Team Canada Women’s Head Coach, Tristan Mullally, added another trophy to the shelf on Thursday, winning the PGA of Canada’s Ben Kern Coach of the Year award at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

The PGA of Canada awards the Ben Kern Coach of the Year based on a professional’s overall performance in coaching; unusual, innovative and special coaching programs initiated or implemented; articles published; as well as outstanding golfers the professional has coached.

Entering his sixth season at the helm of the women’s program, Mullally has coached many of Canada’s brightest young stars including Canadian sensation Brooke Henderson. A native of Ireland, Mullally has played a key role in developing a record number of Canadian amateurs to positions inside the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) top-100.

Mullally has also been heavily involved with industry-leading initiatives including Long-Term Player Development 2.0 and the Golf Association of Ontario’s high performance program.

Since 2013, PGA of Canada national award winners have been honoured during PGA of Canada Night. The PGA of Canada national award winners for the 2015 season are:

• Danny King (The Performance Academy at Magna), Mike Weir Player of the Year;
• Dean Manz (Wascana Country Club), Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year;
• Cory Southon (Henry Brunton Golf), Moe Norman Candidate for Membership of the Year;
• Adam Werbicki (The Derrick Golf & Winter Club), George Knudson Teacher of the Year;
• Adam Boge (Golf Mentor), Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year;
• Tristan Mullally (Golf Canada), Ben Kern Coach of the Year;
• Judy Forshner (Glencoe Golf & Country Club), Murray Tucker Golf Professional of the Year;
• Liam Mucklow (The Golf Lab), Tex Noble Award for Professional Development;
• Daryl MacLean (Cherry Hill Club), Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year;

What a proud moment for me to win this award,to have my dad,wife and kid here makes it all the more special #blessed pic.twitter.com/KVXgb8OBOw

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) January 29, 2016

DOHA, Qatar – Paul Lawrie earned a two-shot lead at a windy Doha Golf Club on Friday to close in on an unprecedented third Qatar Masters title.

The overnight leader started the third round with 13 straight pars before making his first birdie on the 14th hole, then picked up another shot on the par-5 18th to finish at 2-under-par 70.

He was on top of the leaderboard at 13 under, two ahead of Branden Grace, who had his chance to make history: The first player to successfully defend the title.

“Conditions were tough, but to go around there and not have a bogey …,” Lawrie said. “It is a little bit frustrating for me. I hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in.”

The 47-year-old Lawrie hasn’t won on the European Tour since 2012, the same year he won in Doha for the second time.

At 11 under overall with South Africa’s Branden Grace (68) was Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen (69).

Grace finished his bogey-free round with three successive birdies.

“Patience was the name of the game. It was a brutal day out there,” Grace said. “The wind was blowing and the greens were tricky. I pretty much got the most out of my round today. So 4 under was a great score.”

Olesen, winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last year, showed good touch in a 69 that featured one bogey on the fifth hole.

“To be honest, I played great down the last nine holes. Gave myself so many chances,” Olesen said.

Sergio Garcia made a 50-foot putt for an eagle on the 18th hole to console himself after a poor round of 2-over 74. He was seven shots off the pace.

SAN DIEGO – Scott Brown birdied his last hole for a 30 on the front nine, a 6-under 66 and a share of the lead Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Only it felt much better for Brown. He played on the tough South Course at Torrey Pines, which was 2 1/2 strokes harder than the North Course where Andrew Loupe shot his 66 in the opening round.

Phil Mickelson salvaged a rough start when he made double bogey on the second hole, the second-easiest par 4 on the South. But he stayed patient, made six birdies and wound up with a 69.

Jason Day, who missed the pro-am with the flu, had a 72 on the North Course. Rickie Fowler, who won last week in Abu Dhabi, had a 73 on the North Course.

Adam Hadwin topped the Canadian contingent after a 1-under 71, while Graham DeLaet was a shot back at even-par thanks to a 72. Nick Taylor was 4-over. All three Canadians played the North Course Thursday.

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Michelle Wie was stung by a bee Thursday in the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, and second-ranked Inbee Park withdrew because of back pain after the second-worst round of her LPGA Tour career.

Wie was stung on the palm of her right hand on the 16th hole, her seventh of the day at the windy Ocean Club. She finished with a 3-over 76 to fall eight strokes behind first-round leaders Paula Creamer, Charley Hull, Alison Lee, Ashlan Ramsey, Catriona Matthew, Mika Miyazato and Haru Nomura.

“I was waiting to hit my tee shot and I felt something sting and it hurt really, really bad and I knew it was a bee,” Wie said. “I brushed it away and the stinger was still in there. We were trying to find a tweezer and out of all the people, our security guy had tweezers on him, so I got it out.”

She bogeyed three of the first five holes on her back nine.

“It just kind of felt so swollen it was kind of hard to grip the club. I was hitting the ball so well on the front nine and just definitely had a couple loose ones coming in making the turn. You can kind of feel the venom kind of spread. But the last couple holes, it’s feeling better.”

She struggled with her putting.

“I only missed two greens,” Wie said. “I just putted horribly.”

Park shot an 80, playing her final four holes in 5 over with a double bogey on the par-5 15th and three bogeys. She will sit out the Coates Golf Championship next week in Florida, and hopes to return late next month in the Honda LPGA Thailand.

“I’ve always had a little lower back problem and some weeks it just gets bit worse and today happened to be one of those days,” Park said. “Hopefully, in Thailand I’ll be in really good shape.”

Creamer played a late three-hole stretch in 4 under, making an eagle on the par-4 eighth.

“I’ll definitely take it,” Creamer said. “This golf course, it’s a great track. It really does play well. The wind makes it very difficult, but these greens, they’re challenging. The biggest thing is get it as close as you can from the fairways and see what you can do.”

Lee finished with a bogey on the par-4 ninth after playing the previous three holes in 4 under with an eagle on the par-5 seventh. She is still a student at UCLA.

“I’m taking four classes right now,” Lee said. “Each week, I think, I counted to about 13 hours of class, so it’s not too bad. I have friends in each class that can give me notes.”

The 46-year-old Matthew also eagled No. 7.

“You would much rather get off to a good start than a bad start,” Matthew said. “I think this course is tough because there’s a lot of crosswinds, which makes it difficult.”

Miyazato had only 10 putts in a first-nine 6-under 31.

“Very excited because if green in regulation, I make it, make it, make it,” Miyazato said.

The Japanese player had an interesting answer when asked if she did anything exciting in the offseason.

“Too much drink,” Miyazato said.

Her drink of choice?

“Whiskey,” Miyazato said. “Only in the offseason.”

Hull had a bogey-free round.

“It’s quite quiet this week,” Hull said. “You can really focus and get your head down and just get back out on tour.”

Jennifer Johnson and Min Seo Kwak were a stroke back at 69.

Defending champion Sei Young Kim opened with a 71, and 2014 winner Jessica Korda had a 72. Third-ranked Stacy Lewis shot 73, No. 4 Lexi Thompson 74, and No. 11 Christie Kerr 77.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson carded a 2-under 71 in her opening-round of 2016. The 18-year-old Smiths Falls, Ont., native had three birdies and a single bogey on the day.

“It was a good round today,” said Henderson. “I missed a lot of opportunities which I wish I would have capitalized on, but at the same time I missed a couple greens and was able to get up and down. It was just kind of up and down. And I would have like to have finished a little further under par. But it’s a good start and get another good round in tomorrow and see what happens.”

TORONTO — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) held its Annual General Meeting January 23, at Weston Golf & Country Club in Toronto. At the AGM, the 2016 Board of Directors was announced along with President and Vice President.

Returning in 2016 as President is Chris Osborne (Mississaugua G&CC) who becomes just the second president to serve a second term, the first being Past President Jim King (Westmount G&CC). Vice President for 2016 will be John Gallinger (Meadowbrook G&CC).

“It is an honour returning as GAO President for 2016,” said Osborne. “There are a number of important initiatives the association is involved with for the upcoming year including: our grassroots Barrie Initiative, Strategic Plan launch, continued work with Golf Canada on a new membership model and the World Junior Girls Championship to name a few.”

Returning to the Board of Directors in 2016 are: Kent Trainor (GAO Public Player), Ivy Steinberg (Granite GC), Peter Zakarow (Beacon Hall GC), Carol-Ann Goering (Toronto GC), Anthony Dunn (The Marshes), Mark Hayes (Rattlesnake Point) and OVGA Representative Tom Hossfeld.

The GAO welcomes three new members to the Board in 2016: Howard Atkinson (Toronto GC), Tim Cain (Glen Abbey GC) and Jason Harris (Orr Lake GC).

Also, three board members will be leaving after serving their terms.  The outgoing Board members are Alan Trivett (Glencarin GC), John Turner (GAO Public Player) and Jim King, who remains as Past President but is a non-voting Board member.

“I am pleased to welcome new board members Tim Cain, Howard Atkinson and Jason Harris while thanking departing members Jim King, John Turner and Alan Trivett for their dedication and friendship. Executive Director Mike Kelly and his staff have a clear mandate and I look forward to supporting them in these efforts. Sincere gratitude goes out to our volunteers, partners, athletes and participants, without them the GAO would not exist,” added Osborne.

DOHA, Qatar – Paul Lawrie benefited from a putting tip off a friend in shooting a 6-under 66 at the Qatar Masters, giving the former British Open champion a one-shot lead after the second round on Thursday.

The 47-year-old Lawrie followed up a first-round 67 to move to 11-under par, a stroke clear of Nicolas Colsaerts (68).

Lawrie missed the cut in Abu Dhabi last week and was given some putting advice from fellow Scottish player Marc Warren, who said Lawrie’s stroke was too long and slow.

“I’ve been working on it the last couple of days and certainly feels as though I’ve got it,” said Lawrie, who rolled in seven birdies on Thursday and has 13 in all this week as he bids to win the event for a third time.

Joint first-round leaders Louis Oosthuizen (73) and Pablo Larrazabal (72) dropped off the leaderboard, while Sergio Garcia was in a five-way tie for sixth place after a 66 that included a long putt for birdie on No. 8. It prompted Garcia to dance a jig of delight on the green.

“I don’t know if they were dance moves. They were like jabs,” said Garcia, the 2014 champion. “When we got to the ninth tee, I said to my caddie and to the guys, ‘I think that celebration is going to look a little bit funny on TV.'”

Matthew Fitzpatrick, Stephen Gallacher, and Matteo Manassero were among those to miss the cut.

Lawrie is making his 16th appearance in Qatar. He won the event in 1999 and 2012, before going on to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup the same year.

Lawrie went out in the morning and avoided the worst of the windy conditions. Starting on the back nine, he birdied Nos. 10 and 12 and responded to a bogey at No. 15 by picking up more shots on the 16th and 18th holes. More birdies came on the fourth, seventh and ninth holes.

“I got a little frustrated after No. 15 because I thought, ‘You are not taking advantage of the conditions,'” Lawrie said.

Canada’s Mike Weir shot a 76 Friday for a two-day total of 149 (+5). He’ll miss the cut for a second straight week.

The 2016 golf season will see the implementation of a new Handicap cycle. This two-year cycle is effective March 1, 2016 – February 28, 2018. Below you will find information regarding the changes that have been made in the Golf Canada Handicap Manual for a quick reference Six significant changes are seen in the upcoming edition of the Golf Canada Handicap Manual, which will impact approximately 3.3 million golfers who hold a Handicap Factor® issued throughout Canada and 10 provincial associations. Those highlighted changes include:

Definition of a tournament score: Additional guidance is provided to Committees conducting competitions regarding the definition of a tournament score, placing greater emphasis on “significant events.” The definition excludes fundraising events and regular league play, in favor of designated competitions such as a member/guest or club championship, local amateur tournament or national qualifying and competition. (Section 2: Definitions)

Adjusting hole scores: A revised decision provides clarity for acceptable scores in limited situations where the player has not played a hole(s) under the Rules of Golf, but his or her score would be sufficiently accurate for handicap posting purposes. Three areas covered under the examples include: 1) where the Local Rule is not in effect, but a player chooses to use a Distance Measuring Device or preferred lies; 2) where a player does not wish to cause undue delay; or 3) where the situation is outside of the player’s control, such as an incorrectly marked golf course.  (Section 4: Adjusting Hole Scores)

Posting scores when a player is disqualified: To improve alignment with the Rules of Golf, the revised Handicap System is clearer about what scores are acceptable when a player is disqualified. In general, a score is acceptable for handicap purposes even when a player fails to hole out, or apply a Rule that affects the rights of another player. If the disqualification breach is determined to provide an advantage for the player, the score is deemed unacceptable for handicap purposes. (Section 5-1: Acceptability of Scores)

Anchoring and posting: A new reference concerns a player who anchors the club while making a stroke during a round and fails to apply the appropriate penalty or an adjusted hole score (Section 4-2). Since the score would not be reflected as playing under the Rules of Golf, it would be unacceptable for handicap purposes. (Section 5-1: Acceptability of Scores)

Playing alone and necessary peer review: To further support the key System premise of peer review, scores made while playing alone will no longer be acceptable for handicap purposes. This change underscores the importance of providing full and accurate information regarding a player’s potential scoring ability, and the ability of other players to form a reasonable basis for supporting or disputing a posted score. (Section 5-1: Acceptability of Scores). Playing alone means completely by yourself with no others in the group at all (one-some). If you play with three strangers, that is acceptable and the score would be post-able for handicap purposes. Even if a walking witness/attester (not playing) such as a family member or caddie was present, that score would still count for handicap purposes (if played under the Rules of Golf). Player names need not be supplied with your scores, that is simply an option that exists in the Golf Canada Score Centre for those that wish to provide them, and is not a requirement for a score to be posted/accepted for handicap purposes.

This decision was also made in an effort for Canada to to be more in alignment with the rest of the world’s handicapping policy on unaccompanied rounds, for the possible formation of a World Handicap System.

Committee responsibilities: In an effort to assist the Handicap Committee with its responsibilities, this revision addresses a player with a temporary disability or permanent disability who has a Handicap Factor that is no longer reflective of his/her current potential ability. In the particular instance cited, the Committee will no longer assign a local handicap (denoted with the letter “L” for local use only), but instead will issue a (temporary) modified Handicap Factor (denoted by the letter “M”). This change supports the portability of a disabled player’s handicap, so that it can be used outside the player’s home club. (Section 8-4c: Handicap Factor Adjustment by Handicap Committee)

An overview of these changes with more detailed information can be found here. The complete Golf Canada Handicap System Manual will be posted to golfcanada.ca/handicapping, and it will be available for purchase on the Golf Canada e-store before the start of our cycle.

Additional reading:

• Golf Canada’s position on 2016 Handicap System changes
• FAQ: Playing golf alone and peer review
• Solo play: a global perspective
• Reference document

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the six athletes – two female and four male – who have been selected to the 2016 Team Canada Young Pro Squad.

Comprising the team for 2016 is: Sue Kim (Langley, B.C.); Augusta James (Bath, Ont.); Albin Choi (Toronto); Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.) Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.); and Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.).

The focus of the Young Pro Squad – now in its third year – is to bridge the gap for top graduating amateurs transitioning into professional golf. The program was developed in partnership with the PGA of Canada and is generously funded by founding partners Canadian Pacific and RBC, as well as supporting partners Citi Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation Women’s Fund.

“We are very proud of the Team Canada Young Pro initiative and how it is helping to bridge the gap between amateur and professional golf,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “These fine athletes have demonstrated clear commitment to the game and the results over a short period have been tremendous.”

Heading up the female contingent is long-standing Amateur Squad member Augusta James, who is looking to build on a strong year competing on the Symetra Tour in 2015. Her rookie campaign was highlighted by a victory at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial and two runner-up finishes. The 22-year-old finished at No. 12 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. A former Canadian Women’s Amateur champion and three-time Amateur Squad member, James will return to the Symetra Tour in 2016 with priority status.

“I’m grateful to be back with Team Canada, which has played a huge role in my development as an amateur athlete,” said James, who currently ranks fourth among Canadians on the Women’s Rolex World Golf Rankings. “Golf Canada has been with me for most of my golfing career and I am honoured to move up to the Young Pro Squad.”

Joining James on the Women’s Young Pro Squad is Sue Kim, who has been with the program since its inception in 2014. The 24-year-old had a win at the Symetra Tour’s Florida Natural Charity Classic to go alongside two additional Top-25 finishes. Kim completed the season at No. 32 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and will hold priority status on the Symetra Tour for 2016.

“I’m very excited to be a part of this great program once again,” said Kim, a graduate of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad program. “The support I’ve received has been a huge boost for my professional career and I have big hopes for 2016.”

On the men’s side, four members of the 2015 Young Pro Squad will return to the program in 2016.

Taylor Pendrith makes his return to the men’s squad following a breakthrough season in which the 24-year-old compiled three runner-up finishes and two additional Top-10 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada. The Kent State alumnus also tallied two Top-25 finishes on the Web.com Tour to cap an impressive rookie year as a professional. Pendrith finished third on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit to become one of five athletes to graduate onto the Web.com Tour with granted status for 2016.

“Having the Young Pro program so invested in my future success is very humbling,” said Pendrith. “I’m so happy to have all the guys back and am thankful for the continued coaching and advice from Derek (Ingram) and the sport science team.”

Mackenzie Hughes and Albin Choi, both members of the Young Pro Squad since its inception, will return for a third consecutive year.

Hughes, 25, earned status on the Web.com Tour in 2016 with a T21 finish at stage-three of Qualifying School in December. A former two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Hughes’ season featured seven Top-25 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, with his best result a T3 finish at the ATB Financial Classic. The former Kent State Golden Flash finished 13^th on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada’s Order of Merit in 2015.

“The ongoing support from Golf Canada and the program supporters is a huge boost for me and my goals to improve my game,” added Hughes. “I’m very thankful for what the Young Pro program has meant to my career and continued development.”

Choi recorded three Top-10 finishes including a victory on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada in 2015 to finish the year sixth on the Tour’s Order of Merit. An Amateur Squad graduate, Choi also added two wins on the SwingThought Tour to his résumé in 2015. The 23-year-old former Canadian Men’s Amateur champion will hold conditional status on the Web.com Tour this season as a result of his T14 finish at stage-three of Qualifying School.

“I’m thrilled to be back on the Young Pro Squad and continue my journey as member of the Team Canada family,” said Choi. “The program has been such a huge help for my career and I’m looking forward to making great strides in 2016 to perform at the highest level.”

Rounding out the male contingent is three-time Amateur Squad member Corey Conners. In 2015, the 24-year-old recorded two Top-10 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, two Top-25 results on the Web.com Tour and a T3 finish on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica. Conners – who competed in the 2015 Masters because of a runner-up finish at the 2014 U.S. Amateur, finished his rookie year as a professional at No. 37 on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit. He recently earned medalist honours at PGA Tour-Latino America Qualifying School to secure his playing status on that Tour in 2016.

“This will be my fifth year with the Team Canada program which has become a strong bond – almost like a family,” reflected Conners. “I’m thrilled to be back on the Young Pro Squad and am looking forward to a successful 2016 season.”

Men’s National Squad coach Derek Ingram and Women’s National Team coach Tristan Mullally, both PGA of Canada Class “A” members, will provide coaching to their respective Young Pro athletes. In addition to funding and coaching support, the athletes will have access to Team Canada’s sport science staff, which includes Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood, and Physiotherapist & Strength Coach Greg Redman.

“I’m excited to see these young athletes further their progress through the professional ranks as they build upon their careers,” said Gary Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Canada. “The commitment Golf Canada has shown in collaborating with the PGA of Canada in our world class teaching and coaching certification programs is commendable.”

The continued success of the Young Pro Squad is due in large part to a focused fundraising effort on the part of the Golf Canada Foundation.

“Now entering our third year of support, generating funds for the Young Pro program remains a top priority for the Golf Canada Foundation,” said Foundation CEO Martin Barnard. “We look forward to the continued success of the Golf Canada Young Pro Squad in developing the next wave of professional Canadian golfers to inspire golfers of all ages and abilities.”

Throughout the season, Golf Canada will closely monitor the performance of elite Canadian amateurs transitioning to professional golf with the possibility of program expansion.

Click here to read Team Canada Young Pro Squad player bios.

Why will scores made while playing alone no longer be eligible for handicap purposes?

Peer Review is a key principle of the Golf Canada Handicap System and these changes have been made in part to support this.  This change helps golfers form a better basis to support or dispute scores that have been posted to a player’s scoring record, which in turn assists with the integrity of the Handicap System.

The majority of handicapping authorities around the globe have employed this policy for some time. With them, Golf Canada believes it provides a more accurate view of a golfer’s ability, supporting integrity, fairness and equitable play among all golfers.

What constitutes not playing alone?

As long as someone accompanies the player during the round (e.g., fellow competitor, opponent, caddie, marker for a tournament, friend riding along in a cart) the player is not playing alone.

How can you stop me from posting my scores for handicap purposes if I do play alone?

The Handicap System has always relied on:

• golfers to post their scores in accordance with handicap system procedures
• golfers having the ability to review their fellow club members scores and handicap
• Club Handicap Committee to fulfill its duties and responsibilities (help maintain the system at the club).

This decision doesn’t change any of those requirements going forward – those pieces are key to the successful implementation of the Handicap System at any club.

How many holes can a player play alone to post the score?

Section 5-1 Acceptability of Scores in the Golf Canada Handicap Manual states the minimum number of holes that need to be played in accordance with the Rules of Golf for a score to be posted. This Rule holds true for the number of holes,  at least seven holes for a nine-hole score or 13 holes for 18-hole score, a player must be accompanied for a round to be acceptable for score posting.

For holes played alone (not accompanied), the player would treat these as not played under the Rules of Golf and post according to “par plus” any handicap strokes the player is entitled to receive.

(For more information, see Section 4-2).

Note: If a player plays nearly all holes accompanied but just a few alone, the holes played alone are determined using “par plus,” keeping in mind the maximum that can be played alone in a round eligible for posting is two holes for a 9-hole score and five holes for an 18-hole score. Some examples would be starting out alone and joining up with a player(s), or starting out accompanied and finishing the round alone.

I thought this was a game of honour and integrity which includes trust. This rule seems to go against that tradition of the game, it seems I’m presumed guilty if I play alone?

Golf Canada supports strengthening Peer Review in Handicapping – when scores are attested it adds to the integrity and credibility of the handicap system and Handicaps being issued.

Playing golf with others affords the benefit of having someone who can testify to your ability and acknowledge the accuracy of your Handicap when you happen to play that once-in-a-lifetime round to win an event.

Why the change/reversal by Golf Canada on the ‘rounds played alone’ position?

After much thought and discussion among our Board of Directors, our Handicap Committee, and after consultation with the USGA, Golf Canada now better understands all of the reasons and big-picture considerations that led to the adoption of the new rule regarding unaccompanied rounds.

Therefore, we have concluded that it is in the best interests of the game for Golf Canada to move towards adoption of all the new 2016 Handicap Rules, including the rule on unaccompanied rounds.

Isn’t one of your mandates to grow the game and be more inclusive? How does this decision support your mandates as it seems exclusive not inclusive?

This decision was twofold:

• to enhance “Peer Review” and thereby adding to the Integrity and credibility of the Handicap System
• to allow Golf Canada to be more aligned worldwide where the majority of rounds played alone are not accepted for handicapping purposes.

To be inclusive, Golf Canada is keenly interested in encouraging all golfers to maintain and post all of their scores. As such Golf Canada is working towards a solution to allow unaccompanied rounds to be entered into our Score Centre, so that golfers can continue to track their statistics, with the full knowledge that they will be excluded from the calculation of an Official Handicap.

Related Links

• Golf Canada’s position on 2016 Handicap System changes
• Changes to Golf Canada’s Handicap System for 2016 released
• Solo play: a global perspective
• Reference document

DOHA, Qatar – Louis Oosthuizen made another fast start to his first tournament of the year, shooting a 7-under 65 in the first round of the Qatar Masters to share the lead with Pablo Larrazabal on Wednesday.

The 2010 British Open champion has won his first event of the calendar year in four of the last five years, and is in a good position already in Qatar after rolling in seven birdies in a bogey-free round.

“I don’t know the reason why I always play well in January – probably because I’m well rested after a long break and a holiday. I should take more eight-week breaks,” said Oosthuizen, who is bidding to become the fourth South African winner in six events so far in the 2016 European Tour campaign.

“I enjoy the time away from the course and not touching my clubs, and afterwards I’m ready to go again and hungry to get back playing.”

Larrazabal also made seven birdies and no bogeys after the Spaniard hit 17 greens in regulation at Doha Golf Club, where 36 players broke 70 despite the windy conditions.

Andrew Johnston and Nicolas Colsaerts are a shot behind along with Swedish Challenge Tour graduate Bjorn Akesson, who was 7 under after 11 holes but bogeyed No. 8 – his 17th hole.

“I changed my grip a little bit this morning on the driving range, and it worked out really well today,” Akesson said. “So I would say that’s the key.”

Colsaerts, a big-hitting Belgian playing only his second event since mid-October, had six birdies.

Defending champion Branden Grace and 2014 winner Sergio Garcia shot 70s.

Mike Weir shot an opening-round 73 for a share of 80th at 1-over.