Click below to listen to the media teleconference.

(Oakville, Ont.) – Golf Canada announced today that after 10 years at the helm, CEO Scott Simmons has made the decision to depart the organization in early February 2017.

Originally hired to lead Canada’s National Sport Federation for golf in the summer of 2007, Simmons will continue to lead the organization during the transition period and assist Golf Canada’s Board of Directors in the search for a successor as CEO.

“This was a very personal decision, and a difficult one,” said Simmons, who had previously worked as the association’s Director of Sales, Marketing and Communications from 1992 to 2000. “It has been an honour to represent and lead Golf Canada for the past 10 years but I felt the time was right to seek out new challenges.”

“Together with our staff, volunteers and many partners, I am proud of what we’ve accomplished to advance game of golf in this country and am excited for what comes next—both for me personally and for this storied organization,” added Simmons.

In making the announcement, Roland Deveau, President of the Golf Canada Board of Directors, noted that Simmons has led the organization through significant changes since returning in 2007.

“Scott has moved Golf Canada to a new level of professionalism, and for that we thank him sincerely. While we will miss his contributions, the Board respects and understands his decision to leave,” said Mr. Deveau.

During his tenure as CEO, Simmons successfully transitioned the organization from a golf association and governing body to the National Sport Federation (NSF) for golf in Canada. That transition included a corporate rebrand in 2010 from the Royal Canadian Golf Association to Golf Canada. He also worked with the association’s executive committee on a revised governance structure that streamlined volunteer leadership from 35 individuals to an 11-member Board of Directors.

Simmons helped to secure and renew title sponsorships of the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open through 2023 and 2018 respectively. The organization’s commitment to sport development in partnership with the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations included increased investment in Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, as well as the introduction of the Golf in Schools program in 2009.

Golf Canada’s commitment to Long-Term Player Development and high performance has also included an increased investment in the national amateur golf team program as well as support for a young pro program under the Team Canada umbrella. Simmons also helped to reposition fundraising activities through the Golf Canada Foundation, which brings together corporate and philanthropic champions in support of Canadian golf.

“Rebranding to Golf Canada, strengthening our relationship with member clubs and connecting with a greater share of Canadian golf enthusiasts have been core to our strategic plan under Scott’s direction,” added Deveau. “Golf Canada has grown our junior and sport development programs into world-class models now emulated by other countries and Scott has been instrumental in the association working collaboratively with provincial, national and international partners.”

A search for Simmons’ successor as Golf Canada CEO will begin immediately.

After 10 years working to support the game of golf in Canada I shared the news today that I will be stepping down as CEO of Golf Canada..1/2

— Scott Simmons (@golfcanadaguy) November 23, 2016

It has been an honour and privilege to lead Golf Canada! Many thanks to all the staff and volunteers I’ve had the pleasure to work with!

— Scott Simmons (@golfcanadaguy) November 23, 2016

Thank you to @golfcanadaguy for 10 years of loyal service to @TheGolfCanada Good luck with the next phase of your career!! #golfcanadagolf

— Roland Deveau (@rolliecangolf) November 23, 2016

With his first PGA Tour victory barely in the books, Mackenzie Hughes is already thinking about his first major.

The Tour rookie from Dundas, Ont., captured his first title at the RSM Classic on Monday by draining a 15-foot par putt on the third playoff hole. Along with the US$1.08 million cheque and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, Hughes also received an invite to the 2017 Masters, where he’ll be in the field with childhood idol and fellow Canadian Mike Weir.

“I was just beside myself thinking about driving down Magnolia Lane and all the things that go along with the Masters,” Hughes said Tuesday. “I’ve watched that tournament basically every year since I started playing golf and it’s like a religious thing to watch every shot there, and now I’m going to be one of those guys.

“It’s just the coolest feeling in the world.”

Weir, who won the Masters in 2003, sent Hughes some “good luck” texts Sunday night and is eager to play a practice round with him at Augusta National next year.

“(Hughes) texted me saying he was looking forward to ‘that tournament in April,”’ said Weir from his home in Salt Lake City. “To have a few Canadians in the field, it’s fun. Hopefully I can show him a few tricks of that golf course. There are a lot of little subtleties that are key to knowing.”

“That first (win) is really special,” Weir added. “All the hard work and everything you’ve put into it have been worth it. I’m sure he feels great that the steps he’s taken along the way have paid off.”

Hughes, who turns 26 Wednesday, opened The RSM Classic in Sea Island, Ga. with a course-record 61. He never let up after that, becoming the first PGA Tour rookie since Tim Herron in 1996 to win wire-to-wire.

“It was my tournament from the start and I didn’t want to let it go,” said Hughes. “Anything less than a win in that playoff was going to be disappointing.”

The victory came exactly a month after Hughes and longtime girlfriend, Jenna Shaw got married at a picturesque plantation in Charlotte, N.C.

Shaw was on hand for the win, as was Hughes’ mother Sandra, who was emotional as Hughes cemented his victory.

“She was pretty much in tears the entire Monday morning,” Hughes said.

Hughes’ longtime Kent State and Golf Canada teammate Taylor Pendrith drove more than three hours from his home outside Charleston, S.C. to see Hughes pull off the victory.

“I figured there wasn’t going to be a whole lot of people out there, and cold. Definitely advantage Mackenzie,” Pendrith said. “They say us Canadians play better in the cold, and he’s used to it. He grew up in it. It was the perfect setting for him to win.”

Fellow Canadian professional golfers Corey Conners and Albin Choi, along with Pendrith, were Hughes’ groomsmen in October. The trio made a pact that if any of them won on a professional tour this year the group would go to Las Vegas to celebrate.

“Now that I’ve won on the PGA Tour it’s a must that it happens,” Hughes said. “I told the boys that, and that’s something I want to follow through on. It’s just something I need to do with them and cap off the year. I’ve been through a lot with them. It’s been a crazy and amazing year.”

It was Conners’ schedule that was originally holding back the group from going on the trip, but what he lacks in logistical planning, he’ll make up for in advice at Augusta National. He played the Masters in 2015 after finishing runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Amateur.

“I know he’s going to have an incredible week,” Conners said. “It’s the best golf tournament in the world at the best venue in the world.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Mackenzie. He asked a lot about it, and he’s dreamt a lot about it. I’m excited for him to realize that dream like I did.”

Mackenzie Hughes (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

OAKVILE, Ont. – Golf Canada’s Great Canadian East-West Contest came to an end October 31, 2016 with more than 7 million member-posted scores from 2016 counting towards entry for a “golf trip of a life-time.”

A random winner was drawn by Golf Canada’s membership team at Golf House on November 15^th, with Bob Thompson from Sundre, Alta., being the lucky contestant.

Thompson, a long-time supporter of the game, was given the choice of a golf trip to Banff Springs (also in Alberta) or Cabot Links in Nova Scotia as his prize. Bob decided to head east to Cabot Links, where he will be joined by his wife Lynn in 2017.

Bob, a member from Sundre Golf Club, was so excited and surprised to find out he had won that he went to talk to the Pro at his golf shop to ensure what his win was in fact real. Of course, it was.

The Great Canadian East-West Contest was presented through the 2016 golf season to all Golf Canada and provincial golf association members. Members automatically entered the contest by having a membership with Golf Canada and earned an additional entry for each score posted into their Scoring record in the Golf Canada Score Centre from April 1 – October 31, 2016. The winner, selected at random, was drawn and able to select between a trip in 2017 to Banff Springs Golf Course in Alberta and Cabot Links Golf Course in Nova Scotia.

The Great Canadian East-West contest will return again in 2017 for another chance of a trip of a lifetime in 2018 for one lucky golf Canada member.

From all of us at Golf Canada, congrats Bob. Enjoy your trip and thanks for supporting golf in Canada.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Mackenzie Hughes holed an 18-foot par putt from off the green Monday morning to win the RSM Classic and become the first rookie in 20 years to go wire-to-wire for his first PGA Tour victory.

The Team Canada Young Pro Squad member calmed his nerves and came up clutch in chilly conditions at Sea Island. He was the only player of the four remaining in the playoff who was never on the green at the par-3 17th hole until his ball was in the cup.

“I made the putt of my life right there,” Hughes said.

All four players who had to return for the third extra playoff hole missed the green. Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., was in the toughest spot with a pitch up the slope to a green that ran quickly away from him. It stopped a few feet short of the green and he figured he had to make it to stay in the playoff.

He poured it in for par, slamming his fist, more out of relief than celebration.

Then, he watched Blayne Barber, Henrik Norlander and Camilo Villegas each miss par putts from 10 feet or closer.

“As each guy went down, it was that much more real,” Hughes said.

Hughes was standing off the green when Villegas missed. He dropped the putter from his hand, knocked the cap off his head and rubbed his hand over his head in disbelief. The 25-year-old Canadian is headed to Hawaii a week earlier next year, and more important, he’s in the Masters.

Mackenzie Hughes (Justin Heiman/ Getty Images)

Billy Horschel was eliminated from the five-man playoff on the first extra hole Sunday night when he narrowly missed a birdie putt, then shockingly missed a 2-foot putt. On the second playoff hole at the 18th, Hughes had a 10-foot putt for the win in the dark and didn’t see that it turned away slightly to the left.

He earned some redemption Monday morning, though it sure didn’t look that way when he didn’t reach the green with his pitch.

The last rookie to go wire-to-wire for his first win was Tim Herron at the 1996 Honda Classic when he opened with a 62 at TPC Eagle Trace. Hughes started this week with a 61, and he led after every round until he was posing with tournament host Davis Love III with the trophy.

Hughes, who closed with a 69 and finished at 17-under 265, capped a memorable fall season.

He began his rookie season by playing the final two rounds with Phil Mickelson, which helped him deal with the distractions of a large gallery. In his only week off, he and his longtime girlfriend from Kent State, Jenna, were married. They plan a honeymoon in the off-season, and now he gets to plan a schedule that includes Kapalua, Augusta National and the PGA Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lives.

Hughes earned US$1.08 million and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. He was the second rookie to win during the fall start to the season. Cody Gribble won in Mississippi, though that was against a World Golf Championship event in China.

Villegas and Norlander do not have full PGA Tour cards, and a victory would have changed that. Villegas got into the field as a past champion, while Norlander has no PGA Tour status and received a sponsor’s exemption.

Villegas had made every big putt, from his birdies on the 16th and 17th in regulation to his 6-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to join the playoff, and another tough 4-foot putt in the dark Sunday night to stay alive. He missed from 7 feet Monday.

“I just pushed it a tiny bit,” Villegas. “But once again, I’m proud of myself. We want to win a golf tournament, so you go with a little bittersweet, but you’ve got to look at the positive and keep moving forward.”

https://t.co/9uCX3jioA8

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) November 21, 2016

The LPGA season wrapped today and Canada’s Brooke Henderson ended 2016 with two wins, 15 top-10 finishes & $1,724,409 earned, which left her 3rd on the LPGA official money list.

Henderson discussed her 2016 in this interview with the LPGA’s Matt Haas.

NAPLES, Fla. – Ariya Jutanugarn was unable to accept the CME Globe trophy when it was first being presented to her, needing both hands to hold a big plastic cube stuffed with $1 million in cash.

That’s a great way to end a season.

Jutanugarn’s breakout year ended with a haul of prizes Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship- the LPGA Tour’s player of the year award, the money title and the season-long Race to CME Globe points competition that comes with a $1 million bonus.

A winner of five tournaments in a year that started slowly with a major meltdown in the California desert and turned around with her winning three consecutive starts in May, Jutanugarn held off Lydia Ko for all three of those trophies.

“I never expected like that much,” Jutanugarn said. “I just really wanted to win my first tournament this year.”

In Gee Chun made a 10-footer for birdie on the final hole to win the scoring title by the slimmest of margins, making her the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both the Vare Trophy and rookie of the year in the same season. If Chun’s final putt had not fallen, Ko would have won the Vare for the first time.

“It’s still been a very cool season for me,” said Ko, the world’s No. 1 player, who wrapped Jutanugarn in a big hug when their rounds were complete before heading off to sign dozens of autographs.

Combined, Ko and Chun took more than 11,500 swings over 166 rounds – and the scoring title came down to one putt.

“It was big pressure for me,” Chun said. “I just tried to enjoy my last putt. … It was a big honour for me, to have my name next to legends.”

Add her to the list of young stars on the LPGA Tour. She’s 22, Jutanugarn turns 21 later this week and Ko doesn’t even turn 20 until early next year.

Add Charley Hull to that list as well. She’s a tournament winner now.

Another 20-year-old – youth is most definitely served in this era of women’s golf – Hull looked like a savvy veteran as she stalked what would become her first win. Hull finished two shots ahead of So Yeon Ryu, that margin coming after they had a two-shot swing at the 17th. Ryu’s approach came to rest along a 3-foot face of a bunker, forcing her to play off to the side and wind up settling for bogey.

Hull made birdie there, then coolly two-putted on the 18th to prevail. She shot 66-66 in a bogey-free weekend, with 12 birdies and 24 pars in her final 36 holes of the season.

“I was pretty calm,” Hull said. “I went on the golf course and tried not to think about golf.”

There were tournaments within the tournament, with many things decided in the season’s final minutes. Player of the year was settled first, when it became evident that Ko – who needed a win and nothing less to take that title – was not going to catch Hull. The Race to CME Globe came next, with this being the first time in that award’s three-year history that it wouldn’t go to Ko.

The scoring title then came down to Ko’s and Chun’s final putts, and about a half-hour later, Hull finished off the week and the season by making her first win the tour championship.

“It’s a pretty cool feeling,” Hull said. “Hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”

Hull finished at 19-under 269. So Yeon Ryu (67) was second, Jennifer Song (68) followed at 15 under, and Jutanugarn (69) was 14 under with Mo Martin (68) and Beatriz Recari (68). Chun (70) was seventh at 13 under.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Henrik Stenson won the Race to Dubai title for the second time in four years on Sunday, and Matthew Fitzpatrick claimed the biggest victory of his short career at the World Tour Championship.

Fourth-ranked Stenson shot 7-under 65 in the final round on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates to stay ahead of his rivals in the year-long race. The Swede earned a bonus of $1.25 million as the European Tour’s top player.

The 40-year-old Stenson, who also won the Race to Dubai in 2013, ended Sunday on 12-under 276 in a four-way tie for ninth, which included Rory McIlroy (65).

“I’ve always thought it was going to be hard to top 2013, but I think I’ve done that this year,” said British Open champion Stenson. “Maybe not to the level of golf over six months, but certainly with the highlights of winning the Open, (silver at) the Olympics and taking the Race to Dubai again.”

Stenson’s closest rival in the Race to Dubai, Masters champion Danny Willett, remained second after finishing tied 50th in the tournament with a 70, some 11 shots adrift of Stenson.

Fitzpatrick, who earned his card exactly two years ago, shot 5-under 67 to finish on 17-under 271. The 22-year-old Englishman finished one stroke ahead of compatriot Tyrrell Hatton (68), who had a bogey on the final hole after his tee shot trickled into the stream that bisects the fairway.

“I love playing golf obviously, but it’s been a long year for me,” said Fitzpatrick, who is expected to move into the top 30 from his current 51st ranking. “This means the world … For me to win on the final week of the year is special.”

Fitzpatrick survived a scare on the 15th hole when he pulled his tee shot into thick trees, but the ball somehow kicked back into the rough and he made par from there.

South African Charl Schwartzel (67) was two shots further behind in third.

Overnight leader, France’s Victor Dubuisson (72), was among those tied fourth at 275. That group included Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger (68), Italian Francesco Molinari (70), Dane Soren Kjeldsen (68) and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts (71).

The Race to Dubai did not need any major calculations when leader Stenson finished best among the four players in with a chance.

His score of 65 on Sunday tied McIlroy but left behind his two closest rivals, Willett and Sweden’s Alex Noren.

Noren could not reproduce the form that saw him win last week in South Africa which included a sensational 9-under 63. He finished with a double bogey on the 18th for a round of 71, which put him four behind Stenson.

Stenson started the day tied with McIlroy on 5-under, and the two were paired together. Between them, they had 15 birdies, three bogeys and one eagle – McIlroy on the par-5 No. 7.

For Stenson, “it’s been a great year, the best year of my career.”

Stenson’s first victory this season came as late as June, when he won the BMW International Open in Munich with a three-stroke victory. He then went toe-to-toe with Phil Mickelson at the Open, with Stenson shooting the lowest ever final round (63) by a winner.

SYDNEY, Australia – Jordan Spieth believes his victory at the Australian Open on Sunday will “do wonders” for his career, just as it did when he won the tournament for the first time in 2014.

Spieth sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat local hopes Cameron Smith and Ashley Hall at Royal Sydney.

Former top-ranked Spieth forced the three-way playoff after sinking another clutch par putt on the 18th hole for a 3-under 69. He joined Smith (66) and Hall (66) at 12-under 276 after 72 holes.

For Spieth, it was more than winning the tournament for a second time.

“The way we played the playoff, I think is going to do wonders for me,” Spieth said. “I’ve been in a little bit of stall hitting shots when they mattered … To hit those two shots in there, right where I wanted to hit them and then make the putt is really big going forward.”

The American added his name to an elite list of multiple winners at the Australian Open, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Greg Norman. Spieth improved his record to two wins and a runner-up finish in 2015 from three appearances at the Australian Open.

Four players held the lead at various times on a dramatic final day, including Spieth, who.

On the playoff hole – the 18th – Spieth put his approach to within 10 feet before Hall stepped up the pressure by knocking his to less than 8 feet.

The 23-year-old Spieth then showed the composure that won him the Masters and U.S. Open titles last year when he calmly sank his putt while Hall pushed his birdie attempt right of the cup.

Smith and Hall had some consolation as they secured starts at next year’s British Open at Royal Birkdale, as did two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley, who finished in a five-way tie for fourth at 10 under.

“I had a chance and that’s all I can ask for,” Hall said. “I was pretty close to getting a job in a couple weeks, no idea what. … I’ve got a couple young kids, so I have to keep money flowing in.”

“I’m going to keep playing golf now,” he added. “Especially now, I’ve got a pretty important tournament to play in July.”

Baddeley closed with a 1-under 71 and edged out Rod Pampling (70), Jason Scrivener (69), Ryan Fox (71) and third-round leader Geoff Ogilvy (73) for the spot at the British Open by virtue of his superior world ranking.

Ogilvy started the day with a two-stroke lead before Spieth made two birdies on his first two holes to go in front.

Ogilvy then chipped in for an eagle on the seventh hole to restore a two-shot margin and extended the lead to three shots before his round unraveled with a bogey on the par-4 15th and a double-bogey on the par-5 16th.

The former U.S. Open champion finished with a 73.

After Spieth’s 2014 victory, he went on in subsequent months to win the Masters and the U.S. Open, then missed the playoff at the British Open by a shot before finishing second to Jason Day at the PGA Championship.

“The best I ever hit it … was actually the week after I played the Australian Open in 2014,” Spieth said. “I hit the ball well here, played a fantastic final round and went on and took that victory into my best ball-striking week I’ve ever had as a golfer at Tiger’s event in Orlando. And I hope to do the same here.”

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The largest PGA Tour playoff of the year at the RSM Classic didn’t finish before darkness Sunday, and it won’t include Billy Horschel when it resumes.

Horschel, the highest-ranked player in the five-man playoff at Sea Island, burned the edge of the cup with his birdie putt at No. 18 on the first playoff hole. Stepping over a routine tap-in from 2 feet, he blocked it to the right and was eliminated.

“I took my time and just blocked it,” Horschel said.

Mackenzie Hughes, the Canadian trying to become the first rookie to go wire-to-wire in 20 years, had a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 18 on the second extra hole and it turned away to the left. It already was plenty dark, and there was no chance to play another hole.

He can’t believe it didn’t fall.#QuickHits https://t.co/enaRFkf6VV

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 20, 2016

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., Blayne Barber, Camilo Villegas and Henrik Norlander were to return at 8 a.m. on Monday to finish the final PGA Tour event of the year.

So much is at stake for all of them, starting with a trip to the Masters.

Norlander and Villegas don’t have full status on the PGA Tour this year – Norlander received a sponsor’s exemption – and a victory would take care of that. Hughes began his rookie season just six weeks ago and has a honeymoon planned in the off-season. Barber is going for his first PGA Tour victory.

All of them had their chances, and none had any real regrets over the final hour.

Hughes narrowly missed birdie chances on the 15th and 16th holes, but holed a 5-foot par putt on the 18th in regulation for a 1-under 69 to join the playoff.

Norlander, who closed with a 65, stuffed a 9-iron into 3 feet on the 18th in regulation and was the first to reach 17-under 265. Barber ran off back-to-back birdies on the back nine, and he had a 12-foot birdie attempt at the 18th that he missed on the low side. He shot a 66.

Villegas played the best coming down the stretch. Two shots behind with three to play, the Colombian hit an aggressive drive on the par-4 16th that set up wedge for a short birdie, then holed an 18-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 17th to tie for the lead. He finished with a 6-foot par on the 18th for a 68.

It was the largest playoff on the PGA Tour since Alex Cejka won a five-man playoff in Puerto Rico in 2015.

No one else was close to joining the playoff. Jim Furyk had a 67 and was part of a large group at 14-under 268. That included C.T. Pan of Taiwan, who faced a longer day than even the players who had to return Monday.

Pan left after the tournament to catch a flight from Savannah to New York, then New York to Hong Kong, and then a connection to Melbourne where he was to arrive Tuesday night in Australia for the World Cup.

Full round highlights:

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – One bad decision cost Mackenzie Hughes his three-shot lead in the RSM Classic.

Remarkable poise and a pure putting stroke for the Canadian rookie left him one round away from a wire-to-wire victory at Sea Island.

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., bounced back from his blunder with a tough par save, three birdies and a 2-under 68 that gave him a one-shot lead over Billy Horschel, Camilo Villegas and C.T. Pan going into the final round expected to feature more strong wind.

“Everyone’s going to be fighting the same kind of nerves trying to win, and hopefully, I’ll be on top again tomorrow,” Hughes said.

Hughes was sailing along on the Seaside course Saturday, bogey-free for the first 46 holes of the tournament, when he tried to do too much from an awkward lie in a fairway bunker on the 11th hole instead of pitching back to the fairway. His feet slipped in the sand on his first shot, and it stayed in the bunker in a worse lie. The next shot was so fat it only went about 40 yards into another bunker. And then he three-putted from 50 feet and his lead had vanished.

“It was almost like I had been punched in the face there, making a triple after everything seemed to be going pretty smoothly,” Hughes said.

He kept enough of senses to remind himself that he was still tied for the lead in only his fifth event of his rookie season, and there was plenty of golf left. What followed was his most important shot of the week, a super pitch up a steep slope to a back pin to tap-in range to save par, and then three birdies over the next four holes.

“That pitch on 12 was probably my shot of the day,” he said. “Because if I follow that up with a bogey, the wheels start to come off even more.”

Hughes was at 16-under 196.

Horschel, who hasn’t won since the Tour Championship two years ago when he captured the FedEx Cup, holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole of the Seaside course at Sea Island for a 65. Villegas overcame a double bogey early in his round and finished with four straight birdies for a 64.

Joining them at 15-under 197 was another PGA Tour rookie, Pan of Taiwan. He shot a 67 playing in the final group.

More than costing Hughes a big lead, that triple bogey made the final round of the year on the PGA Tour far more bunched than it needed to be. Ten players were within four shots of the lead, a group that included Charles Howell III (13-under 199) and Stewart Cink (12-under 200).

Horschel has slipped to No. 76 in the world since his big FedEx Cup run in 2014. He has worked hard on his short game and feels that turning around, and he believes the windy conditions after two days of calm might have helped someone who hits the ball as crisply as he does.

He thinks experience will play a role, too.

“There’s some young guys up there on the leaderboard that haven’t been in … obviously, they’ve won other times, but out on the PGA Tour it’s a little bit different. But it all depends on what kind of conditions we get. I would to have similar conditions today because I think the better player shows up in these conditions.”

Villegas also has gone two years without a victory, and he lost his card this year and only got into the tournament as a past champion. One week could change everything.

“Let me tell you something, it’s 18 more holes of golf. I’m feeling good,” Villegas said. “I’ve been a lot more comfortable than I have been. I think it’s all about having the mind in the right place. My shots when I’m calm out there are pretty good and hopefully we can accomplish that tomorrow. I think the leaderboard is jam-packed as always. We’re playing the PGA Tour, the best players in the world, but I’ve got to wake up tomorrow believing I can do it.”

Pan, a former No. 1 amateur when he was at Washington, went from four shots behind to a one-shot lead in two holes when he rolled in a pair of birdies and Hughes made a mess of the 11th hole. Pan dropped a shot on the next hole with a wild tee shot that the wind made look worse, but he was never out of position the rest of the way.

Hughes, who got married in his only week off this fall, has led at Sea Island from his opening 61 on the Seaside course. He will try to join Cody Gribble as PGA Tour rookies to win in the fall portion of the season, with one difference. This victory earns a spot in the Masters.