ORLANDO, Fla. – Adam Scott keeps putting his name in the Bay Hill record book, each round moving him closer to another handshake with The King.

One day after Scott opened with a record-tying 62 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he hit his stride around the turn Friday with five birdies in an eight-hole stretch to leave everyone else far behind. Even with a three-putt bogey on his final hole, Scott still had a 4-under 68 for a seven-shot lead.

He was at 14-under 130, matching the 36-hole record at Bay Hill first set by Tom Watson and Andy Bean in 1981. And his seven-shot margin at the halfway point shattered the previous record held by Tiger Woods in 2002 and Paul Azinger in 1988.

Scott sounds like he’s not the least bit satisfied.

“The challenge might be just to start again and try and play a great 36 holes,” he said. “Start fresh and try to be the leader after the next 36.”

That would merit a visit with Arnold Palmer, the tournament host known simply as “The King” in golf circles. Scott has spoken glowingly all week about his first invitation to Bay Hill when he was 20. Walking off the first green, Palmer was in a cart to greet him with a handshake, and Scott was amazed that Palmer knew his name.

Now he’s the Masters champion, and the 33-year-old Australian is playing like one.

J.B. Holmes (69), Chesson Hadley (68) and Francesco Molinari of Italy (70) were tied for second at 7-under. Keegan Bradley had the low score of the blustery second round with a 67, putting him in a group at 138 that included Brandt Snedeker (71) and Jamie Donaldson of Wales (71).

“I think I’m 10 behind and playing pretty well for two rounds,” said Snedeker, who was off by two. “He’s playing pretty phenomenal. He’s going to be a tough guy to catch. A guy that hits it as good as he does and seems to have a complete game like he has, and the way he’s playing now, he’s not going to come backward. Seems like an awfully special week if you can get close to him.”

Scott played in the afternoon, when the course began to get firm under two days of full sunshine, and the pace on the greens began to quicken. No one ever got closer than his three-shot lead to start the round, though there were two pivotal moments.

He holed a 15-foot par putt on the first hole to calm his nerves, and he hit a gorgeous shot out of the rough from 167 yards and made a 12-foot birdie on the ninth. He went to the back nine 1-under par for his round, and he took off from there.

Scott hit a 7-iron to 4 feet on No. 11, got up-and-down for birdie on the par-3 12th, nearly holed a tough chip from behind the 14th green to save par, and then made consecutive birdies with a 30-foot putt on the 15th and a 7-iron to pin-high for a two-putt birdie on the par-5 16th.

He only made it look easy.

There were three rounds in the 80s, including by U.S. Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick. U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, playing in the same group with Scott, had a 79 and missed the cut for the first time in a regular PGA Tour event since The Players Championship last May.

“This course will really start to bare its teeth,” Scott said. “I’ve got to take in the attitude of starting over again and trying to play a really hard 36 holes. And hopefully, if I can I can keep striking the ball like I am, I’ll give myself enough chances for birdie – and hopefully, more birdies than bogeys.”

At one point, caddie Steve Williams was some 275 yards down the left side of the fairway on the par-5 16th. His boss was barely visible back on the tee, but Williams watched his swing and instantly said, “Perfect.” And that it was, 325 yards right down the middle.

Scott missed only two fairways and has taken just 52 putts over the first 36 holes.

He was in no mood to celebrate just yet. For one thing, he is still recovering from being sick. His energy was better Friday, though he could barely talk above a whisper during a brief interview with Golf Channel before his round. And the Australian knows how a big lead can get away, even on the final day. He had a four-shot lead with four holes remaining in the 2012 British Open when it all went wrong – four straight bogeys – and Ernie Els walked off with the claret jug.

That’s a distant memory for Scott, who takes that green jacket from Augusta National with him just about everywhere he goes.

“Seven shots over two days is not enough,” Scott said. “I don’t think you can ever be enough in the lead, to be honest.”

DIVOTS: David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. is the only Canadian in the field. He carded an even-par 72 and is tied for 29th at 2-under 142. … Ryo Ishikawa had a 74 and was among those in the group at 5-under. The Japanese star has been working hard on his English. He used the words, “sucker pin,” in an interview, and then chatted comfortably with Jimmy Roberts of NBC Sports for about five minutes. … Southern Amateur champion Zachary Olsen made the cut. … Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, had a 71 and was in a tie for 16th. … Paul Casey made a 7-foot bogey putt on his last hole for a 79 to make the cut on the number at 2-over 146.

SAUCIER, Miss. – Fred Couples has already been playing some terrific golf. Now he is at one of his favorite courses on the Champions Tour.

So it wasn’t much of a surprise that Couples bolted to the front of the pack on Friday at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Fallen Oak. The 54-year-old Couples shot a 6-under 66 to take a two-shot lead in nearly ideal conditions.

Couples has been on a recent roll, winning the Toshiba Classic last weekend in Newport Beach, Calif., but said his steady first round was more about his comfort at Fallen Oak.

“I think it’s a continuation of liking this course,” Couples said. “That’s why I’m here. I like Fallen Oak and hope to play it for a long time.”

Couples started the day on No. 10 and made five birdies over his first eight holes. It was his 12th straight round in the 60s on the Champions Tour, dating to last season, which is one shy of the record set by Hale Irwin in 1999.

“I played really well,” Couples said. “I feel like I putt well on these greens, and I made some today, obviously, to shoot that score.”

Couples has won 10 times on the Champions Tour since his debut in 2010.

The conditions were good for low scoring on Friday, with a light breeze but plenty of sunshine and forgiving greens.

Last year’s tournament champion Michael Allen was paired with Couples and shot a 68 to join a group of five in second place. Jeff Maggert, who was making his Champions Tour debut, is also in second place, along with Kenny Perry, David Frost and Jay Haas.

Maggert hasn’t won since 2006 on the PGA Tour at the St. Jude’s Classic, but is right in the hunt after one round at Fallen Oak. He said it was important to play well on Friday, since there is a rain forecast for the weekend.

“Obviously a good start,” Maggert said. “Really just played steady all day. I think I hit all the fairways except for one – hit most of the greens. A couple 3-putts out there I was not too happy about but I just played steady golf, took advantage of the par 5s and put together a good round.”

But it’s Couples who is undeniably the man to beat. He made four straight birdies on 12 through 15 and stayed out of trouble for most of the day, navigating the 7,054-yard course with seven birdies and one bogey.

“The first year I played here, I won, so that’s a pretty good start of why I like (the course),” Couples said with a grin. “Today was no exception.”

Allen, who won the Allianz Championship last month, is among those trying to keep pace. The 55-year-old Allen edged Bernhard Langer by one stroke last year at Fallen Oak for one of his two wins on the Champions Tour last season.

“Fred is playing awfully well,” Allen said. “He’s not making any mistakes. I have to eliminate some of my mistakes for sure, and hopefully I can keep making a few putts and get a little closer.”

Rod Spittle opened with an even-par 72. The St. Catharines, Ont. native, who has one Champions Tour victory (2010), is tied for 29th.

Jim Rutledge of Victoria, B.C. shot a 2-over 74 and is tied for 51st.

PHOENIX – Golf’s magic number of 59 in range after she played the first 11 holes in 9 under, Pressel bogeyed the next two holes and closed with five pars for a 7-under 65.

“I don’t know if I was necessarily thinking 59, but I probably just got a little bit excited, because I had never been that many under par in that short of a span,” Pressel said. “I just got a little bit quick and came back to earth.”

She ended up a stroke behind Mirim Lee at Desert Ridge.

After birdieing Nos. 1 and 2 – her 10th and 11th holes – to reach 9 under, Pressel pulled her drive left on the par-4 third. Her ball lodged at the base of a short bush, with the bulk of the branches between the right-hander and the ball. There were burrowing animal holes near the ball, but they didn’t interfere with a possible swing or stance.

“I could have hit it left-handed and there were a couple of burrowing animal holes around,” Pressel said. “I brought them (rules officials) over to ask, but I didn’t honestly think that I was going to get relief and I don’t think that I deserved it.”

Pressel took an unplayable lie and missed the green to the right, chipped to 7 feet and made the putt to save bogey. She also dropped a stroke on the par-3 fourth, missing a 15-footer after hitting another iron to the right.

“It wasn’t the finish that I would have hoped for, but it gives me a little bit of confidence knowing how many birdies I can make and I’m capable of,” Pressel said.

She was 6 under after six holes, birdieing the first four and making a 50-footer for eagle on the par-5 15th. She also birdied the par-3 17th and made the turn in 7-under 29.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten off to that hot of a start,” Pressel said.

Annika Sorenstam shot the only 59 in LPGA Tour history in the 2001 Standard Register Ping at nearby Moon Valley. Ai Miyazato holds the record in the 4-year-old Founders Cup, shooting a 63 in the first round last year.

A tour regular since she was 17, the 25-year-old Pressel won the 2007 Kraft Nabisco to become the youngest women’s major champion. She also won the 2008 Kapalua LPGA.

“I definitely feel like I have the ability to win again,” Pressel said.

Lee also started on No. 10 and nearly matched Pressel’s start, playing her opening nine in 6-under 30. She had three birdies and a bogey on the front side for a 64.

“Everything was good,” said Lee, making her third LPGA Tour start.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis, top-ranked Inbee Park and Michelle Wie were two strokes back at 66 along with 2011 winner Karrie Webb, Eun-Hee Ji, Catriona Matthew, Gerina Piller and Pernilla Lindberg.

“A lot of tee shots set up well for me,” Lewis said. “They fit my eye.”

Coming off a victory two weeks ago in China in a Ladies European Tour event, Park birdied the final three holes. She closed with a tap-in birdie on the par-4 ninth after nearly holing a full pitching wedge.

“It was a very solid round,” Park said. “Very good irons.”

Wie eagled the par-5 fifth.

“I hit 3-wood, 5-iron over the green and then chipped in,” Wie said.

Sixteen-year-old Lydia Ko opened with a 67. Playing alongside Park, Ko closed with a bogey after driving left into the desert.

“I forgot to bring my food and my protein bars,” Ko said. “That’s my excuse.”

Park had six LPGA Tour victories last season, sweeping the first three majors, and became the first South Korean to win the player of the year award. She took a break after the season and skipped the first two events this year, returning with a second-place finish in Thailand and a tie for fourth in Singapore.

“I was a little bit exhausted last year after all the things happened,” Park said.

Paula Creamer, a playoff winner three weeks ago in Singapore in the last LPGA Tour event, shot 70. She had a double bogey on the par-4 eighth, her 17th hole.

“Just one bad swing on the tee shot and hit in the hazard,” Creamer said.

Canada’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham (Toronto) opened with a 4-under 68. She’s tied for 18th.

The Toronto native was late to her pro-am tee time yesterday, but not late enough to be disqualified.

The other Canucks in the field had varied results.

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. was a stroke back of Bentham at 3-under 69, which is the lowest round of her season on tour. She’s tied for 33rd.

Langley, B.C.’s Sue Kim opened with a 2-over par 74 (T110th) and Hamilton, Ont.’s Alena Sharp shot a 4-over 76 (T125th).

ORLANDO, Fla. – Masters champion Adam Scott was feeling ill when he arrived at Bay Hill. One majestic round with the putter Thursday made him feel a lot better.

Scott made five putts from about 20 feet or longer, two of them for eagle and one of them from off the green for birdie, and matched the course record with a 10-under 62 to build a three-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The conditions were close to perfect. So was his work on the greens.

“I made a lot of putts today, and a lot of putts from considerable length,” Scott said. “I hit a lot of nice shots, too, but it wasn’t like I was hitting it 4 feet. I had a round like this in Australia at the end of last year – in the first six holes, I didn’t hit it outside 5 feet. There’s a lot of different ways to get the ball in the hole. But it’s good for the confidence. It’s what I wanted. I sat in here yesterday and said I’d like to make some birdies and build the confidence. And today is a good start to that.”

Ryo Ishikawa, who uses Bay Hill as his home course on the East Coast, birdied the 18th for a 67. John Merrick celebrated his 32nd birthday by reaching 8 under until a late bogey. He also shot 67.

Both were 10 shots behind before they hit their first shot of the tournament.

“That took the pressure off,” Merrick said. “You’re already 10 shots behind, so it’s not like you’re protecting anything. But this isn’t the Bay Hill I remember. I don’t usually play golf in Florida without 20 mph wind.”

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano had his best round of the year with a 66. Brandt Snedeker and Paul Casey were among those at 67. The lone Canadian in the field, David Hearn, opened with a 2-under 70. They were all but forgotten with Scott’s 62 on the board.

Scott walked from the ninth green across the practice range to the scoring trailer as one player after another turned his head and asked how low Scott went on the day. One caddie quipped, “Is there a 10-shot rule when you haven’t teed off?”

It was the lowest round in 30 years at Bay Hill, and it was good enough to make a large gallery following Scott forget for a moment that defending champion Tiger Woods is not here this week because of a back injury.

Andy Bean in 1981 and Greg Norman in 1984 are the only other players with a 62 at Bay Hill.

After watching Scott make another putt – this one from 20 feet for eagle on No. 4 – U.S. Open champion Justin Rose asked if Scott could get to No. 1 if he were to win at Bay Hill. The answer: no and yes. He couldn’t overtake Woods this week, but likely would go to No. 1 over the next few weeks if neither played.

Scott had reason to be mildly surprised by this round. For one thing, he had not been to Bay Hill in five years. Scott typically plays Innisbrook, but decided to mix it up. And he does have some experience on the bag. His caddie is Steve Williams, who worked for Woods in six of the eight Bay Hill wins.

Even more surprising, though, is that Scott said he was coping with flu-like symptoms, and still doesn’t feel completely healthy.

“It’s hard to say that I’m sick,” Scott said with a smile. “I feel actually better now than when I woke up. Just a bit under the weather. I can’t complain.”

Scott is a believer in the adage, “Beware the injured golfer.” He lowered his expectations, concerned himself only with the next shot and was more concerned with his energy than feeling any nerves.

It didn’t take long for him to realize it was going to be a special day, starting with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 10th to start his round. He got up and down from a bunker on the par-5 12th for birdie, made a 25-foot birdie putt on the 14th, and then rolled one in from 30 feet on the 15th from a collection area right of the green.

Scott drilled a 7-iron into 35 feet on the par-5 16th and made that birdie. On the front nine, he hit a pure 3-wood into 20 feet on the par-5 fourth for birdie, and then hit a tough bunker from some 35 yards away to 8 feet for birdie on the par-5 sixth.

It was the sixth time Scott has had a 62 on the PGA Tour, the most recent in 2011 at Firestone the year he won. But he didn’t want to look at it as anything more than just a great start, especially with half of the field still to play in the afternoon.

“Hopefully, with a solid round tomorrow I keep myself right in this golf tournament,” he said. “Like at any event, you want to start and put yourself right in it from the get-go and I’ve done that here.”

DIVOTS: Bubba Watson hit three tee shot into the water on the par-5 sixth and made an 11. He shot 83 and withdrew. … Snedeker had not broken 70 in the first round all year until Thursday. … Pat Perez opened with a 70, ending his streak of nine straight tournaments in which he shot in the 60s the first round.

After spending last week hanging out with David Hearn, Graham DeLaet, Stephen Ames and Mike Weir at the Valspar Championship, it is back to the reality of the never ending winter in Ontario.

In our household, March Break has made for many interesting trips to sunny Florida for more than a decade and many wonderful days following several of my favourite golfers at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbour, just outside Tampa Bay. It’s a tournament that’s had so many sponsors over the years – EverBank, Transitions, PODs and Chrysler – that it’s difficult to keep count, but the fields are exceptionally strong and the crowds aren’t overwhelming.

For the past seven years we had flown directly to Tampa, but now that our son Jacob is nearly eight we decided to make the 22-hour road trip through New York State, Pennsylvania, Virginia, snowy West Virginia & North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to reach Florida.

Innisbrook is owned by Sheila Johnston, Founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, which oversees Grand Golf Resorts of Florida. So, we decided to investigate two of Innisbrook’s sister properties on our journey to Innisbrook and our date with Hearn, DeLaet and 150-plus PGA Tour players. The collection includes 1,250 luxurious villa-style accommodations and 162 holes of golf designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Larry Packard that form the Legends of Golf Trail, which traverses 200 miles between the resorts and across the Sunshine State.

After two solid days packed into the SUV our spacious two-bedroom villa overlooking one of the two championship courses at Hammock Beach Resort was the perfect place to kick back and enjoy the sights and sounds of the neighbouring Atlantic Ocean.

No. 17 at Hammock Beach’s Ocean Course

We started our first day at the resort with some pool time. There were actually seven or eight pools, including the largest hot tub I’d ever seen, but, the lazy river, three-story waterslide, beach pool, and torrential waterfall were all big hits for Jacob. After three hours of that, it was time to play golf at Hammock Beach’s Ocean Course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

We played family golf for the first nine and then I scooted around the back nine on my own with the setting sun and Atlantic Ocean for a backdrop.  It was a great atmosphere for golf, as the all-championship design winds along pristine wetlands and sparkling lakes, but also plays six holes directly on the Atlantic Ocean.

The course concludes with a thrilling finale dubbed “The Bear Claw” — a collection of four daunting holes precariously edging the sweeping coastline. When I left my tee shot on the par-3 17^th hole just three feet from the pin, it made for a spectacular birdie as the waves crashed along the shoreline behind the hole. Would have loved a few more ocean holes, but with the six bordering the Atlantic, that’s more than any other course in Florida and one of the main reasons it ranked among Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses.

Day 2 at Hammock Beach featured a 15-minute morning drive to the resort’s sister course, The Conservatory Course. This was my first opportunity to play a Tom Watson designed layout and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction than this 7,776-yard, par-72 layout – the longest in Florida. Definitely one of the toughest courses I have ever played with narrow rolling fairway landing areas, wild mounding and challenging bunkers at every turn. If I could have played just one of the two courses at Hammock Beach it would have been the inland Conservatory Course – definitely not your typical flat Florida layout.

No. 8 on the Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach

Then it was back to the hotel for more pool time with the family and an afternoon at Marineland Dolphin Adventure– just a 10-minute drive from the resort – where we learned about dolphins and had to opportunity to meet, touch and feed Ake, one of 14 dolphins who live at the center that was founded back in 1938. It’s great family fun and educational too!

We spent the next three nights in the Grand Hotel at Reunion Resort in Orlando, where I magically balanced two days at Walt Disney World and two rounds of golf on the outstanding Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson golf courses, leaving the third 18-hole championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus for a return visit and there definitely will be one.

Both courses are awesome with the Palmer Course offering hillier terrain and lots of fun shot-making opportunities, while the Watson Course appeared to have more sand, or maybe that was just the way I was playing that morning, but it’s a real beauty.

I loved the fact that the golf clubhouse is right next door to the hotel, so no hassles with shuttles and they also have junior rental sets with great green fee rates for kids. Also checked out ANNIKA ACADEMY with Jacob, which offers juniors an hour golf lesson for $20 each afternoon at 4 pm – a great deal!

An aerial shot of the Grand Hotel at Reunion Resort in Orlando

Visiting Disney during March Break is crazy in a wonderful way. We spent one day at the Magic Kingdom including magical fireworks at 10 pm and a day at Epcot Center experiencing Soarin’ and Test Track. Jacob’s favourite ride – The Tomorrowland Speedway – provided an opportunity for him to drive a hotrod with me in the passenger seat.  I can hardly wait until he turns 16!

We then buckled up and headed south, where I spent three days at fabulous Innisbrook Resort watching the likes of Matt Kuchar, John Daly (that’s a story unto itself), Jim Furyk, Kyle Stanley, Luke Donald, Jason Dufner, Padraig Harrington, KJ Choi, Peter Uihlein, Spencer Levin, Retief Goosen, and many others tackle the outstanding Copperhead Course golf in the bright sunshine. It’s a course that remains on my golf course bucket list, although I have played two of the other three Larry Packard designed layouts on this massive property.

Canada’s Graham DeLaet and David Hearn

I totally enjoyed my time following Hearn and DeLaet, who finished tied for 10th and the rest of the pack including John Senden, who picked up the victory. Two or three years ago, Senden was hanging out at a  Geico putting challenge booth – one of his sponsors – during the tournament and Jacob took the challenge. Senden was great with all of the visitors that day and his signed postcard to Jacob still remains on his bedroom bulletin board – just one of our many great Florida memories.

On the way back home we passed a highway sign for Augusta, now wouldn’t that be a road trip in April!

ORLANDO, Fla. – Arnold Palmer believes age will be an issue as 38-year-old Tiger Woods tries to break the major championship record.

The standard all along for Woods has been the 18 professional majors Jack Nicklaus won over 25 seasons. Woods reached his 14th major when he was 32, but he has not won another since that 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. And now the world’s No. 1 player is coping with an ailing back.

“I don’t think 38 years is the ultimate stopping point for his quest to do what Jack did,” Palmer said Wednesday at Bay Hill. “I think it lessens the possibility of that happening. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be tough to keep the concentration and the type of the game that is necessary to win majors.”

Nicklaus won four of his majors after turning 38. Ben Hogan, with battered legs from a car accident, won five majors after turning 38.

Palmer, however, believes more than age is at stake for Woods.

“These young guys are tough, and they’re strong,” Palmer said. “And if they continue to play as well as they’ve been playing, it’s going to be tough for anybody – whether it be Nicklaus or Tiger or whomever it would be – to continue to win major championships. And we’re talking about guys that are playing good and coming on.”

He also alluded to Woods’ mystique that appears to have eroded.

“And the fear of a player being so good that they back off, I don’t think that’s the case anymore,” he said. “I think that the players that are going to win, and win major championships, have to be physically fit, mentally fit and they’re going to continue to be tough to beat.”

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell also said the strength of the field is as much an obstacle for Woods as his own health.

“I would say the field is probably the biggest issue he’s got, maybe 70-30 – 70 being field, 30 being body,” McDowell said. “It’s tough to say. He never ceases to amaze us. … You’d never put anything past him. He could prove us all wrong and show up at Augusta, win by 10, and you guys will be back to the keyboards and waxing lyrical and away we go again. Who knows?”

SAN ANTONIO – Phil Mickelson has decided to play the Texas Open next week. That means the three-time Masters champion would play both Texas events before he arrives at Augusta National for the first major of the year.

Mickelson has not played the Texas Open since 1992. It now is played on the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.

It’s the second straight year the Valero Texas Open received a top player at the last minute. Rory McIlroy played last year and was runner-up to Martin Laird.

Mickelson prefers to play before majors. He previously has said he would play the Shell Houston Open, which is the week before the Masters. He had been undecided on the Texas Open.

Golf Canada and BC Golf are saddened to share the news of losing long-time friend Russ White.Russ, a longtime Rules Official for the PGA of BC, winner of the Golf Canada and Pacific Northwest Golf Association Distinguished Awards and honorary Director of British Columbia Golf, passed March 15, 2014. He was 93.

Born in 1921 and raised in Point Grey, B.C., White grew up sailing, playing basketball and lacrosse, and developing a lifelong passion for golf and skiing.

In his late teens, his family moved to Chilliwack, B.C., where he met his wife and lifelong sweetheart Ida, who tried to keep him on the straight and narrow for 54 years, but predeceased him much too early in 1996.

White served his country in the Second World War, as a bomber pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force, stationed in England and Tunisia.

After the war, he settled into family life, moving to Deep Cove, B.C. in the early 1950s, becoming a 58 year member of his beloved Seymour Golf & Country Club.

He is survived by his daughter Donna (Paul), his son Ian (Penney), his grandchildren Craig (Heather), Darrell (Nicci), Emily (Robert), and Marcilyn, his great grandchildren Jayne, Gabriel and Ian, and his special friends Dave and Stacy Wright.

The family will have a private memorial and a commemorative run down Whistler’s Lower Dave Murray. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the SPCA.

Top 10 recovery shots on the PGA Tour

Check out the top 10 recovery shots on the PGA Tour (excluding majors), featuring railway tie bank shots, backhanded swings and mind blowing up-and-downs from unforeseen places.

ACTON, Ontario – The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada presented by Nike Golf will be held July 29-31 at FireRock Golf Club, just outside London, Ont.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to host the PGA Women ‘s Championship of Canada presented by Nike Golf here at FireRock Golf Club,” said Duane Swinkles, FireRock’s director of golf. “This is a highly prestigious national championship and we are honoured to be part of it.”

Opened in 2004, FireRock was designed by famed Canadian golf course architect Thomas McBroom. This will mark the first PGA of Canada national championship for the venerable club.

“FireRock is explosive by nature and stunning by design,” said McBroom. “One of the first elements that struck me at FireRock was the nature of the disturbed land – it had a really fascinating feel to it for us to explore. It presented a unique situation for us to build on and around the sand and gravel features.”

The course is famed by natural grasses and trees, captivating land forms and ragged handmade bunkers. The routing of the course flows effortlessly over pastureland, across environmentally significant Savannah grasses and the Oxbow River valley, intertwining with existing gravel spoil piles.

“FireRock’s layout will present a challenge with the old gravel spoils that appear on 10 holes, a prevailing breeze as well as undulating and elevated greens making club selection a real test,” said Swinkels.

The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada presented by Nike Golf was first played in 1987 and past champions include Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, Lorie Kane, Alena Sharp and last year’s winner, Jessica Shepley.

“The PGA of Canada is excited to be heading to FireRock Golf Club and the golfing hotbed of London, Ont.,” said Gregg Schubert, PGA of Canada president. “There’s no doubt the week will showcase a number of the best women golfers from across Canada, the United States and the rest of the world.”

The MedThree Insurance Pro-Am kicks off championship week on July 29th with proceeds of the event going to Solider On.

WATERLOO, Ont. – Defending champion Hee Young Park, Brittany Lang, world ranked #3 Stacy Lewis, and Canadian up-and-comer Jennifer Kirby, top the list of early commitments for the 2014 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.

The third annual LPGA event will be held from June 4 to 8 at Grey Silo Golf Course.

Hee Young Park, from South Korea, defeated American Angela Stanford in a three-hole playoff at the 2013 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic to capture her second professional victory. Park birdied the par-5 18th hole four straight times to take the win and earn the $195,000 first-place cheque. Park shot a career-best 61 on the par-71 course to finish the week at 26-under par 258.

”The Canadian fans are so nice. Boys, girls, people of every age, they always cheer for us players and motivate us to play our best,” said Park. “I am excited to come back in June to see everyone again!”

Brittany Lang became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in 2012, capturing a victory in a four-way, three-hole sudden death playoff. Brittany had a busy year in 2013: 28 events, 22 cuts made, seven top-20 finishes including a season-best tie for seventh at the U.S. Women’s Open. Lang competed on her third U.S. Solheim Cup Team and posted a record of 3-1-0.

Manulife Financial recently announced multi-year partnerships with 2013 Women’s British Open Champion Stacy Lewis and Canadian professional Jennifer Kirby. Both Lewis and Kirby will represent Manulife globally during the 2014 LPGA Tour season. Lewis, currently ranked #3 in the Rolex World Rankings, had an extremely successful season, winning three events in 2013, including one Major Championship at the Women’s British Open, contested at the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Kirby turned professional following graduation from the University of Alabama in the spring of 2013. That same year, Kirby emerged victorious in her professional debut at the Canadian Women’s Tour in Quebec and earned her full 2014 LPGA Tour Card by finishing 5th at the LPGA Q-School qualifying event.

While Park, Lang, Lewis and Kirby are scheduled to play in the tournament, the remaining field is not yet set.

“As we get to the end of this cold winter, it is exciting to start talking about the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic and some of the familiar faces we are expecting to see back in Waterloo Region,” Tournament Director Richard Kuypers. “We have the best fans in the world and this year’s event is guaranteed to impress all spectators, new and returning!”

For more information, including ticketing and volunteer opportunities, visit www.manulifeclassic.ca.