008 has anyone won three straight tournaments, and they were big ones for McIlroy – the British Open, a World Golf Championship and the PGA Championship. He played them in a combined 48-under par.

“He’s better than everyone else right now,” Mickelson said.

Canada’s Graham DeLaet tied for 15th, seven shots back of McIlroy at 9-under, after a final round 70.

Rory McIlroy (Jeff Gross/ Getty Images)

OTTAWA – With a dramatic 70-foot birdie putt and a final round 9-under 62, Summerland, B.C.’s Greg Machtaler captured the inaugural FORCES & FAMILIES OPEN on Sunday, becoming the first Canadian winner on PGA TOUR Canada in 2014.

The 30-year old made a brilliant charge up the leaderboard on Sunday, playing his final 11 holes in 9-under par, a run that included two eagles and a back nine 30. After finding the green at the 72^nd hole, Machtaler rolled in a long birdie putt to post the clubhouse lead at 17-under, then watched as neither American Jeff Dennis or Baddeck, N.S.’s Peter Campbell could match him with a birdie at the last.

When 54-hole leader Greg Eason of England couldn’t hole out for eagle to force a playoff, Machtaler was officially the champion, becoming the first Canadian to win since Max Gilbert at the 2013 TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial.

The win comes just under a year after Machtaler’s father Glenn passed away, a decision that spurred the 2007-2011 PGA TOUR Canada member to resume his chase for success on TOUR.

“As soon as it came off the putter it felt great,” said Machtaler of his final putt. “I can’t help but think my dad had something to do with that putt going in. There were a couple of moments at the end where it looked like it might go out and then it bounced back in, and it ended up going in and I really think he had something to do with it.”

“It’s been hard,” added the Brigham Young University alumnus. “Emotionally, you think about him all the time. You’re sad and you go through some moments where you wish you could see him one more time. To be able to win this for him, it kinds of makes a really tough situation just a little bit easier to deal with.”

Machtaler made 13 cuts in 24 starts from 2007-2011, then turned to work at Summerland Golf Club just east of Vancouver after playing just three times in 2011. A breakout season on the PGA of Canada circuit in 2013, however, where he won four times including the prestigious Canada Cup, led him to consider re-starting his TOUR career, a decision that payed off with his first PGA TOUR Canada win on Sunday.”

“I was very hesitant still,” Machtaler said of returning to playing on PGA TOUR Canada, where he earned status at the 2014 British Columbia Qualifying Tournament. “I had a good job for a couple of years, and you have that steady paycheck coming in and you still get to play some tournaments and I had some success. To come out here against these guys, they’re all so good, and you can’t play poorly. You can play good and miss a cut out here.”

The 2014 season had been a trying one until Sunday for Machtaler, who had been dealing with a back injury that had limited his ability to swing the club effectively. After ongoing treatment, the 30-year old said he finally a return to form was in the cards this week.

“I thought I was going to have to write off the year,” said Machtaler. “My back was just so bad, I couldn’t even swing. I just have to thank all the physio teams that I’ve worked with back home and on the road with PGA TOUR Canada. They’ve really helped me. It got the point where I could finally stop thinking about it and I could finally just let my swing go again.”

Machtaler teed off 1 hour and 40 minutes before the final group of Englishmen Greg Eason and Kelvin Day, and after holing his long birdie putt at 18, had to wait and see if he would be the champion. When Eason, who led after each of the first three rounds, couldn’t hole his approach from the right rough, the champion was crowned.

“It’s huge. It’s been a really, really tough year personally with trying to get over the loss of my dad so unexpectedly,” said Machtaler. “He would have wanted me to do it for sure, and that was the deciding factor, doing it for him.”

The win moves Machtaler to 9^th on the Order of Merit with four events to go. Machtaler said the win changes his outlook on the remainder of his season and career as he aims to make the next step on the path to the PGA Tour.

“Every player is just so good, so to be able to top a field of that many good players really gives me a lot of confidence and shows me that all the hard work’s been paying off,” Machtaler said. “I think I’m making the right decision to come back and play again.”

In addition to his win on Sunday, Greg Machtaler claimed Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours along with a $1,500 prize.

The top Canadian on the leaderboard at every PGA TOUR Canada event earns the weekly prize, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year and a $10,000 prize.

BELMONT, Mich. – Mirim Lee won the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour victory, beating fellow South Korean player Inbee Park with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff.

“I (was) nervous 100 percent,” Lee said. “First time in playoff. Inbee Park is like a hero in Korea and all the young girls want to be her now in Korea.”

The long-hitting Lee drove into greenside bunker on the second extra hole – the short par-4 17th – and blasted out to 5 feet. After Park’s 15-foot birdie try lipped out, Lee holed her putt for the victory.

They each parred the 18th to open the playoff. Park’s approach shot hit the cup on the way past and she missed a 15-foot birdie try. Lee two-putted from 35 feet.

The 23-year-old Lee, a rookie on the LPGA Tour, closed with a 2-under 69 to match Park at 14-under 270 at Blythefield Country Club. Park, a 10-time tour winner, finished with a 70.

Lee is projected to jump to 29th in the world ranking. She earned $225,000 to jump from 40th to eighth on the money list with $414,135. Her previous best was a second-place finish in Phoenix in March.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen was a stroke back after a 69.

Park said the win will give Lee great confidence.

“I think she was kind of, you know, thinking about whether she should come to the LPGA or whether she should stay in KLPGA,” Park said. “but I think this will definitely make her see she made a good decision.”

Park said in the end the new blade putter she put in the bag this week let her down in the last round.

“I felt I hit a good putt, but it just didn’t go in,” she said of the final birdie attempt. “The putter just wasn’t there. It was nice to shoot under par, but Mirim played well in the playoff holes.”

Pettersen, seeking her first win this year after 14 in her career, said she just didn’t hit enough good shots or drives on the back nine in the final round.

“It’s nice to get four solid rounds of competition in,” she said. “I’ve struggled this year, but it is coming. Disappointed to be one short, but it was nice to be back in contention straight after a three-week break.”

With three holes to play, Park, Pettersen and Lee were tied for the lead 14 under, but Pettersen had tree and sand troubles and made a bogey at 16 to fall a shot behind.

Park and Lee each missed birdie chances at the 17th. On the 18th, Lee two-putted for par from 40 feet, and Park made a 6-foot par putt.

Pettersen, who was playing in the group in front of Park for the day, birdied the first two holes and eagled the par-5 fifth – hitting a 3-wood shot to 6 feet – to tie Park at 15 under.

Lee birdied the par-5 11th to pull within a shot of Park.

After 10 consecutive pars, Park three-putted the par-3 14th for a bogey. It happened about the same time Pettersen was punching a shot from the trees to eight feet at 15 to set up a birdie and another tie.

Lee, trailing most of the day by a shot or two, then joined Park and Pettersen at 14 under with a 5-foot birdie putt at 15.

Japan’s Haru Nomura was fourth at 10-under after a 68. Germany’s Sandra Gal, the first-round leader, was another stroke back after a 66.

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis had her best round of the week with a 66 to tie for 11th at 6 under.

The tournament was the first LPGA Tour event in Michigan since 2000 when the Oldsmobile Classic in East Lansing ended its nine-year run.

Three Canadians played Sunday in Michigan. Lorie Kane finished at 1-over 285 and tied for 42nd. Alena Sharp tied for 50th, finishing at 2-over 286 and Rebecca Lee-Bentham tied for 67th 5-over 289.