Canadian U.S. Open Qualifiers cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions
USGA Statement re: U.S. Open qualifying in Canada
The province of Ontario in Canada recently announced additional restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic. These regulations include a stay-at-home order until May 20 and the closure of all golf courses in Ontario. As a result, the USGA, in coordination with Golf Canada, will not be able to conduct U.S. Open local qualifying at Cherry Hill Club on May 10 and TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on May 18 and final qualifying at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club on June 7. While these cancellations are disappointing the health and safety of all involved is at the heart of this decision. The USGA will continue to monitor health and safety conditions at all qualifying sites.
Golf Canada and COBRA PUMA GOLF extend junior golf partnership
Golf Canada (April 27, 2021) – Golf Canada and COBRA PUMA GOLF announced today a four-year extension of their partnership in junior golf and the Golf Canada Junior Skills Challenge through 2024.
Through their deeper partnership, PUMA Golf becomes the official headwear, apparel, and footwear partner of the Golf Canada Junior Skills Challenge, an interactive program focused on developing the key golf skills of putting, chipping and driving. COBRA Golf will also become the official golf equipment partner of the Golf Canada Junior Skills Challenge.
“COBRA PUMA GOLF has been an incredibly strong supporter of junior golf in this country and we are thrilled to extend our partnership,” said Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer John Sibley. “Both high-performance brands, COBRA and PUMA, have aligned well with our efforts to build excitement through competition among the country’s top young players and we are excited to work together to identify emerging talent and enhance the local, provincial and national components of the Junior Skills Challenge.”
The agreement extends COBRA PUMA GOLF’s long-term support of junior golf in Canada, which dates back to the 2014 season with the game’s National Sport Federation.
“We are proudly extending our partnership with Golf Canada to deliver a national junior program that helps cultivate our next generation of great Canadian golfers,” said Dwayne Boecker, Head of Golf at COBRA PUMA GOLF – Canada. “The on-course skills training and coast-to-coast engagement supports our commitment to provide Canadian youth opportunities to learn to play.”
The Junior Skills Challenge unites a network of local Junior Skills events hosted at golf facilities across the country. An online National Leaderboard allows site coordinators and PGA of Canada professionals to upload players’ scores to track improvement and rank players by age group and scores.
COBRA PUMA GOLF will provide regional and national event prizing in addition to outfitting each of the provincial and national Junior Skills Challenge event coordinators.
The 2021 Golf Canada Junior Skills Challenge program will begin in May with the top ranked qualifiers on the national leaderboard from July 19, 2019 to August 3, 2021 (cut-off date) will be invited to compete in the National Final held in Ontario later this fall. Provincial qualifiers will be open events in 2021 to allow participants to qualify directly into the Junior Skills National Final.
Pendrith earns PGA Tour card after clearing 1,700 point Korn Ferry Tour threshold
Canadian golfer Taylor Pendrith has earned his PGA Tour card after eclipsing 1,700 ranking points on the Korn Ferry Tour this season.
Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., shot a final round of 7-under 64 Sunday at the Veritex Bank Championship, which moved him up 27 spots into a tie for 15th.
The 51 ranking points he earned at the tournament gave Pendtirh, who is currently third on the tour’s money list, a total of 1,748. The Korn Ferry Tour calls the 1,700-point mark its “fail-safe threshold” for earning a PGA Tour card for next season.
Pendrith called locking up his first PGA Tour card a “dream come true.”
“It’s been a long journey, for sure, starting in 2014 when I turned pro” the 29-year-old Pendrith said in an interview posted on the Korn Ferry Tour’s Twitter feed.
“But it’s always been a goal of mine and a dream to play on the PGA Tour, and I’ll be able to do that next year.”
Pendrith has six top-10 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour this year. He was runner-up at the Wichita Open and finished tied for second at the Pinnacle Bank Championship and the TPC San Antonio Championship.
He also finished tied for 23rd at the 2020 U.S. Open.
The top-25 players on the Korn Ferry Tour’s money list at the end of the season earn a place on the PGA Tour for the following season.
Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is currently 13th on the list at 1,261 points.
There are seven active Canadians with full or partial status on the PGA Tour this season: Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.); Michael Gligic (Burlington, Ont.); Adam Hadwin (Abbotsford, B.C.); David Hearn (Brantford, Ont.); Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.); Roger Sloan (Merritt, B.C.); and Nick Taylor (Abbotsford).
Graham DeLaet of Weyburm, Sask., started the season on tour but has been off since undergoing a back procedure in February.
Brooke Henderson wins LA Open for 10th LPGA Tour title
LOS ANGELES – Brooke Henderson rallied to win the HUGEL Air Premia LA Open on Saturday for her 10th LPGA Tour title, chipping in for birdie on the par-3 12th in an early back-nine burst and getting up-and-down for par on the last.
Four strokes behind leader Jessica Korda and three back of top-ranked Jin Young Ko entering the sunny day at Wilshire Country Club, Henderson closed with her second straight 4-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Korda.
The 23-year-old Canadian birdied the par-4 11th to take the lead at 15 under, hitting a 144-yard shot to 3 feet of the back, right pin. She holed out from 70 feet from right and below the green on 12, and made a 6-foot birdie putt on the short par-4 14th.
Henderson bogeyed the par-4 17th to cut her lead to two, then chipped inside 2 feet for par on the par-3 18th after her 8-iron shot rolled off the right edge of the green and into a low collection area.
The sixth-ranked Henderson won for the first time since the Meijer LPGA Classic in June 2019. She finished at 16-under 268 to break the event record of 14 under set by Minjee Lee in 2019.
“Just to get it across the line and to have the work that Brit and I have been putting in pay off and be able to celebrate together and get the tenth win on the LPGA Tour is really incredible, and I just — just really happy and just really excited,” said Henderson.
Korda closed with a 72, missing a chance for her second victory of the year after leading after each of the first three rounds. She won the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in January for her sixth LPGA Tour title.
“You know, this game is incredible and it gives you so many great opportunities. The friends that I’ve made and the places that I’ve been able to travel are really crazy,” said Henderson, when asked about being a role model.
“I’m really grateful that my parents got me into the game and that my sister and I have been able to share this journey together.”
While Henderson made her move early on the back nine, Ko bogeyed the 11th and 12th in a 72 that left her tied with Australia’s Hannah Green at 14 under. The South Korean star was coming off a two-week break after finishing seventh in the ANA Inspiration.
Green eagled the 14th and birdied the par-5 15th in a 66.
Major champions So Yeon Ryu (68) and Angela Stanford (70) tied for fifth at 12 under.
Henderson holds 3rd place heading into finale in LA
LOS ANGELES – Jessica Korda rode out a series of big momentum shifts Friday at historic Wilshire Country Club to hold onto the lead in the HUGEL Air Premia LA Open.
Six strokes ahead after three holes, tied with top-ranked Jin Young Ko at the turn and two shots back with three to play, Korda birdied the final two holes to take a one-stroke lead into the final round.
“I’m just trying to be patient,” Korda said. “It’s tough. It’s tough to win out here. Still have 18 holes left and I just want to give myself an opportunity to win.”
Korda shot a 3-under 68 to break the tournament 54-hole record at 16 under. She matched the event course record with a 64 on Wednesday and shot a bogey-free 65 on Thursday to break the 36-hole scoring record at 13 under.
“Honestly, it’s just hitting it in the right spots,” Korda said. “Pins were definitely tougher today than they have been the last two days, more tucked, so it was hard to be aggressive on a lot of them.”
Ko shot a 66, making a 30-foot bogey putt on the par-3 18th after driving over the green and watching her second bang into the bank and roll back to her feet.
“Lie wasn’t good. Really, like no grass, and just like it was a cart path, so it was hard,” Ko said. “But I had good putt, so I’m happy.”
Korda matched Ko with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th, then hit to 3 feet for a birdie on the par-4 17th and to 2 feet on 18.
“I knew that she was going to come out and play great,” Korda said about Ko. “That’s what she does being world No. 1. You wouldn’t expect anything less. I was just trying to play my own game, and that’s exactly what I’m going to try to do tomorrow.”
She won the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in January for her sixth LPGA Tour title.
Korda birdied the first three holes to open the six-stroke lead, hitting to a foot on Nos. 2 and 3. She parred the next five and bogeyed the par-4 ninth to fall into a tie with Ko. Korda also bogeyed Nos. 11 and 13 before rallying late.
“It was tough,” Korda said. “Once we hit that mark of no movement for about 20 minutes, it was just really, really slow and it was hard for he to gain my momentum back. I was still hitting really good shots. I just didn’t have any opportunities. I was kind of always above the hole, and trying to nestle something down close to the hole is tough when you’re trying to make birdies.”
Ko had six birdies and a bogey in a front-nine 30. She bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11 and birdied Nos. 13-15. The seven-time LPGA Tour winner is coming off a two-week break after finishing seventh in the major ANA Inspiration.
“Tomorrow, I don’t care about my scores or whatever, just trying to my game on the course and have fun,” Ko said.
Brooke Henderson got a spot alongside Korda and Ko in the final group Saturday, shooting a 67 to get to 12 under. The Canadian birdied Nos. 15-17, then had a 7-foot birdie try slide left on 18. She rebounded from a double bogey on No. 6.
“I think when you have bad holes like that it’s really important to just stay patient and keep doing what you’re doing,” Henderson said.
“I didn’t really do anything wrong. Just kind of one shot got away from us and ended up making a big number. So just tried to stay in the moment and continue to hit good shots.”
Angela Stanford was 11 under after a 68, and So Yeon Ryu and Hannah Green each shot 69 to get to 9 under. Morgan Pressel had a 66 to match Tiffany Chan (70) at 8 under.
Sei Young Kim, playing alongside Ko and Korda in the final group, had a 76 to fall into a tie for 18th at 4 under. She closed with her second double bogey of the day.
Korda broke the 54-hole mark of 11 under set by Minjee Lee in her 2019 victory. Lee holds the 72-hole mark of 14 under in the event that was first played in 2018 and was cancelled last year.
PGA TOUR creates new Tour to support PGA TOUR Canada members
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida—The PGA TOUR announced Thursday the creation of the Forme Tour for current PGA TOUR Canada members as a result of restrictions and other COVID-19-related issues at the U.S.-Canadian border. For 2021, PGA TOUR Canada members will be given access to the Forme Tour, allowing them the ability to compete in a series of U.S.-based events between June and September.
The Forme Tour will continue to provide Official World Golf Ranking points and is planning an eight-tournament schedule played during the summer. The top-five points earners earning 2021-22 Korn Ferry Tour membership along with others advancing to the second and final stages of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.
The Forme Tour’s 72-hole, medal-play events will be conducted identically to other PGA TOUR-affiliated Tour tournaments. Auburn University Club in Auburn, Alabama, and Ohio’s TPC River’s Bend in the Cincinnati suburb of Maineville, two premier golf facilities, have already signed as host sites. The Tour’s other six venues—as well as tournament dates—will be announced later this spring.
“We are excited to offer this opportunity to our PGA TOUR Canada members, and our commitment is to continue to do business with high-caliber golf courses,” said Greg Carlson, Executive Director of the Forme Tour, who previously filled the same role for seven years for PGA TOUR Series-China. We look forward to announcing the remaining schedule and venues in the coming weeks.”
The Mackenzie Tour will conduct events held across Canada for Canadian-based players later this summer. These players will compete to earn access to the traditional Mackenzie Tour in 2022. The Mackenzie Tour expects that a number of familiar sites from coast to coast will be included in a schedule announcement that will arrive in the coming weeks.
Mackenzie Tour Executive Director Scott Pritchard has seen firsthand the challenges the global pandemic has caused and is seeking and expects to secure competitive opportunities under the Mackenzie Tour banner for players who reside in Canada.
“The Canada-based players will play in 72-hole Mackenzie Tour events, and the tournaments will continue to support local charities and local economies. We will share more details about specific plans in the near future,” said Pritchard. “We’re excited to continue to further develop golf and competitive golfers in this country.”
The Forme Tour will adopt its eligibility from PGA TOUR Canada and will feature the top-60 points earners from the 2019 PGA TOUR Canada season, qualified members from the PGA TOUR University Ranking and those who successfully qualified at the three Qualifying Tournaments in 2020 (prior to cancellation of 2020 PGA TOUR Canada season due to Covid-19) and the seven 2021 Qualifying Tournaments.
Jessica Korda shoots 7 under 64 to take LA Open lead
LOS ANGELES – Jessica Korda birdied three of the final four holes for a 7-under 64 and a one-stroke lead Wednesday after the first round of the HUGEL Air Premia LA Open.
Korda had eight birdies and a bogey at Wilshire Country Club to match the tournament scoring record set by Megan Khang and Annie Park in 2019.
“This isn’t an easy golf course at all,” Korda said. “I was lucky to be able to position myself in the right spots off the tee and take advantage of the short putts that I did have for birdie.”
Korda won the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in January for her sixth LPGA Tour title, and sister Nelly Korda followed with a victory a month later in the Gainbridge LPGA in the second event of the year.
“We’re not playing in Asia next two weeks,” Jessica Korda said. “Taking those three weeks off, and the summer is so busy. Just going to pace ourselves. Got some big events coming up that I would like to be prepared for, and that’s kind of what my team and I are concentrating on.”
Tiffany Chan and Moriya Jutanugarn were a stroke back. Chan played at Southern California.
“My goal was to try not to be too aggressive because it’s my home course so I know the course really well,” Chan said. “So, I still tried to be a little more conservative.”
Nelly Korda was two strokes back at 66 with Dana Finkelstein, Su Oh, Carlota Ciganda and Austin Ernst.
Michelle Wie West matched Lexi Thompson with a 70.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., fired a 2-under 69, Hamilton’s Alena Sharp opened with a 1-over 72, while Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee came in with an 8-over 79.
Lydia Ko opened with a 78, four days after winning the Lotte Championship in Hawaii at 28-under 260.
Patty Tavatanakit had a 75 in her first event since winning the ANA Inspiration for her first major and first LPGA Tour victory.
47-year-old Cink wins 3rd RBC Heritage title
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Stewart Cink shot a steady, stress-free 70 to cap off a dominant, record-breaking week and win his third RBC Heritage title on Sunday.
The 47-year-old Cink finished at 19-under 265 at Harbour Town, four better than Emiliano Grillo and Harold Varner III. Grillo shot a 68 while Varner, who had the highest finish of his career, fired a 66.
Cink hugged his son and caddie, Reagan, after his closing par on the 18th green. He, wife Lisa and their other son, Connor, all had their arms around each other to celebrate.
“I don’t even know if I have the words,” Stewart Cink said.
He won for the second time this season – only he and Bryson DeChambeau have done that – and continued his resurgence on the PGA Tour at a time when many pros his age are looking ahead to the PGA Tour Champions.
Not Cink, who broke a 12-year winless streak at the Safeway Open in September and added five more top-20 finishes, including a tie for 12th last week at the Masters.
He won $1.278 million, nearly as much as the $1.404 million for his two previous victories at Harbour Town combined.
Cink is also just the fourth player to win twice in the same PGA Tour season after turning 47. Sam Snead, Julius Boros and Kenny Perry, who accomplished it twice, are the others.
Cink put on show for the ages – shattering the lowest 36-hole score at Harbour Town of 13-under 129 shared by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. Cink also broke the 54-hole scoring mark of 16-under 197 that Justin Leonard had in his 2002 win.
Cink carried a five-shot lead into the final round and dared all chasers to come get him. Nobody made a run at Cink, who led by at least three shots throughout.
PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa, paired with Cink, opened with a birdie. But bogeys on the second and fourth holes took Morikawa out of the mix.
Maverick McNealy has five birdies on the front nine to climb to 14-under, four back of Cink, in the middle of the round. Consecutive bogeys on the 11th and 12th ended McNealy’s surge.
Grillo and Varner came the closest at 15-under and were just three back until Cink’s final birdie at the par-3 17th, which made it all but certain he would add another plaid winner’s jacket to the ones he won here in 2000 and 2004.
Cink had made 17 birdies and two eagles the first three rounds. He had only two birdies Sunday, but that was more than enough to claim his eighth career victory.
McNealy (67), Canada’s Corey Conners (68) and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick (68) tied for fourth at 13-under. Morikawa slipped to seventh after a 72, tied with Chris Kirk (67) at 12-under.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson closed with his best round of the tournament at 66 to finish tied for 13th at 10-under. Johnson was the November Masters champ, yet missed the cut there last week and was never in contention at Harbour Town.
“I just feel like I made way too many mistakes,” he said. “Around here, you make mistakes, they penalize you pretty big.”
Ontario golf courses ordered to close beginning April 17
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government have announced further restrictions to multiple industries across the province as they deal with the COVID-19 pandemic effective at 12:01am on Saturday April 17th. Included in this announcement is the unfortunate news that outdoor golf courses and driving ranges in the province must be closed as of 12:01 am on Saturday, April 17th. This is in conjunction with the stay-at-home order that has been extended by a further 2 weeks to May 20.
Ontario’s We Are Golf partners have been actively engaged with the Ontario government throughout this process, right up to and including this morning. The key message is that:
Golf is safe and that now, more than ever, safe outdoor recreational options will be critical to ensure the physical and mental well-being of Ontarians.
– Ontario’s We Are Golf Partners
We have reiterated our commitment as a golf industry to continue to be a leader in Ontario in providing one of these safe recreational activities that will be so important in the coming weeks.
Golf organisations are disappointed the Ontario government made the decision today to close golf courses and driving ranges as of April 17th. But it is clear they made a broad decision with health and safety as the top priority to eliminate any non-essential activities, including removing access to outdoor recreational amenities.
The Ontario We Are Golf team, comprised of Golf Ontario, National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, PGA of Ontario, Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association and the Ontario Branch Director Canadian Society of Club Managers, will continue to communicate with the government in an appropriate manner to ensure they fully understand the benefits of having golf open as a recreational option.
Golf is an important outlet and will continue to make this case with the hope that we are able return to allowing courses to open as soon as possible. Some important factors to remember about golf – the most played sport in Canada.
- Golf is naturally aligned to physical distancing. It takes place in vast outdoor spaces and is played with 4 people or less. Perhaps no other sport is this well positioned against this terrible virus.
- Our protocols are well established and safe. We proved in 2020 that with the right protocols golf had no COVID outbreaks. We are committed to these (and more) protocols in 2021. Here is a link to the NGCOA Canada’s Best Practices & Operational Resources that was created last season, updated for 2021.
- Clear and consistent screening procedures – golfers must book a tee-time, can pre-pay, and are screened before entering facilities.
- Golf has important health benefits – studies are clear about golf … it gets people outside, it is good for your heart, it relieves stress, and it can improve mental health.
Ontario’s We are Golf partners will continue to push for the safe inclusion of golf courses and driving ranges as options that can be open in this stay-at-home order. Golf is an important to the well being of so many and it is safe to play.
Conners tied for 2nd heading into weekend at RBC Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Two-time champion Stewart Cink moved into position for a third RBC Heritage title, shooting a second straight 63 to set the 36-hole scoring mark at Harbour Town.
Cink, 47, appears unstoppable after two amazing days. He sits at 16-under 126, five shots ahead of Canada’s Corey Conners. The previous best midway score was 129, set by Jack Nicklaus en route to victory in 1975 and matched by Phil Mickelson, who wound up third in 2002.
Conners, from Listowel, Ont., shot 64 and was 11 under. Emiliano Grillo (64) was another shot behind.
Fourth-ranked Collin Morikawa, preparing to defend his PGA Championship title next month, was tied for fourth at 9-under with Sungjae Im (65), Billy Horschel (67) and Cameron Smith, who followed his opening-round 62 with a 71.
Cink was hardly overwhelmed by the scores he posted, chalking them up to smart preparation and strong execution alongside his 24-year-old son, Reagan, who’s caddying for him.
“It doesn’t feel all that special, to be honest with you,” Cink said. “We just kind of worked our game plan.”
It was certainly unexpected. Cink hasn’t finished in the top 20 at Harbour Town in a decade, hadn’t led halfway since the Travelers Championship in 2008 and is closer to the PGA Tour Champions than his prime.
Yet Cink has had a renaissance on golf’s biggest stage this season. He won for the first time in 11 years at the Safeway Open in September and has added five top-20 finishes including a tie for 12th last week at the Masters.
Cink was down three shots to Conners when he teed off Friday.
No matter. Cink quickly erased the deficit with an eagle on the par-5 second and a birdie on No. 3. Cink moved in front with a birdie on the sixth and steadily built his margin the rest of the way, adding birdies on the 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th holes.
The veteran is two solid rounds away from adding a third plaid jacket to the two he earned in 2000 and 2004. In both of those wins, Cink came from behind on Sunday. This time he’ll need to just maintain his strong overall play.
Since Reagan became his caddie, father and son have been collaborating on strategy before tournaments.
“We call it bludgeoning and we’re just bludgeoning that plan almost to death,” the elder Cink said with a grin. “When you manage yourself around a course like that and execute, the golf courses yield.”
Conners entered the week with Masters momentum, having tied for eighth at Augusta National for his second top-10 finish there in five months. He birdied seven of his final 13 holes.
“Giving myself lots of chances and was really nice to see some go in,” Conners said. “Hopefully, can keep that up going into the weekend.”
Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., was the only other Canadian to make the weekend, shooting a 71 to reach 4 under.
Morikawa had chances, too, He had seven birdie opportunities from 20 feet or less on his final nine holes, but the only one that dropped was an 18-footer on No. 6.
Morikawa said changing wind conditions made it difficult to judge green speeds.
“It was tough not seeing a few birdies in,” he said. “But we’ll work on a few things and be fine for the weekend.”
Smith, who was bogey-free in his opening 62, dropped three shots in a five-hole stretch on Friday.
“I think the golfing gods got a few back on me today,” the Australian said.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson used a back-nine surge to avoid his second straight missed cut and after leaving the Masters early, returning only to slip the green jacket on new champ Hideki Matsuyama. Consecutive bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes at Harbour Town dropped him to 1-under, but four birdies coming in gave him a 67 and left him 11 shots behind Cink.
Those going home included Patrick Cantlay, Harris English, Sergio Garcia and Kevin Na, all among the top 30 in the FedEx Cup point standings this season.
Adam Hadwin (67) and Nick Taylor (74), both of Abbotsford, B.C., and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont, (71) missed the 2-under cutline.