St Andrews, Scotland – The R&A has announced the qualification pathways for The 153^rd Open at Royal Portrush, taking place July 13-20, 2025.

The Open is one of the world’s greatest sporting events and attracts the best men’s golfers from leading professional tours and amateur championships to compete for the famous Claret Jug. Each year, the exemption categories are reviewed to ensure that pathways are available into the Championship for golfers around the world.

On the PGA TOUR, places will be available via the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the RBC Canadian Open and the Genesis Scottish Open, which is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour.

Please click here to view the full list of exemptions for The 153^rd Open.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive at The R&A, said, “The Open is a global championship for the best men’s golfers and each year we review our exemptions to ensure that we offer pathways into the Championship based on results achieved on the leading professional tours.

“We are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities to qualify globally and look forward to seeing which golfers will emerge to take their place at Royal Portrush in July.”

The R&A has also announced the schedule for the Open Qualifying Series in 2025 with 15 events in 11 countries offering places in golf’s original championship.

Please click here to view the full schedule of events.

Championship schedule to include 12 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and two Canadian Collegiate Invitationals in addition to Canada’s National Open Championships –
the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open

Golf Canada will also conduct qualifiers for several USGA Championships including Local and Final Qualifying for the U.S. Open as well as the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Men’s and Women’s Amateurs and U.S. Junior Girls and Boys Championships

February 6, 2025 – Golf Canada is pleased to announce its full 2025 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2025 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s two National Open Championships — the RBC Canadian Open, taking place at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. June 4-8 and the CPKC Women’s Open, being held at the historic
Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont., August 20-24.

Golf Canada’s 2025 competition calendar also includes 12 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, two Canadian Collegiate Invitationals and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.

“We are pleased to announce the full championship schedule for 2025 and look forward to hosting the top amateur athletes from across the country and around the world competing for our prestigious national championships,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada Director, Amateur Championships and Rules. “On behalf of Golf Canada, I would like to thank our corporate partners, our host clubs across the country, our tournament staff and volunteers coast-to-coast who are essential in making these tournaments possible.”

The Canadian Junior Financial Assistance Program supported by Gary Cowan Heritage Fund and the Canadian Senior Golf Association will once again be available for juniors competing in the NextGen Championships and all National Junior Championships (Juniors and U15) who meet eligibility requirements. More details on the program for the 2025 season will be released later this month.

Golf Canada will also conduct several professional and amateur championship qualifiers including five regional qualifiers into the RBC Canadian Open as well as final qualifiers for both the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open.

Other notable qualifiers conducted for USGA Championships on the 2025 schedule include a U.S. Open Local and Final Qualifier, a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier in addition to qualifiers for the U.S. Junior Amateur and Girls’ Junior Championships, U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, and a local qualifier for the U.S. Men’s Amateur Final qualifier.

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off May 1-4 with the NextGen Pacific Championship at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C., the home course of 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor. The season concludes with the inaugural playing of the women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., September 22-23.

To view Golf Canada’s 2025 Championship Schedule, including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities visit, golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.

2025 Amateur Championship Season at a Glance:

The second annual BDO National Golf League Finals will be held at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. on May 31 ahead of tournament week of the RBC Canadian Open. Fifty-two teams will compete in a four-ball net stableford format to crown the BDO National Golf League champions.

The Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO, will be held June 2-6 at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent. The winning men’s and women’s team will qualify for their respective 2025 Canadian Collegiate Invitationals.

The 111th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, takes place July 21-25 at Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, N.B. The champion will earn an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

The 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested July 28-31 in Gatineau, Que. at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club and the Rivermead Golf Club. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2026 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2025 U.S. Men’s Amateur Championship. The winner will also receive an exemption into final qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Open and into the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, will be played at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C., August 4-7. The national championship for players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments, will be contested over 54-holes. Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. is the four-time defending champion on the women’s side, while Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. has won the men’s title the past two years.

The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held August 5-8 at Club de golf Lachute in Lachute, Que. The field is open to female amateurs aged 25-and-over. The winner will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur and the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships.

The Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested August 11-15 at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, will run August 12-16 at Club de golf Sainte-Marie in Sainte-Marie, Que. The winner will earn an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, the 2026 U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship and the 2026 Canadian Junior Girls Championship (if eligible).

The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held August 18-22 at Seymour Golf & Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C. The field is open to male amateurs aged 25-and-over. The winner will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur and the 2026 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships.

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will take place August 25-28 at Nanaimo Golf Club in Nanaimo, B.C. The winner will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Championship as well as the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2026 U.S. Women’s Senior Open. 

The second playing of the Canadian U15 Championship will be contested August 26-29 at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C. The boys and girls’ individual champions will earn exemptions into their respective 2026 Canadian Junior Championship, presented by BDO and an invitation into the 2025 NextGen Selection Camp.

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will be played at KenWo Golf Club in New Minas, N.S., September 8-12. The winner will earn exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, 2026 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2026 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

The men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational will return to Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. from September 13-16. The tournament will be once again co-hosted by Kent State University and Penn State University. The intercollegiate tournament will feature eleven NCAA Division I teams along with the winners from the 2025 Canadian University/College Championship. The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2026 RBC Canadian Open and the top five will earn exemptions into the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The boys NextGen Selection Camp will run concurrently with the invitational.

The tenth playing of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship will take place at St. Catharines Golf & Country Club in St. Catharines, Ont., from September 15-20. Teams compete as three-member squads while also competing for an individual title. The Republic of Korea are the defending champions after beating Team Canada 1 through a tiebreaker. World no. 10 on WAGR, Soomin Oh, from the Republic of Korea won individual honours and will compete at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club this August. The 2025 individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open.

The 2025 Amateur Championship season concludes with the inaugural playing of the women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational, being held at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., September 21-23. The tournament will be co-hosted by Kent State University and the University of Michigan. The intercollegiate tournament will feature 11 NCAA Division I teams along with the team champions from the 2025 Canadian University/College Championship. The individual winner will earn an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open and the top five will earn exemptions into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. The girls NextGen Selection Camp will run concurrently with the Invitational.

2025 NextGen Championships

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2025 national junior championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

The 2025 NextGen Championship host clubs include: Ledgeview Golf Club (Abbotsford, B.C.), Black Bear Ridge (Belleville, Ont.), Trestle Creek Golf Resort (Entwistle, Alta.), The Legends Golf Club (Warman, Sask.), Rideau View Golf Club (Manotick, Ont.) and Oakfield Golf & Country Club (Enfield, N.S.).

2025 Registration Information

Registration for Golf Canada’s 2025 competitions will open on the following dates:

• NextGen Championships: Wednesday, February 19 at 12:00pm EST
• RBC Canadian Open Qualifying: Wednesday, February 26 at 12:00pm EST
• National Amateur Championships: Wednesday, March 5 at 12:00pm EST

The mid-winter blahs are something Nick Taylor has only heard about.

Taylor has won four of his five career PGA Tour titles in the winter months, most recently winning the Sony Open in Hawaii on Jan. 12 in a playoff with Colombia’s Nico Echavarría. He’ll defend his WM Phoenix Open championship this week, which he also won in a playoff, besting Charley Hoffman of the United States last year.

“It’s a combination of recharging, getting some rest, getting a bunch of family time, but also being motivated and working on the things that I want to improve,” Taylor said in a recent video conference with Canadian reporters. “Communicating with my team if it’s either my golf swing or getting myself in the gym or the mental side, and coming out eager and ready to go.”

Geography is a factor, too.

The PGA Tour starts its schedule in Hawaii and on the west coast, staying in warmer climes during the winter. As a result, Taylor won the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am in California, the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona, and the Sony Open in Hawaii.

“I grew up on a lot of these grasses and had good results throughout the year,” the golfer from Abbotsford, B.C., said. “The comfort level is very high as well, so there’s a few factors there.

“The last few years, I’ve definitely motivated myself throughout the off-season and came out ready to go.”

Five other Canadians will join Taylor on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course in Scottsdale, Ariz. 

Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., will look to improve on his No. 22 ranking in the FedEx Cup standings, as will Adam Hadwin (100th) also from Abbotsford, Adam Svensson (T121st) of Surrey, B.C., Mackenzie Hughes (124th) of Dundas, Ont., and Ben Silverman (168th) of Thornhill, Ont.

Taylor said that the responsibilities of being the defending champion at the WM Phoenix Open aren’t too onerous compared to the RBC Canadian Open, which he won in 2023.

“Just a few more things that kind of take your time. You’ve got to manage your practice time,” said the 36-year-old. “That would be the biggest difference. 

“I think what’s nice this week, say, compared to the Canadian Open, last year, is it’s the same golf course, a place that I’m comfortable coming back to, to what I know.”

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DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., will tee it up at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club on Thursday. He’s 138th on the European-based tour’s rankings after five events.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Third-ranked Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., leads the Canadian contingent into this week’s Astara Golf Championship. He’s grouped with No. 70 Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., for the first two rounds of the event at Country Club de Bogota in Colombia. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Etienne Papineau of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald are also in the field.

LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is ranked 14th on the Rolex Race to CME Globe standings heading into the Founders Cup in Bradenton, Fla. Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., will also be in the first regular field event of the LPGA Tour season. 

Calgary – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) said today that MacKids, the arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to fundraising for McMaster Children’s Hospital, has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, to be held at the historic Mississaugua Golf and Country Club from August 18-24, 2025.

“We are proud to team up with MacKids as our 2025 CPKC Women’s Open primary charitable partner to raise money that will transform pediatric cardiac care across Ontario,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “Pediatric cardiac care is a key focus of our community investment program, CPKC Has Heart, and we look forward to investing in and helping MacKids’ young hearts.”   

This year’s goal is to raise more than $2.8 million for McMaster Children’s Hospital. These funds will support the creation of the Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative, a groundbreaking centre of excellence that will enhance pediatric cardiac care from newborn to adolescent.

“With the incredible generosity of the CPKC Women’s Open, MacKids is poised to support McMaster Children’s Hospital as it takes pediatric cardiac care to extraordinary new heights,” says Anissa Hilborn, CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation. “This partnership enables us to continue delivering life-saving, world-class care to our region’s youngest patients and their families, ensuring brighter futures for our community and far beyond.”

“CPKC Has Heart has left a meaningful impact in every host community of our National Women’s Open Championship, and we are honoured to work with our partners in welcoming MacKids as the charitable beneficiary of the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Laurence Applebaum, Chief Executive Officer, Golf Canada. “The return of the CPKC Women’s Open to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area at the historic Mississaugua Golf and Country Club this August will be special with golf fans and event enthusiasts seeing the world’s best players and helping to support the incredible work of McMaster Children’s Hospital.”

The CPKC Women’s Open community charity partner will be announced in the coming weeks.

About CPKC

With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.

About CPKC Has Heart

At CPKC, we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a nation, but at its heart is community. That’s why, through CPKC Has Heart, we’ve already helped raise more than $45 million to help improve the heart health of adults and children across North America. And along the way, we’re showing heart whenever we can. Find out more on www.CPKCHasHeart.ca

About MacKids

MacKids, part of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, provides vital funding to enable the best possible patient care at McMaster Children’s Hospital, including Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre and McMaster University Medical Centre. MacKids inspires and motivates gifts that fund medical equipment and patient amenities, innovative research initiatives, essential redevelopment of clinical care spaces, and the education and training of health care providers.

McMaster Children’s Hospital is the second largest provider of inpatient pediatric services in Ontario. The Hospital is home to Canada’s largest neonatal intensive care unit including supportive maternal care, the largest pediatric mental health program in Canada, and the only inpatient pediatric cancer program in south-central Ontario.

There’s never been more momentum behind the Levelwear brand on the course and off.

A long-time partner of Golf Canada, the RBC Canadian Open, and the CPKC Women’s Open – along with plenty of male and female Canadian stars in the pro game – Levelwear has entered the new year with a new tagline that encapsulates its awesome brand.

Levelwear’s new tag, “Who’s With You?” speaks to the notion that the journey to do great things means having a supportive team around you that always has your best interests in mind.

The new message hits on its company promise of having premium, quality products that are priced right.

“We’ve earned a lot of business and grown our brand by doing a lot of little things right and having a longer-term viewpoint on things,” says Levelwear brand manager Brett Saunders.

For customers – you’ve likely seen Levelwear’s goodies in the merchandise tent at the RBC Canadian Open, CPKC Women’s Open, and other PGA Tour events and green-grass shops across the country – Levelwear’s new mission also speaks to them. If you want to be the best, you have to surround yourself with the best.

Product-wise in 2025, look for Levelwear to still boast a modern, athletic aesthetic designed to have a broad appeal for both off-course casual closets and on-course style.

New for spring, 50 percent of the products are made from recycled materials. Fabric innovations, Saunders says, have allowed recycled materials to perform as well as conventional fabrics! 

This year, there will be a heavier emphasis on the polo category, which means there is going to be more styles and more colours and richer fabrics that are designed to move with the golfer. All in? Sixteen new polo designs for men and 11 for women for spring 2025.

Finally, Levelwear has also launched a new Luxe Collection, which is a tight drop of elevated, oversized basics – like a hoodie, crewneck sweater, short, and a knit top – that are made from premium recycled fabrics.

On tours around the world, you’ll see 34 athletes wearing the brand in 2025 including 11 on the PGA Tour and 10 on the LPGA Tour. Canadians Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, and Taylor Pendrith are back as ambassadors along with Aaron Cockerill, Stuart MacDonald, Matthew Anderson, and Etienne Papineau along with Alena Sharp and Maddie Szeryk.

Levelwear also has a new relationship with the PGA Tour, meaning they will be in retail at more than 26 PGA Tour events in 2025! If you’ve watched PGA Tour Live yet this season, you’ll have seen that Levelwear is outfitting all of the talent and crew. The iconic Caddie Lounge is also set to be at between eight and 10 PGA Tour events this year, too.

And, if you’ve happened to check out TGL, the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy co-founded stadium golf league, you may have noticed that all the referees and grounds crew are wearing Levelwear, while it’s also keeping the fun tradition of the t-shirt toss going in the SoFi Center.

Levelwear has quickly become a brand in golf that cannot be ignored, as it is available for sale in 85 of the top 100 golf courses in the United States and a similar number, if not higher, in Canada.

So, in 2025, no matter if you’re watching the best in the world in person or on screen, or if you’re just hoping to dress like some of the best in the world, Levelwear has got you covered.

This past summer, it was the 50th Anniversary of the Apex Invitational Golf Tournament, founded in 1974 by a young black resident of Truro, Darrell Maxwell. Over the years, this event has grown into a type of homecoming, celebrating the black communities around Truro, and their contributions, and bringing families and friends together from all over.

Darrell Maxwell has fond memories of growing up next to the scenic golf course in the heart of the central Nova Scotia town of Truro, even though he wasn’t allowed to play there because of his race.

The 78-year-old Ottawa resident recalled in a recent interview that some of his earliest memories are linked to the Truro Golf Club, which runs parallel to a small, little-known historical Black community known as “The Island.”

Maxwell’s lifelong love affair with golf began at age five, when he started caddying at the club for a group of white, female golfers, earning 50 cents for nine holes. At the time, being a caddie was the only way for him to access the golf course.

“It was right in our backyard and it was a playground for me, but we were restricted to caddying,” he said. “(Black) people from our community worked at the golf club, but we were forbidden to be members.”

The evolving relationship between residents of The Island and the golf course is the subject of a new documentary by Halifax-based filmmakers Brittney Gavin and Amy Mielke. “Apex: The Black Masters” will begin streaming on CBC Gem on Friday. It describes how the area’s Black community went from being barred from the club to hosting a golf tournament on the greens for the last 50 years.

Directed and produced by Brittney Gavin and Amy Mielke of A+B Roll Films, “Apex: The Black Masters” premiered on CBC Gem on January 31, 2025.

The film is the brainchild of Gavin, who grew up in the Halifax area but spent many summers of her youth visiting her grandmother, who lived in the small community composed of 28 houses along West Prince Street, adjacent to the golf course. The district got its name, The Island, decades ago because it was often isolated by flooding during periods of heavy rain.

As a filmmaker, Gavin said she wants to tell the story of lesser-known Black communities in Nova Scotia after having spent much of her early 20s living in Toronto and Calgary. “I was really shocked at how few people knew that there are Black people in Nova Scotia and that we have these historically Black communities,” she said.

The province has more than 50 historic Black communities established by Loyalists who fled the United States in the decades following the American Revolution.

Gavin said she was looking for a hook to tell the story of The Island and found it during the 50th anniversary of the community golf tournament that Maxwell founded in 1974, and which has become a local institution. Known as the Apex Invitational, the most recent tournament was held in early August 2024.

Gavin said that while golf is the way into the film, it’s not necessarily its main focus. “I don’t know anything about golf, nor am I a golfer, but it (the tournament) is an annual homecoming for the Black communities of Truro.”

The film’s wider focus is made evident by one of the first of several interviews in the 22-minute documentary. Golf tournament committee member Jude Clyke emphatically established that he is not a golfer.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘I don’t give a damn about golf,’” said Gavin. “He’s like a very community-minded person and so I liked having someone who could represent that social lens.”

In the film, Clyke stresses that in recent years the golf tournament has established a scholarship fund for young Black students from Truro and the wider Colchester County, who want to pursue post-secondary studies. More than 140 scholarships have been given out since 1998 totalling over $113,000.

Maxwell, who was the first to break the golf club’s colour barrier when he became a member in 1961 at the age of 14, said he’s gratified to see how the tournament has evolved since its inception. “We started off pretty humbly and then it proceeded to catch fire and it turned into more than just a golf tournament,” he said. “I’m just thrilled to see the progression and the introduction of the scholarship fund.”

Maxwell said that initially he just wanted to share his love of the sport with younger athletes in the community after a playing career that saw him win the provincial junior championship and Nova Scotia Golfer of the Year in 1965.

“I wanted to encourage the younger ones … to pursue their dreams and let them know that golf was no longer an elitist game or a game that they were forbidden to play,” he said.

Gavin said the film captures a “full circle” moment when the golf club, which was founded in 1905, holds a reconciliation ceremony with the community and makes Maxwell the 16th honorary member in its 120-year history, celebrating him for his talent and contributions to the club.

“I’m just really happy that they helped us tell the story, that they saw the importance of that,” Gavin said. 

Team Canada NextGen member Anna Huang has announced that she has decided to turn professional.

Huang 16, of Vancouver, B.C. has been a member of the Team Canada NextGen program the previous two seasons. She was part of Team Canada’s victory at the 2023 World Junior Girls Golf Championship in Brampton, Ont., the first gold medal for Canada at the tournament since its inception in 2014. She also finished second individually at 4-under.

“This milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my incredible family, team, and coaches who have guided and encouraged me every step of the way. I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Golf Canada for providing me with the opportunities and resources to grow as both a person and a player. Thank you to Jen Ha, Jeff MacDonald, and my amazing teammates for the lifelong memories that I will cherish forever,” said Anna Huang. “Competing as a professional golfer has always been a dream of mine, and I am so excited to embark on this new chapter of my journey.” 

Last season, Huang earned a number of top finishes including a T2 finish at the Mizuho Americas Open, a tournament that allows the top 24 ranked junior girls on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Tour to compete alongside a full field of LPGA stars. Huang also earned a T2 finish at the Nike Junior Invitational, a second-place finish at The Peloton Glencoe Invitational as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series which earned her an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. She also finished T7 at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and a T4 at The Elite Invitational. Huang has two additional wins from the Toyota Tour Cup at Oak Valley (2022) and the Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational (2023).

“Since Anna joined the Team Canada – NextGen squad two years ago she has always carried herself in a professional manner and has impressive skills beyond her years. Anna’s ability to excel under pressure is notable and has led to remarkable finishes including her second-place result at the World Junior Girls Championship, which secured the first ever gold medal for Team Canada in the event,” said Jeff MacDonald, Head Coach, Team Canada – NextGen (Girls). “We are excited to continue our support of Anna as she embarks on her professional career and will be cheering her on as she represents Canada on the Ladies European Tour.”

Last month, Huang competed in the 2024 Lalla Aicha Q-School in Marrakech, Morocco where she earned status to compete on the Ladies European Tour for the 2025 season.

Huang will be making her professional debut on the Ladies European Tour in the coming weeks.

Full selection of ticket options for Canada’s two National Open Championships – the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and
2025 CPKC Women’s Open – are now available

OAKVILLE, Ont. (January 23, 2025) – Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC is pleased to announce that world no.3 Rory McIlroy, a two-time RBC Canadian Open champion, is confirmed to compete in the 114th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont., June 4-8.

“We’re thrilled that one of the best golfers in the world and a two-time champion of the RBC Canadian Open will be making his return. Rory brings the opportunity for Canadian fans to see the highest caliber of talent right on our home soil,” said Mary DePaoli, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “We’re looking forward to the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and hosting the tournament for the first time at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.”

McIlroy, a 26-time winner on the PGA TOUR and three-time FedEx Cup champion, won his first of two RBC Canadian Open titles in convincing fashion at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019. He would go on to successfully defend his title in 2022 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. McIlroy will be in hunt for his third RBC Canadian Open title, looking to join three-time champions Tommy Armour, Sam Snead and Lee Trevino.

The three-time major winner earned a T4 finish last year in Hamilton following a final-round charge and finished T9 at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. McIlroy has also earned 11 international wins, represented Europe at seven Ryder Cups and has competed in two Olympic Games during his career.

“We are very pleased to confirm that two-time RBC Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy will be returning to Canada to compete this year at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Rory is among the top golfers in the world and Canadian golf fans have been extremely supportive of him during tournament week,” said Ryan Paul, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “We are happy to have Rory join our Canadian PGA TOUR stars including 2023 champion, Nick Taylor, as our field begins to take shape ahead of the 114th playing of our National Open Championship.”

In addition, Golf Canada announced today that the full selection of ticket options is now available for both of Canada’s National Open Championships – the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and 2025 CPKC Women’s Open.

The 2025 RBC Canadian Open will be conducted for the first time ever at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont., from June 4-8. TPC Toronto is quickly becoming one of the premier Canadian golf destinations, with all three courses ranked inside the Top 100 by SCOREGolf Magazine.

Canadian favourites Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Hadwin and 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor will compete for Canada’s National Open Championship. The Canadian contingent will challenge the defending champion from Scotland, Robert MacIntyre, who finished at 16-under to win at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. and earn the Scotsman’s his first PGA TOUR victory. The official charitable beneficiary of the RBC Canadian Open is First Tee – Canada.

The RBC Canadian Open earned the PGA TOUR’s 2024 Best Marketing Initiative for the reimagined tournament logo, highlighting Nick Taylor’s putter toss during the Tour’s season-ending meetings in Orlando, Fla. last month. The revised brand identity for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship originally rolled out in 2024 as a one-year tribute to Taylor’s iconic 72-foot winning putt on the fourth playoff hole to defeat Tommy Fleetwood has since been made the permanent tournament mark.

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will take place at the historic Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont., August 20-24. The historic venue is one of only 17 golf clubs in Canada to have hosted both the Men’s and Women’s National Open Championships. The CPKC Women’s Open is one of the top women’s sporting events in Canada and won back-to-back LPGA Tournament of the Year honours in 2022 and 2023.

The Brooke Brigade will be out in full force as 2018 CPKC Women’s Open champion Brooke Henderson will headline a field of the world’s best in Mississauga alongside fellow Canadian LPGA Tour player Alena Sharp, Maude Aimee Leblanc and Savanah Grewal. Defending champion Lauren Coughlin earned her first LPGA Tour win in 2024 at the Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta., an event that set an all-time attendance record for the tournament.

The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open was recently named the Gold Driver Award recipient for Best Volunteer Appreciation at the LPGA’s annual Gold Driver Awards. The CPKC Women’s Open has earned Tournament of the Year honours the previous two years (2022 and 2023). Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Volunteer Engagement in 2023, Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022, and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in three of the last five full season campaigns.

Through its CPKC Has Heart campaign, CPKC once again will be making a significant charitable contribution to the host region. Since 2014, the CPKC Women’s Open has helped raise over $22 million in support of children’s heart health in North America. A host community beneficiary of the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will be named by CPKC and Golf Canada in the coming weeks.

Along with world class golf, fans can belt out their best rendition of “O’ Canada” and experience the thrills of the iconic “Rink Hole” as well as enjoying premium food and beverage options in The Fare Way at both national open championships. As part of the commitment to junior golf, admission all week is free for youth aged 12-and-under at both tournaments.

Volunteer, sponsorship, and corporate hospitality opportunities for both tournaments are also available. To purchase tickets or for more information on the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, please visit rbccanadianopen.com and for the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, please visit cpkcwomensopen.com.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju, of Mississauga, Ont., took a major step toward his PGA Tour dream on Wednesday by winning the second event of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour, golf’s premier feeder circuit.

The 23-year-old won The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club by five shots over runners-up Russell Knox and Kensei Hirata. Yellamaraju fired a final-round 64 — the lowest score of the day — and shattered the tournament scoring record by seven shots.

He became the third Canadian to win the event, following Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., in 2018 and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., in 2023. Starting the final round with a one-shot lead, Yellamaraju pulled away to secure the biggest win of his career.

“It feels great. It feels good that the hard work and all the hours I’ve put in, me and my parents, has paid off,” Yellamaraju told reporters in the Bahamas. 

Yellamaraju was born in India and his family immigrated to Winnipeg when he was four. He moved to the Greater Toronto Area when he was 11. Yellamaraju won the Ontario Amateur at 16 but did not go to college in the United States, saying Wednesday he didn’t get enough money via scholarships to make it work. He instead turned pro immediately after finishing high school. 

Yellamaraju, part of Golf Canada’s National Team, is the second Canadian in three weeks to capture a men’s golf title after Nick Taylor won the Sony Open in Hawaii, the second event of the 2025 PGA Tour season. Taylor took to social media to congratulate his countryman, while fellow Canadian Korn Ferry Tour pros Matthew Anderson and Etienne Papineau were greenside in the Bahamas for a big celebration. 

Golf Canada men’s national team head coach Derek Ingram describes Yellamaraju’s game as “really consistent” from tee to green. Coupled with a solid short game, a deep passion for golf, and a “tremendous work ethic,” Ingram believes Yellamaraju has the makings of another Canadian PGA Tour star.

Yellamaraju played on PGA Tour Americas in 2022 and 2023 before earning Korn Ferry Tour status in 2024. He finished 99th in the season-long points list last year. 

He had to return to the first stage of the tour’s qualifying school in the fall after falling short in the season-long points race. However, he battled his way to the final stage, where he finished tied for 36th. Placing inside the top 40 earned him eight guaranteed starts on the Korn Ferry Tour this year.

It only took him two to take full advantage. 

“There’s tension, there’s pressure, but I just kept my head down, kept playing. One shot at a time. I wanted to play good shots,” Yellamaraju said. “I wasn’t completely calm obviously. Once I saw the scoreboard and I saw I had a five-shot lead heading into the last hole I knew I was fine.” 

Yellamaraju didn’t miss a green or fairway in his tidy final-round effort, going 5-under on his first nine holes before settling into a groove and bringing the trophy home.

“I just wanted to play good shots. I just wanted to shoot as low as possible and I think I did a pretty good job,” Yellamaraju said with a laugh. 

With only 20 PGA Tour cards on the line this year — there were 30 available the last two seasons — Yellamaraju knows that every shot counts this year more than ever. 

It’s been a non-traditional journey for Yellamaraju, who is largely self-taught. He learned the game by watching YouTube and golf on TV, with his father, Suresh, serving as his watchful second set of eyes.

Wednesday, Yellamaraju said, was his father’s birthday. 

“It’s rare to have a tournament, in January, where we play a final round, on his birthday. It just all fell into place,” Yellamaraju said.

“I guess it was just all meant to be.”    

About Sudarshan Yellamaraju

• Captures first career Korn Ferry Tour victory in his 29th start on Tour
• Fourth time the 54-hole leader/co-leader has gone on to win the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club
• Becomes the 20th Canadian to win on the Korn Ferry Tour; third to win The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club (Adam Svensson/2018; Ben Silverman/2023)
• At 25-under 263, breaks the previous 72-hole tournament scoring record of 270; shared by Jared Wolfe (2020), Brandon Harkins (2022) and Zecheng Dou (2022)
• Moves to No. 2 on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List
• Sixth winner under the age of 24 years old to win on the Korn Ferry Tour since the start of the 2023 season
• Secured guaranteed starts in the first eight events of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season with a T36 finish at Final Stage of 2024 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry
• As a rookie, finished No. 99 on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, logging 13 made cuts and one top-10 finish (T7/NV5 Invitational) in 25 starts
• Finished T14 at Final Stage of 2023 PGA TOUR Q-School to earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the first time
• Previously competed on PGA TOUR Canada (2022, 2023); where he made 12 cuts in 18 total starts with four top-10s
• Turned professional in 2021 and plays from Mississauga, Ontario
• Born in Visakhapatnam, India

Are you ready to take your coaching career to the next level? The PGA of Canada and Golf Canada are thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Women in Coaching Program—and this year marks the program’s fifth anniversary!

This groundbreaking initiative is dedicated to increasing the representation of female high-performance coaches, reflecting the diversity of the Canadian golfing community. Since its launch, the program has empowered 32 coaches, and we’re eager to support even more in 2025!

Participants in this year-long program will benefit from:

• Virtual learning sessions tailored to your growth.
• Individualized learning plans with expert guidance from Master Coach Developer Beth Barz.
• Coach shadowing opportunities with top-tier professionals including Golf Canada national team coaches Salimah Mussani and Jennifer Greggain
• An in-person technical development session designed to elevate your skills.

Thanks to the generous support of the Jocelyn Bourassa Legacy Fund (JBLF), this program is shaping the future of women in golf, creating strong leaders and role models who inspire the next generation. To learn more about how the JBLF is positively impacting women’s golf or to make a contribution to the fund, please click here.

Hear from past participants:

The Women in Coaching Program has significantly boosted both my confidence and hands-on experience as a coach. Through specialized coaching education, leadership training, and personalized mentorship, I’ve been able to refine my skills, gain valuable insights from other experienced Canadian women coaches, and built a stronger belief in my abilities as a coach. I now feel equipped to take on greater responsibilities, advocate for change, and pave the way for future generations of women in coaching. – Kristi Roach, 2024 program participant

“The Women in Coaching Program has accelerated the development of my coaching skills by providing valuable knowledge and offering high-level coaching experiences.  Thanks to the incredible support I received from Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada, Team Canada coaches and the women’s golf professional community, the program has significantly boosted my confidence in coaching.”  – Kat Kennedy, 2023 program participant

The 2025 program will launch with an in-person session in March and another in November, location TBD, where participants will shadow national team coaches and take part in dynamic technical development sessions.

Applications close on Monday, February 5, 2025, at 11:00 p.m. ET.

Don’t miss your chance to join this transformative program. Apply Now!

For questions or more information, contact Emily Phoenix at ephoenix@golfcanada.ca.

Let’s shape the future of coaching—together!