ORLANDO, Fla. – Brooke Henderson did a question-and-answer session with actor Jack Wagner and former pitcher Mark Mulder. On Friday, the Canadian star will tee off alongside Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson and former hockey star Mike Modano.

Henderson and fellow LPGA Tour players Lexi Thompson, Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome are joining PGA Tour Champions players and celebrities in the Diamond Resorts Invitational.

“It’s really exciting to meet actors like Jack and get to meet awesome athletes,” Henderson said. “It’s kind of eye-opening for me to see the different talent and how they can go from their careers and go to golf, which is secondary to them, but they’re really, really good. I’m excited for the week.”

The women will play from the same tees as the senior professionals in the modified Stableford event at Tranquilo at Four Seasons Resort Orlando. The LPGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions players are competing for a $750,000 purse, and the celebrities are playing for $500,000.

John Daly will open with signers Jake Owen and Colt Ford.

“To be able to play with Colt Ford and Jake Owen tomorrow is awesome,” Daly said. “They are good buddies, and we’re going to have a nice time. That’s kind of what it’s all about.”

Colin Montgomerie, Kenny Perry and Mark Calcavecchia are among the 27 PGA Tour Champions players in the field. The celebrity field includes Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson, Justin Verlander, John Lester, John Lackey, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Denny Hamlin, Michael Waltrip and Larry the Cable Guy.

“Whenever you have the opportunity to give back and show others that you care about them and playing golf for a great cause, you can’t beat it,” said Peterson, who will open with Arizona Cardinals teammate Fitzgerald alongside Perry. “I’m happy that I got the invite. Wish I was playing (football) this weekend, but it’s a great getaway to kind of relax and let the football life go for a couple weeks.”

Mulder is grouped with Thompson and Mardy Fish, the former tennis player who won the title year when it was a celebrity-only competition.

“It’s become a little bit more normal, I guess, the more and more of these tournaments I play in,” Mulder said. “It’s still not a great feeling on the tee. Baseball is what I did, and now it’s kind of turned into golf. I was never nervous on the baseball field, but this isn’t technically what I do.”

Swung for the fences today with @BringerOfRain20. On to the weekend with NFL legends @BUrlacher54 and Sterling Sharpe tomorrow! #DRIGolf pic.twitter.com/Nxqkg2WjAn

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) January 14, 2017

A season removed from the Saint Leo Lions, Amateur Squad member Hugo Bernard has transferred to the University of Montreal to continue his studies on home soil.

Bernard, a native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., makes the return to his home province following a freshman campaign which saw the 22-year-old take home the NCAA Div II medallist honours in addition to winning the Phil Mickelson Award, given to the most outstanding freshman.

In a short time frame south of the border, Bernard collected a remarkable seven top-five finishes in just nine collegiate events. With his return to Montreal, Bernard will pick up his studies where they left off; only this time in French—his native tongue.

Away from the classroom, the reigning Canadian Amateur champion will tee-it-up for Canada in several international events: the South American Amateur; Jones Cup; Terra Cotta Invitational; and Azalea Amateur.

“Hugo is a very talented athlete and we’ll continue to look at every possibility to get him into the world’s top-ranked amateur events,” said Derek Ingram, Team Canada men’s Head Coach. “Transferring back home is a move that makes sense for Hugo and we’re looking forward to another strong year ahead.”

Bernard was a member of the trio that lifted Canada to a ninth place finish earlier this year at the World Amateur in Mexico; he currently sits as the No.3 ranked Canadian on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) at 108.

GREAT EXUMA, Bahamas – Kyle Thompson took home his fifth career Web.com Tour title in paradise Wednesday at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay with his third consecutive round of 2-under 70. The 37-year-old finished as the runner-up at the Web.com Tour season opener a year ago in Panama, but edged out Andrew Yun and Nicholas Thompson by two shots this year with a 2-under 286 in the Tour’s first ever Sunday – Wednesday tournament format.

“I didn’t see it coming,” Thompson said. “We had some bad weather at home, so I practiced a lot on my golf swing but I didn’t practice my putting at all. I come here and probably had the best putting week of my life. I just stayed very patient and persistent and worked really hard this offseason on my mental game and I think it paid off. Hopefully I can keep that sort of mindset going in the future.”

In his first start as a rookie on the Web.com Tour, Canada’s Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., posted his first top-five on Tour with a T5 finish after rounds of 79-70-70-73—292 (+4). The 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up eagled the first hole Wednesday to get within one shot of Thompson, but posted bogeys on four of his last 13 holes.

At a tournament where the 11-over 155 cutline was the highest in Web.com Tour history, patience was key, and Thompson showed plenty of it after battling back from being 6-over-par through his first six holes of the first round. Over his last 66 holes, the former South Carolina Gamecock finished in 8-under to secure his first victory since the 2015 Rex Hospital Open.

“[The first round] was just brutal. I can’t even describe how hard it was,” Thompson said. “Even today it was so hard. I felt like I was the guy in Caddyshack who is having the round of his life walking straight into the breeze. I never gave up. I didn’t quit even though I had a rough start. Turned it around. That was definitely one of the top three hardest rounds of my life, and I shot a score that kept me in the ball game. I just kept grinding and grinding.”

Entering the final round with a three-shot lead, Thompson cruised through the front nine with birdies at Nos. 1, 4, 5 and 9. He holed six-foot testers for par at both No. 10 and 11, and even made par at the par-4 12^th, which played as the toughest hole in Web.com Tour history with a scoring average of 5.008.

“I made a lot of great putts. The putt on 11 was big,” Thompson said. “The second shot on 12 was the shot of my tournament, hitting 5-wood from 182 yards. That’s insane. I just played solid from there coming in.”

His first blemish of the day didn’t come until the par-4 16^th, when he yanked a 3-wood into the rocks left of the fairway alongside the sea. That wayward tee ball resulted in a double bogey, shrunk his lead to just two shots and brought Yun and Nicholas Thompson back into the picture.

“The one swing I wish I could take back, the 3-wood on 16, but everybody is going to have a hiccup,” Thompson said. “When I hit it, all you can do is laugh and just go ‘Alright, lets rebound and move on and see what we can do.’”

Yun entered the day three back of Thompson and gave him a run with a 3-under 69 for his best finish ever on the Web.com Tour. The former Stanford Cardinal finished 50th on the money list as a rookie in 2015 but struggled a year ago and finished 100th. As a result, Yun had to return to the final stage of the Web.com Tour’s Qualifying Tournament in December, where he earned a return to the Web.com Tour with a T32 finish to earn entry into this week.

“I just hit the ball really well,” Yun said. “I’ve never hit so many chip shots with so many longer clubs, and that’s pretty much what it felt like, especially on that back nine when those clubs are exposed to the wind. I was just keeping the ball under control, keeping the ball flight low, so the wind wasn’t taking it. I did that all week so that was great.”

2016 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit winner Dan McCarthy made the most of only his fifth career Web.com Tour start with a solo fourth-place finish. One spot below McCarthy on the leaderboard in T5 was Nate Lashley, who won the Order of Merit on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica last season.

MEN’S TOP-10

After finishing off with a win in his final tournament of 2016, Mackenzie Hughes begins the new year at the top of the Canadian rankings. Hughes starts 2017 by climbing four spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 25th at the PGA’s SBS Tournament of Champions. The result was worth 2.60 world ranking points and moves the Team Canada Young Pro Squad member to within striking distance of breaking into the Top 100 in the world.

Click here for Men’s Official World Golf Rankings.

WOMEN’S TOP-10

No significant changes among the women’s world rankings as Brooke Henderson starts the year at the No. 8 ranked golfer in the world after climbing to as high as No. 2 this past year, best ever for a Canadian player, male or female. Henderson is scheduled to kick off the year an LPGA  tour event the last week of January in the Bahamas before heading off to Australia.

Click here for full Women’s Rolex World Rankings.

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP-10

Jared du Toit starts off 2017 as the top ranked Canadian amatuer, sitting at No. 26 in the world. The Arizona State senior has held the No. 1 ranking for the last 43 consecutive weeks.

After a 32 place gain over the Christmas break, No. 3 Hugo Bernard slips back four spots in the world rankings. Bernard’s gain was due to his victory at the Orlando Amateur over the Christmas break. The second-year Golf Canada National Team Squad member and reigning Canadian Amateur champion outlasted Ben Griffin through two playoff holes for the victory.

Chris Crisologo moves up one spot, to No. 6 in Canada after Joey Savoie slipped 33 places in the world rankings. Savoie getting an early start on 2017 competition, finishing in a tie for 61st at the New Year’s Invitational in Florida.

Ki Taek Lee takes over the No. 9 spot after climbing five places in the world rankings.

Biggest move: Eric Macrow gained 189 spots after finishing in a tie for 84th at the New Year’s Invitational. The junior from Kingston, Ont. has a pair of top-20 results in four tournaments with Detroit Mercy University this season.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Positive gains for the most part to start the new year. Maddie Szeryk starts 2017 as the No. 1 ranked female amateur in Canada, having held top spot for a full calendar year.

Sophie Liu made the biggest leap, moving up three places in the Top-10 with a 73 place gain in the world rankings. The Vancouver golfer took part in two prestigious events over the Christmas break, finishing in a tie for 61st at the Dixie Women’s Amateur and a tie for 20th at the Harder Hall Women’s Invitational.

Liu also made the biggest move of the week among all Canadian amateurs with a world ranking.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

Jim Furyk was appointed Wednesday as the U.S. captain for the 2018 Ryder Cup in France, where his team will try to win on European soil for the first time in 25 years.

Furyk was a unanimous choice by the Ryder Cup committee last month.

The former U.S. Open champion, and the only player in history to twice post rounds in the 50s, brings more playing experience than any other U.S. captain. Furyk played on nine consecutive teams starting in 1997, and he was an assistant captain to Davis Love III last year at Hazeltine.

Love will be one of his assistants in France.

“He’s going to be a very tough act to follow,” Furyk said from PGA of America headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. “He put a system in place. He put the players behind it. It won’t make my task easier, but it makes it easier knowing there is a system in place. To have him by my side – his advice, his experience, two captaincies and one vice captaincy – is going to be priceless for me.”

The Americans reshaped their thinking after the 2014 loss at Gleneagles, where Phil Mickelson publicly questioned Tom Watson’s leadership and the lack of player involvement. That spawned a Ryder Cup Task Force that allowed for more input from the players, and now a Ryder Cup committee comprising three players (Mickelson, Love and Tiger Woods) and the top three PGA of America officials.

Part of that model was to allow for more consistency at each Ryder Cup, such as captains previously serving as assistants.

The committee met Dec. 6 and decided on Furyk, waiting until the start of the new year to announce him. PGA of America President Paul Levy said it took Furyk “one second” to accept the job.

Furyk is 46 and still going strong on the PGA Tour. He is No. 37 in the world ranking and had a chance to make his 10th straight team last year except that he missed the first four months of the year recovering from wrist surgery.

He set a PGA Tour record in August with a 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship. Furyk had shot 59 at the BMW Championship three years earlier.

The Ryder Cup has not had a playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963 at East Lake, and Furyk wasn’t ready to consider the prospects of playing in France even if he were to qualify for the team.

“I don’t want to say ‘no.’ My main focus and what I’m interested in now is a captain,” he said. “Worrying about point and where my game is is putting the cart before the horse, in my opinion. My main goal is being the best captain I can, getting the best 12 players and providing an atmosphere to let them succeed.”

Thomas Bjorn was appointed European captain last month.

Furyk said he and Bjorn walked one match together at Hazeltine and talked about the future, including the prospect of both being captain. The two never faced each other in the Ryder Cup as players.

Furyk had a 10-20-4 record in his nine Ryder Cup appearance, with more losses than any other American since the Ryder Cup began in 1927. He delivered a key singles victory over Sergio Garcia in 1999 when the Americans rallied from a 10-6 deficit at Brookline. He also holds the distinction of having been involved in the decisive match at the Ryder Cup on both ends, losing to Paul McGinley at The Belfry in 2002 and beating Miguel Angel Jimenez at Valhalla in 2008.

“You can learn from your mistakes, and if you look at my record, I’ve learned a lot,” Furyk said with a smile.

While he has known about his selection for a month, Furyk still choked up when he was introduced, especially when talking about his wife and his father, Mike, a PGA professional and the only coach he ever had.

“It’s no secret it’s been my favorite event for my entire career,” Furyk said.

Since her introduction to the sport of golf at the age of nine, Calgary’s Jennifer Ha has dreamed of competing at the highest level.

After tying for eighth spot in December at the final stage of LPGA Qualifying School, the 22-year-old has earned the right to do just that.

As she is preparing to kick off her rookie season with full playing privileges on the LPGA tour, Ha took a moment to reflect on her humble beginnings.

“When I was nine my dad introduced me to golf and I remember going to a golf dome near our house in the winters,” recalled Ha, who played volleyball and ran track and field as a youngster.

“Afterwards, we got a membership to the city’s public courses; and we started to play more often over the summer and kept on practicing over the winters,” she continued.

“I wasn’t really good at it at the beginning but I always dreamed of getting better and competing with the best; and I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am,” added the 22-year-old.

Ha – who turns 23 years old on Feb 1st – is quick to credit her parents, John and Christina, for their unconditional support throughout the years.

“My dad has done so much for me, he’s helped me out so much, he’s been my coach, my caddy and travelled with me to my tournaments; and my mom’s always been so incredibly supportive also,” she pointed out.

“We don’t always see eye to eye but I can say that they’ve always had my best interest at heart and they’re always so selfless…..I’m so blessed to have their support.”

On the first Sunday in December last year, Ha made her parents – and Canadians across the country – proud by finishing the final stage of LPGA Q school tied for eighth and earning full playing privileges in the process.

“It didn’t really sink in until a little later when people starting messaging me,” said Ha about the outpouring of support she’s received.

“Alena (Sharp) and Brooke (Henderson) have sent me nice messages through Twitter,” she noted.

“I’ve also received a lot of messages from girls I’ve played with growing up and I’ve really appreciated that.”

Ha says her successful path to the LPGA was paved through valuable lessons learned during her four years at Kent State University.

“I learned a lot from Coach Robertson. I learned about time management and being organized with regards to school, golf and travel,” she said.

“I really needed to have those years to mature and I think that was why I was able to make it to the LPGA.  For me learning those things was more important than skipping right onto the tour,” added the Kent State University grad.

While she’s been receiving a lot of congratulatory messages, Ha was quick to offer some of her own to her former Kent State teammates Mackenzie Hughes, who won the RSM Classic in mid November to earn his PGA Tour card for 2017; and Corey Conners who recently secured a spot onto the Web.com tour for 2017.

“Mackenzie is one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met; he was always the first one in practice and the last one to leave…… It was great to see that he made it to the PGA Tour,” said Ha.

“As well, it’s great to see Corey make it to the Web.com Tour next year also.  Just like Mackenzie, he’s one of those guys that puts in so much time and is always so dedicated.”

In terms of her own success, Ha says her time with Golf Canada’s national team program has also played a significant role bringing her to this point in her golfing career.

“I was part of Golf Canada’s program for three years and I learned so much during that time,” said the young Calgarian.

“I learned about course management and how to play different shots; as well as how to manage the mental and nutrition parts of the game and much more…..Being part of the program was definitely a huge benefit to me.”

According to Canadian women’s national team head coach, Tristan Mullally, Ha is well-prepared to make an impact on the LPGA tour in 2017.

“Jen’s thoughtful in the way she executes her shots….She has a lot of variety in her game and has the talent to go out there and do very well,” said Mullally.

“I’m excited about Jen and her upcoming rookie LPGA year.  I think she’s someone that will surprise a lot of people in terms of how good she is and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Ha is expected to kick off her rookie campaign at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic later this month.

Given how far she has come since her humble beginnings, the 2017 LPGA rookie was asked for her advice to aspiring young golfers looking to find similar success in the game one day.

“My advice would to be to work hard and just have fun with the game and let yourself fall in love with it,” she replied.

“In golf, there’s going to be ups and downs but you have to always remain focused on learning and growing,” continued the mature 22-year-old.

“And if you’re looking to play at the highest level, you have to be dedicated fully to it – but at the same time, never lose sight of the fact that it’s a game because to be successful you have to love what you’re doing and enjoy it out there.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Today the USGA, Masters Tournament and the PGA of America officially launched the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship by announcing the local qualifying schedule for the program’s fifth year. The schedule includes dates and locations for participants to play in local qualifiers across the country with the opportunity to advance and earn an invitation to next year’s National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club.

Click here to read the full article.

Click here for the qualifying schedule is available here.

On an annual basis, Team Canada coaches conduct up to four national team training camps to prepare athletes for the competitive season ahead. In most cases, training camps are all completed by the end of February.

Following an initial assessment, athletes from the development, amateur, and young pro squads are provided with tailored lesson plans to work on areas of improvement and all other facets of the game. In addition to golf training, athletes receive support in a selection of other high performance areas, including: physiotherapy, strength training, sport psychology and nutrition.

Team Canada women’s Head Coach, Tristan Mullally, shared an inside-the-ropes look at a training camp this past week in Phoenix, Ariz., at the Verrado Golf Club:

LIVE on #Periscope: Team Canada training camp snapshot – Young Pros and Amateur team https://t.co/R4oJHWg8hL

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) January 8, 2017

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Justin Thomas had to sweat it out more than he wanted to enjoy that view down the 18th hole at Kapalua on Sunday.

Thomas had a five-shot lead with five holes to play when he was caught in a battle with Hideki Matsuyama down the stretch in the SBS Tournament of Champions. Thomas responded with a defining shot in his young career, an 8-iron approach he ripped from 214 yards to 3 feet on the 17th.

Matsuyama, one shot behind and needing birdie to stay in the game, ran his 30-foot putt about 8 feet by the hole and three-putted for bogey. Thomas knocked in his short putt for a three-shot lead, and he went on to another birdie for a 4-under 69 and a three-shot victory.

Thomas won for the second time this season, and third time in his career. His other two PGA Tour titles were at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.

Matsuyama holed a tough flop shot on the 14th for eagle, and then Thomas hooked a 4-iron into the hazard on the par-5 15th and made double bogey. Matsuyama had a chance to tie him until narrowly missing a 10-foot birdie on the 16th. The 24-year-old from Japan closed with a 70.

Thomas is the only player to beat Matsuyama over the last three months. In his last six tournaments worldwide, Matsuyama had four victories and a pair of runner-up finishes _ both to Thomas, in Kuala Lumpur and Kapalua.

Thomas, who finished at 22-under 270, is the first multiple winner on the PGA Tour in a season that began last October. He moves to No. 12 in the world, a big victory that squarely moves him into the conversation of a growing list of young stars in golf.

All he could think about was next year.

“It changes things going forward because I know I’m coming back here,” Thomas said about the winners-only event along the rugged coast of Maui.

The scenery down the 18th toward the blue Pacific was never more spectacular for Thomas, along with the site of his parents off the 18th green who saw him win for the first time. His father, Mike Thomas, is a longtime head pro in Harmony Landing in Kentucky who is still his coach.

Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes finished the tournament in 25th spot at 6 under. The Dundas, Ont., native shot a 5-under 68 in the final round.

Jordan Spieth closed with a 65 to tie for third with Pat Perez (67) and Ryan Moore (71). Spieth and Jimmy Walker, came down to the 18th to congratulate the winner.

Thomas started the final round with a two-shot lead and no one got closer until his blunder on the 15th. One of the longest hitters in golf with his slight build, Thomas really did miss a shot until the ninth hole, and that’s when he got a huge break.

With the wind stiff and in his face, he got quick with his driver and hit a snap-hook into the knee-high weeds left of the fairway. He hit a provisional for a lost ball and was about ready to abandon the search when a TV spotter was summoned to give an indication where it went. They found the ball, and it was sitting up a few inches above the roots, allowing Thomas to at least hack out into the fairway.

He followed with a 3-wood onto the green for a two-putt par after starting with a shot that made double bogey appear likely.

Thomas made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 13th for a five-shot lead and appeared to have the tournament in hand. But then Matsuyama answered with his flop shot for eagle. Thomas, haunted by poor shots on the 15th hole the previous two rounds, picked the wrong time to try to atone for it.

He had left an 8-iron well out to the right, below the elevated green. This time, with a strong wind out of the left, he overcompensated with a 4-iron and went into the hazard. After a penalty drop, he failed to reach the green, chipped up to 8 feet and missed to walk off with double bogey.

“I stumbled more than I would have liked to do,” Thomas said. “But it shows where my game is at right now. I had some woes there, but I stuck it out to still get it done.”

One big shot on the 17th changed everything.

Spieth, his best friend in golf since they were teenager, expected this to be just the start for Thomas.

“I think it’s potentially floodgates opening,” Spieth said. “The guy hits it forever. He’s got a really, really nifty short game. He manages the course well. He’s playing the golf course the way it should be played, and honestly, he’s taking advantage of the easier holes.

“It’s awesome to see,” Spieth said. “He’s going to be tough to beat next week, too.”

Both head over to Oahu for the Sony Open.

KAPALUA, Hawaii – With one powerful swing, Justin Thomas drove the 14th green and made eagle to take control Saturday in the SBS Tournament of Champions.

Thomas holed the 20-foot eagle putt and closed with a two-putt birdie from just short of the green on the par-5 18th for a third straight round of 6-under 67, giving him a two-shot lead over Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

Matsuyama, who had eight birdies in his round of 66, has won four of his last five tournaments worldwide dating to Oct. 16 at the Japan Open. The only player to beat him during that amazing stretch was Thomas at the CIMB Classic at Malaysia.

This time, they will be in the final group at Kapalua.

Thomas was at 18-under 201, and while he was pleased with his score and the lead, he had a chance to build even more separation. Following his eagle on the 14th, he smashed another drive that caught the slope on the par-5 15th and rolled to the bottom of the hill, a 348-yard drive that left him only 180 yards to the elevated green. But his shot was a clunker coming out of the short rough, and while he hit a tough pitch to 6 feet, he read a fraction too much break in the putt and had to settle for par.

On the short 16th, he pounded another drive within 60 yards of the pin, but his wedge came up well short and he missed from 15 feet.

“I’m definitely not disappointed with today, but I left a lot out there,” Thomas said.

He did enough to shorten the number of challengers in the winners-only field that starts the new year at Kapalua. Only five players were within five shots of the lead going into the final round.

Matsuyama made three birdies over his last five holes to get into the final group as he goes for his fourth straight victory

“Just doesn’t have any weaknesses at all in his game,” Matsuyama said. “He hits it long, has a marvelous short game, putts well, hits the ball well. We’ve got to go low tomorrow to be able to catch him.”

Memorial winner William McGirt, one of 11 players playing the Plantation course at Kapalua for the first time, played bogey-free for a 66 and was four shots behind, along with Ryan Moore (71) and Jimmy Walker (70).

Moore was tied for the lead until Thomas drove the 14th green for his eagle and Moore missed a 15-foot birdie putt. On the next hole, Moore’s tee shot plugged into the steep face of a bunker and he had no choice but to pitch out sideways, leading to another bogey.

Brendan Steele had a 67 and was at 13-under 206.

Dustin Johnson had a 69 and was in the group seven shots back. Jason Day, playing for the first time since the Tour Championship, was eight back.

Playing alongside Jordan Spieth, Mackenzie Hughes posted an even-par 73 to sit at 1-under par overall in a three-way tie for 29th.

Spieth had another double bogey, this time on his second hole, and shot 70. He was 10 shots back.