PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Former PGA champion Steve Elkington caused more outrage on Twitter on Tuesday when he made a disparaging remark about Missouri defensive end Michael Sam while trying to criticize media coverage that refers to him as gay.

Sam came out publicly two weeks ago. The NFL has never had an openly homosexual player. Sam worked out this week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis and is projected to be a mid- to late-round draft pick.

Elkington first tweeted that ESPN’s coverage of Sam was “embarrassing.”

He followed with this tweet: “ESPN reporting Michael Sam is leading the handbag throw at NFL combine … No one else expected to throw today.”

Elkington later deleted his tweet, and then tried to clarify his position. He posted a reply: “I’m for Sam I’m against ESPN telling me he’s gay….”

The PGA Tour suggested a fine was in order, though it has a policy of not announcing discipline.

“Under our regulations, conduct unbecoming a professional includes public commentary that is clearly inappropriate or offensive. With respect to this matter, and consistent with our longstanding policy, we do not comment on player disciplinary matters,” the tour said in a statement.

Elkington created more reaction trying to explain his earlier post.

“It goes back to ”a ball hit an oriental spectator” .There’s no oriental spectators..There just spectators..”like m Sam…He’s just an athlete,“ he tweeted.

Elkington, an Australian who played college golf at Houston, has a cult following with his “Secret in the Dirt” cartoons depicting news from the world of golf, and he’s never bashful about poking fun at players.

But he has drawn ire on Twitter for some of his social commentary.

In November, he tweeted about the helicopter that crashed into a Glasgow pub and killed 10 people, “Helicopter crashes into Scottish pub. … locals report no beer was spilt.”

He was reprimanded by the European Tour last summer when he tweeted disparaging comments about the area around Royal Birkdale, where the Senior British Open was being held. He later tweeted that “couple caddies got rolled by some Pakkis, bad night for them.”

Elkington later apologized in a statement, saying he wasn’t aware that “Pakki” was an objectionable phrase in Britain, and that his comments were made out of frustration stemming from what had happened to a colleague.

Elkington won 10 times on the PGA Tour, including the PGA Championship in 1995 at Riviera for his only major.

As the Chair of Golf Canada’s Rules of Golf Committee, I have the privilege of representing Golf Canada at several international tournaments each year.  This past week I was part of the Rules Committee at the PGA Tour’s Accenture Match Play Championship, held in Tucson, Arizona.

Except for the first round, when there are 32 matches, all other matches are accompanied by a walking referee.  We are assigned to a particular match and accompany the players throughout the round to assist them in interpreting and applying the golf’s rules.  While walking with a match is, in my opinion, the best way to see the highest of level of golf be played, it is frequently without incident.  The players often will play an entire match without needing the assistance of a referee.

Such was not the case during the third day of the championship when I was assigned to be the referee accompanying Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler.

The round started easily enough, Sergio and Fowler were clearly comfortable playing with one another and I was able to witness some first rate golf.  It all changed at the par three sixth hole when Garcia’s tee shot ended up very near a sprinkler head close to the green.  Because of the desert conditions found in the Tucson area, moisture is scarce and animals and insects are always eager to find a ready supply of water.  And so it was that, because this sprinkler head had a very small leak, a large number of bees, perhaps upwards of a hundred, had gathered to take advantage of their version of an oasis in the desert.

Sergio went to his ball, saw a number of bees buzzing about and called me over.  He explained he had had a very bad experience with bees in the past and wanted to know if he had to play his next shot with the bees flying around him.  Fortunately, the rules are not without heart and players are entitled to free relief when confronted with a “dangerous situation”.   In fact, Decision 1-4/10 deals with bees specifically and I was able to help Mr. Garcia determine the nearest point that the bees were not an issue and he dropped his ball within 1 club length of that spot, no nearer the hole.

However, probably because Sergio, his caddie and I had been waking in the area, the bees had become more active and had expanded the area they were occupying.  Sergio addressed his ball two or three times and then backed off, not confident the bee issue was resolved.  I felt the dangerous situation had now expanded to include the area where the first drop occurred and stepped in to indicate Sergio could take another drop, this time farther from the sprinkler head.  We determined a new nearest point of relief, Sergio dropped the ball within one club length of that spot and played his shot free the bee situation.

I was able to watch a replay of the incident later that night and enjoyed the light hearted banter the TV announcers had as all this was transpiring on the screen.

At the time of the ruling, I was not too worried about the bees, they appeared to be normal honey bees and, although probably capable of stinging, they did not seem aggressive.  Imagine my surprise when, in talking about the ruling with one of the tournament volunteers the next day, I was told that in all likelihood my innocent honey bees were a hybrid of a type of African bee that could be very aggressive and dangerous and, in fact, Sergio was most definitively faced with a dangerous situation.  In this case, the rules worked to the player’s advantage and helped him out of a sticky situation!

The match then moved onto the seventh hole.  Both players ended up fairly near the hole, with par putts, Sergio having a 6 foot putt and Rickie having about 17 feet.  Rickie had begun his pre-shot routine, and was crouched behind his ball when he and Sergio began talking.  The conversation seemed quite light hearted and the gallery chuckled at the enjoyment the players seemed to be taking in the situation.  I thought it quite odd that such a conversation was taking place after Rickie had begun his pre-shot routine.  The next thing the gallery and I saw, was both players picking up their ball markers and walking off the green.

One of the duties of a walking referee is to announce the results of the hole just completed and the status of the match.  In such cases I might announce, “Mr. Garcia makes 4, Mr. Fowler makes 4 and the match remains All Square.”  Such was my surprise at the seventh hole that I was unclear what had just transpired and the announcement was never made, I just walked behind the players over to the 8th tee, still working out what had happened and the status of the match.

It quickly became clear that both Sergio and Rickie had made use of Rule 2-4, which sets, in part, “A player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time, provided the opponent’s ball is at rest.”  In language most golfers are used to, they had agreed their putts were “good for good”.  It was a very unusual move by Sergio to concede Rickie’s lengthy putt but he stated afterword he felt the bee incident on the previous hole had not been fair to Rickie who had a makeable birdie putt that he missed.  The concessions by both players was sportsmanship of the highest level and it was consistent with how they conducted themselves throughout the match.  They were complementary of each other’s shots, seemed to enjoy each other’s company but played a hard fought and well played  match.

It was a pleasure to play a very small part in the match and to witness great play by great players.

UXBRIDGE, Ontario –  For the first time in the organization’s history, the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) has announced it will allow someone to serve a second term as association president. That history maker is Jim King.

“I’m very pleased to have been asked to serve a second term as president of the GAO,” said King via press release. “It is gratifying to have the confidence of the Board and our membership to allow me to continue in the role that I like to call the head volunteer. We have a new Executive Director, Steve Carroll, and a fully engaged Board, eager to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

King, who hails from Waterloo and plays out of the Westmount Golf and Country Club is originally from Winnipeg, where he was an accomplished amateur golfer. He has been a volunteer with the GAO since 2008, serving on the Finance, Rules and Competitions, Marketing and HR and Compensation committees, while spending countless hours as a tournament starter and Level 3 Rules Official.

A member of Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, Ont. since 1988, King has served as Men’s Playing Captain. He took on a leading role as Co-Chair and Director of Finance and Sponsorship when the club hosted the 2009 Canadian Junior Boys’ Championship. King has an affinity for growing the game and regularly champions grassroots and junior development programs at all levels.

After returning to the position, King took time to outline some of his priorities for 2014.

“First I would like to revisit our strategic plan to ensure that we, as the provincial sport organization (PSO), are in alignment with Golf Canada, the national sport organization (NSO),” explained King.

In addition, he has his sights on gaining more funding for the organization’s high performance programs. “I feel it is important to pursue additional sources of revenue to support our High Performance Player Development in addition to other program initiatives,” he said. These would include programs such as Team Ontario, the U17 Regional Teams, the Long Term Development Program, Athlete Training Resources, the Women’s Provincial Training Program and more.

“I hope to continue to expand our high performance athlete development efforts and other programs, such as rules and officials training, and course rating throughout the province.”

The returning president also stressed an effort to work with Golf Canada in growing the game of golf not only provincially but also nationally. “I want us at the GAO to collaborate with Golf Canada in the development of a new business / marketing model for golf in Canada,” said King.

He went on to talk about the relationship between the PSO and NSO in one of their big collaborations this season. “Together with Golf Canada, we need to work to ensure the success of the inaugural World Junior Girls’ Golf Championships in September.”

King also welcomed four new board members to the 2014 GAO Directors as Carol-Ann Goering, John Gallinger, Tony Dunn and Peter Zakarow will join existing Directors Christian Osborne (VP), Marilyn Field-Marsham, Robert Kilgour, Ivy Steinberg, Alan Trivett, Kent Trainor, John Turner, and OVGA representative Don McGee.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The PGA Tour season began five months ago. The new year is two months old. And yet there’s something about the Honda Classic that makes Tiger Woods and a collection of stars feel as though it’s all about to get underway.

“I think once we get to Florida, I think we’re all thinking about our way to Augusta,” Woods said.

Six tournaments remaining before the Masters, the first major of the year, and this is now serious business. It shows in the strength of the field at PGA National, with seven of the top 10 players from the world ranking.

The last time Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott competed in the same tournament was the BMW Championship near Chicago last summer.

That’s how it was a generation ago, when some of golf’s top players either rested or played overseas early in the season, and then showed up in tropical conditions at Doral to start the official road to Augusta National.

Woods has plenty of work to do based on his early performance – a missed 54-hole cut at Torrey Pines in his lone PGA Tour start this year, followed by a dismal performance by his standards at the Dubai Desert Classic, where he tied for 41st.

He conceded that he spent most of his winter break working on his body instead of his golf. Since returning from overseas earlier this month, Woods said he has spent most of his time working on his short game.

Woods isn’t the only player coming off a substantial break.

Scott, the defending champion at Augusta, hasn’t competed since the Sony Open in Honolulu. He spent the following week on the Big Island, surfing and playing a few casual rounds with his buddies, then killed time on the couch or doing anything not related to golf until it was time to get back to work.

He plans to play three of the next four tournaments.

“After three weeks I kind of felt like I needed to start swinging again and started to get the itch, but I think I timed it pretty well because I’ve had a nice couple weeks of intense practice before getting here and a week of playing with some mates before that,” Scott said. “I feel like I’ve had a nice preparation, but this is a very tough test, and it’s probably not the ideal one to float back in off after an extended break.”

PGA National looks to have as much blue (water) as green (grass), and the course is converted into a par 70 at 7,140 yards for the Honda Classic. Michael Thompson won last year at 9-under 271.

It wouldn’t seem to favor Mickelson, who has not played PGA National since he was an amateur.

Mickelson missed the last two weeks because his kids were on spring break, spending some of that time skiing and some of that playing golf. He did not want to fly out from California for one tournament next week at Doral, so he added the Honda Classic.

“The greens are really immaculate,” Mickelson said. “If you get hot with a putter, you can make a lot of putts. But I do like the golf course. I’ve always liked Nicklaus-designed golf courses. I know this course he renovated or redesigned years ago, and it’s a wonderful test of golf, and I think that’s a real credit as to why such a strong field continues to come here.”

This is only the third time Woods has played the Honda Classic as a pro. He rallied with a 62 in the final round in 2012 to finish behind McIlroy, and then struggled off the tee – particularly on the sixth hole – a year ago when he tied for 37th.

McIlroy has his own set of memories from PGA National, not all of them good. Even though he won in 2012 to become No. 1 in the world for the first time, he followed that by playing 26 holes last year before walking off the course with his game in disrepair and his business affairs not much better.

McIlroy said it was a mistake to quit, something he won’t ever do again. But the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland is in a better frame of mind this year. He is comfortable with his equipment. He’s engaged. He has settled into his own management (though he still is going through a legal battle with his old firm). And he is playing like the guy everyone expected to be the biggest threat to Woods.

“I’m in a better place,” McIlroy said. “And I feel like when my game is in a good place, everything else can sort of fall in line with that. It makes me feel more comfortable about everything.”

IRVINE, Calif. – Greg McLaughlin is leaving as head of the Tiger Woods Foundation after 14 years to join the PGA Tour.

McLaughlin was the tournament director of the Nissan Open at Riviera when he offered Woods an exemption into his first PGA Tour event at age 16. He later ran the Honda Classic and Western Open.

McLaughlin has been president and CEO of the Tiger Woods Foundation since 2000.

Woods says he is thankful for the leadership from McLaughlin. During his tenure, seven Tiger Woods Learning Centers were created. McLaughlin also ran three tournaments – the AT&T National, the Deutsche Bank Championship and the World Challenge.

McLaughlin said in a statement that he was taking an executive leadership position with the tour, but he will remain involved with the foundation.

With four-way stretch technology and a sweater-like feel, Nike’s Hyperadapt Wind jacket provides comfort and protection in a lighter, windproof and rain-resistant version perfect for spring.

Unlike baggy, bigger and bulky outwear of the past that generated distracting noise, the Hyperadapt Wind is designed to fit and move with your body without extra fabric.

“The four-way stretch laminate through the back, shoulders and upper arms maximizes range of motion and eliminates distractions, and the lightweight outer shell provides superior protection from the elements for all day performance and comfort on the course,” says Merritt Richardson, Nike Golf VP of Global Golf Apparel.

Inspired by a car with a see-through, engine-exposing hood one of the designers saw in a parking lot on Nike’s Beaverton, Ore., campus, the Nike Golf apparel team incorporated a half-zip, transparent outer shell that showcases the jacket’s technical details inside and out. A “v”-shaped panel underneath incorporates bonded mesh within the Hyperadapt construction for added breathability and mobility where golfers need it most.

In addition to a performance-driven design, the Hyperadapt Wind jacket is sustainable, too – recycled coffee grounds were used in part to make the windproof coating on the outer shell, which also helps reduce odor from perspiration and assists in UV protection.

The Hyperadapt Wind jacket features elastic cuffs to keep sleeves from moving up and down during a swing, as well as an adjustable waist and a back pocket for storage.

It’s now available at golf retailers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $140.

(Golf Channel) – Two years from now, when golf rejoins the Olympic Games for the first time since 1904, records will be broken. There have been some notable improvements in technology over that span of 112 years, so it goes without much wonder that on the still unfinished course 15 miles southwest of Rio de Janeiro, the world’s best players will set new Olympic marks in such categories as driving distance, total putting and, of course, scoring average.

One record, though, no matter how long golf remains a part of the Games and thrives in this role, will likely live on for eternity: Most creative gold medal presentation.

When George S. Lyon, a 46-year-old Canadian who didn’t take up the game until his late-30s, defeated H. Chandler Egan on the 34th hole of the match play final at Glen Echo Country Club the last time golf was contested, he was called to the podium to receive his award. A record-holder in the pole vault who also played baseball, cricket and tennis, Lyon was also known as a lovable jokester. He promptly stood up, then turned himself upside-down and walked on his hands to receive the golden prize.

It’s difficult to imagine Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy replicating that feat in Brazil.

It is similarly difficult to imagine such a momentous upset. Egan was the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, an astonishingly long hitter by that generation’s standards who had also won the pre-tournament long-drive contest. Comparatively, Lyon was a rube. He’d been playing golf for less than a decade, owned a bad case of chronic hay fever and worked his days as an insurance salesman.

In the final match, however, it was the sturdy Lyon who continually outdrove his younger competitor. When Egan hooked his tee shot on the challenging 16^th hole into an adjacent pond, Lyon’s par was enough for a 3-and-2 victory, one that remains celebrated to this day with a plaque on that tee box.

It was the culmination of a busy week on Glen Echo’s grounds. The schedule included the aforementioned long drive competition, team events and even a contest on a lighted putting green. The main event, however, was the men’s tournament, despite some of the game’s top players failing to show.

“The entries for the Olympic championship were rather disappointing, particularly so in those from the East,” wrote Crafts W. Higgins shortly thereafter in The Golfers’ Magazine. “The known apathy of New Yorkers for any Western event should have been taken into consideration.”

The champion understood this sentiment and offered his usual humility. After accepting the gold medal upside-down, he would later tell the Toronto Star, “I am not foolish enough to think that I am the best player in the world, but I am satisfied that I am not the worst.”

Lyon’s extended run as the reigning Olympic golf champion will soon come to an end, but the memories endure at Glen Echo. The country’s oldest 18-hole golf course west of the Mississippi River features a flag with the Olympic rings flying just inside its front gates, a torch outside its clubhouse and various forms of memorabilia scattered throughout the property.

Click here to continue reading this article from Golf Channel’s Jason Sobel.

Mike Weir wins 2014 Heart Award

LondonOntarioGolf.com has announced that Canadian golf legend and 2003 Masters Tournament champion, Mike Weir, has been named the recipient of the 2014 London Ontario Golf Heart Award.

LondonOntarioGolf.com (est. 2005) celebrates its 10^th season in 2014. In 2011, publisher and editor, Jeffrey Reed established the Heart Award to recognize members of the Greater London golf industry who unselfishly give back to the game of golf. The Heart Award recipient is honoured within the categories of golf professionals/instructors, golf mentors, golf course owners/operators, golf course architects/designers and members of the media.

Previous recipients of the London Ontario Golf Heart Award include: long-time Fanshawe Golf Club head professional Mike Olizarevitch (2011), who was instrumental in creating the Parkside Nine golf course where those who have suffered a stroke, those affected by heart disease, and anyone who is physically challenged can play golf; Fred Kern (2012), a long-time Thames Valley Golf Club head professional and Tyson Tour convenor; and Patty Howard (2013), the first female head professional at a mixed club in Canada, who after 40 years of service in the golf industry, retired this past December.

“Without a doubt, Mike Weir has made an unparalleled impact on local golf, extending beyond his roots in Bright’s Grove, Ontario,” said Reed. “I’ve covered Mike’s progress on the links since he was a two-time winner of the Junior Tyson Tour’s Les Thomas Trophy (1986-87). Because of his success on the golf course, including that memorable win at the 2003 Masters Tournament, and concurrently because of what he has done off the course with the Mike Weir Foundation, and Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive, Mike has inspired members of the golf community in the Greater London area – including me – to achieve greatness in their own lives.”

“With my roots in Southwestern Ontario, it is an honour to be recognized by LondonOntarioGolf.com as the 2014 Heart Award recipient,” said Weir. “It is great that the London Ontario Golf Heart Award brings attention to the Heart & Stroke Foundation and promotes a healthy active lifestyle. As a PGA TOUR professional, fitness and heart health are of the utmost importance. With some of the best golf facilities in the province right in my backyard, as a kid it was easy to walk the course and stay active. The Greater London area is home to many premier courses, which provide a great test for junior and amateur golfers who have the ambition to play on the PGA TOUR one day.”

Born less than an hour west of London in Bright’s Grove, Weir honed his skills under former coach Steve Bennett’s watchful eye at Huron Oaks Golf Club. Weir won the 1986 Canadian Juvenile Championship, 1988 Ontario Junior Championship, and the 1990 and 1992 Ontario Amateur Championship. In 2010, he was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Weir was the Canadian Tour (now PGA TOUR Canada) Rookie of the Year in 1993, and Order of Merit winner in 1997. In 1999, Weir won his first PGA TOUR title at the 1999 Air Canada Championship with a two-stroke victory over Fred Funk, becoming the first Canadian to win on Tour since Richard Zokol won the 1992 Greater Milwaukee Open, and the first Canadian to win on native soil since Pat Fletcher won the 1954 Canadian Open.

Weir emerged as one of the game’s brightest stars with his Masters victory, a dramatic playoff win over Len Mattiace. His breakthrough year on the PGA TOUR earned him the 2003 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete of the year and the Lionel Conacher Award, given to Canada’s top male athlete of the year, an award he previously won in 2000 and 2001. In total, Weir has won eight times on the PGA TOUR, has competed as part of five Presidents Cup squads, and six times competed in the World Cup of Golf.

On a national level, Weir’s success and contributions through charitable work have attributed to two Order of Canada inductions (2007, 2009). In 2009, Weir was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Weir has used his success as a professional golfer as a platform for helping other families in need with the creation of the Mike Weir Foundation in 2004. Mike launched a national fundraising program through his foundation, called the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids, supporting Children’s Miracle Network. The first Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive tournament in 2007, held at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ontario, raised $562,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. Since 2007, the Mike Weir Foundation and the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids has raised close to $5 million for Children’s Miracle Network partner hospitals.

Today, Weir lives in Sandy, Utah with his wife, Bricia, and their daughters, Elle and Lili – but he remains an ambassador for Canadian golf.

“London Ontario Golf is honoured to have Mike Weir as our newest winner of the Heart Award,” said Reed. “His support of the London and area community, and his status as the greatest Canadian golfer of all time have both equally inspired all generations of golfers in Southwestern Ontario. We look forward to celebrating with the Weir family this June.” Details of the June award ceremony will be announced soon.

Living near green space or a golf course can help you live longer

(CBC News) -Most people expect that getting married or a promotion will make them happier. But how many realize that living near a park can do the same thing?

A recent study of major U.K. cities showed that when communities are surrounded by more green space, life expectancy increases significantly.

The world is currently on track for an estimated 1.3 billion people to become city dwellers between now and 2030, said Alan Logan, co-author of Your Brain on Nature.

With denser cities increasing pressure on green space, negative consequences for human health may be the result. Access to green space is clearly a public health issue, said Logan.

Nature exposure influences the natural killer cells that defend us against the common cold, influenza and cancer, he said.

In a Japanese study, a group spending three days in a forest setting produced significantly more natural killer cells in their bodies than a group that spent three days sightseeing in the city, said Logan. The positive results persisted for at least a month.

It’s not known exactly what causes this effect but phytoncides may be partly responsible. These are chemicals secreted into the air from trees, especially evergreens. They have been shown in the lab to stimulate the production of killer cells. They hover in greatest concentrations in natural settings, such as forests, about four feet off the ground.

Nature’s positive effect on mental health is another important recent discovery.

Mental health and well-being is a critical modern public health issue, according to the World Health Organization, and depression is now the leading cause of disability in middle to high income countries. Increasing urbanization may be partly to blame because they tend to detach people from the natural environments they evolved in.

People moving to towns with more parks and gardens not only report greater well being than those without access to those amenities, but their improved mental health lasts for at least three years after their move, according to results of a study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology by Ian Alcock of the University of Exeter Medical School.

MARANA, Ariz. – Jason Day never stopped believing he would win the Match Play Championship, even in the midst of so many shots by Victor Dubuisson that simply defied belief.

With his ball at the base of a cactus, Dubuisson took an all-or-nothing swing though the sharp needles and a TV cable and incredibly hit it to 4 feet to save par. Seemingly out of it on the next playoff hole, the 23-year-old Frenchman somehow whacked a wedge through a desert bush and rocks and onto the green for another par.

Day finally ended the madness Sunday on the 23rd hole with a pitch to 4 feet on No. 15 for birdie.

It was the first time the championship match went overtime since the inaugural year in 1999 at La Costa, when Jeff Maggert chipped on the second extra hole of a 36-hole final.

Day, with his first World Golf Championship, walked away with his second PGA Tour title that will take the Australian to No. 4 in the world.

This tournament might better be remembered for Dubuisson’s magical escapes.

Two holes down with two holes to play, Dubuisson rapped in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and then took advantage of a rare lapse by Day, who bogeyed the 18th hole with a three-putt from 50 feet on the upper tier. The Frenchman saved par from the bunker to force extra holes.

It looked as if it would be over quickly.

From the first fairway, Dubuisson went so far long that bounced hard off the back of the green and into the desert, the ball nestled at the base of a cholla. He stepped up to the ball and, with nothing to lose, swung away. The club got caught on a TV cable, and the ball scooted up the slope of 3-inch grass and onto the green.

And it came with an encore.

On the next extra hole, the par-5 ninth, Dubuisson tugged his shot left of the green, left of the bleachers and into a desert bush surrounded by rocks. He took another crack at it, and the shot came out perfectly through thick grass and onto the green.

After matching bogeys and pars on the next two holes – this time from the green grass – the match ended on the 333-yard 15th hole when Dubuisson’s drive strayed too far right into side of a hill.

In the morning semifinals, Day beat Rickie Fowler 3 and 2, and Dubuisson topped Ernie Els 1 up. Fowler beat Els in 19 holes in the third-place match.

MESA, Ariz. – LPGA Tour member and Hamilton, Ont. native Alena Sharp won the Symetra Tour’s season-opening Visit Mesa Gateway Classic on Sunday, beating Marissa Steen by two-shots and four players by three strokes.

The 32-year-old closed with a 1-under 71 for a 12-under 204 total at Longbow Golf Club. She finished second last year, two strokes behind Jaclyn Sweeney.

With the win, Sharp earns $15,000 (US).

Emily Talley (65), Becca Huffner (68), Sadena Parks (68) and Jennie Lee (71) tied for second.

Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods’ niece, had a 71 to tie for 14th at 3 under. She won the Australian Ladies Masters two weeks ago.

Canadian Results:

1. Alena Sharp (-12) 67-66-71–204
T12.   Sara-Maude Juneau (-4)  67-72-73–212
T27.   Samantha Richdale (-1) 73-71-71—215
T42.   Natalie Gleadall        (+1) 70-75-72–217
— Missed Cut —
CUT   Erica Rivard (+5) 77-72–149
CUT  Stephanie Sherlock (+7) 78-73–151
CUT   Angela Buzminski (+10) 77-77–154
CUT   Lisa Meldrum (+14) 84-74–158
CUT   Nicole Vandermade (+17) 80-81–161

MARANA, Ariz. – Jason Day of Australia and Victor Dubuisson of France reached the 18-hole final of the Match Play Championship on Sunday.

Day, a semifinalist last year, led from the start in a 3-and-2 victory over Rickie Fowler.

Dubuisson became the fourth player to reach the championship match on his debut in the 15 years after this World Golf Championship began in 1999. He had to take down Ernie Els in the most compelling match of the morning on Dove Mountain.

Els, trying to reach the final for the first time, went 3 up through four holes and was on the verge of stretching his lead until the 23-year-old Frenchman halved the hole with a tough par putt at No. 7. Dubuisson won four of the next five holes to take the lead, only for the 44-year-old Els to battle back.

Els made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th to square the match, and they headed to the 18th hole. Dubuisson hit to the back fringe, while Els came up short with a 6-iron into the breeze and found a bunker. He blasted out to just outside 12 feet, and narrowly missed the par putt to extend the match.

Dubuisson said he didn’t sleep well Saturday night and didn’t feel well when he arrived at the golf course, perhaps because “I realized I was in the semifinal of the World Golf Championship against Ernie Els.”

“I’m a big fan of Ernie, so I have always been watching him winning majors,” he said. “I knew I had to play my best golf. It’s what I did.”

Dubuisson is the first player since Geoff Ogilvy in 2006 to reach the final match in his first time playing this event. Ogilvy went on to win the title.

It was a big blow to Els, who badly pulled an 8-iron far left of the flag on the 17th, losing a chance to put pressure on Dubuisson, and then came up short on the 18th.

“It’s tough to take,” said the four-time major champion.

Day won the opening hole with a birdie and never looked back, though Fowler didn’t give in.

Day was 3 up through 11 holes when he missed a 6-foot par putt on the 12th and Fowler made birdie on the 13th to cut the deficit to one hole. The turning point came at the 15th, when Fowler missed far enough left with his drive that he had no shot at getting close. He hit a flop shot strong that went over the green, hit another strong pitch and missed the par putt.

Fowler had a chance to go 1 down on the 16th with a tee shot into 6 feet. But he missed the birdie putt, and then missed the 4-footer coming back for par to end the match.

“The start of the season, that’s all I’m trying to do is win,” said Day, with only one PGA Tour victory in his career. “I felt like I had a really good chance at maybe having a shot at winning this week and I’m definitely in the final now and I’m really looking for to it.”