Through the years the United States Open Championship has been won by many great champions. Check out the 10 best players who never hoisted a U.S. Open trophy according to the folks at the PGA Tour.

The hips are one of the most important body parts in the golf swing.  They need to operate through a large range of motion to enable you to get the desired body rotation to create swing speed.  For this rotation, the player needs to have both mobility in the hip joint surface and flexibility in the muscles that surround the joint.  The hip muscles also need to be strong to enable the hip to be stable and generate force over a short period of time, providing the power to create an optimal swing speed.  Limitations in the hips often lead to swing deficits such as sliding or coming out of posture.

Here are three great exercises to improve mobility, flexibility and hip strength.

Strengthening                                                        

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart with a resistance band wrapped just above your knees.  You should maintain an optimal 6-iron golf posture throughout the exercise, with knees slightly bent, back straight, sternum up, abdominal muscles lightly engaged. Begin by turning the knees inwards until there is no tension in the resistance band then turn the knees outwards against the resistance until your have achieved full range of motion in your hips or you have met the full resistance of the band.  Hold for two seconds and repeat.  Complete three sets of as many repetitions until failure as you can with 20 seconds rest between sets.

Mobility – roller to the hip muscles

Lie on your side with the back and side of your hip on a foam roller.  Your arms and legs support most of your weight.  Inhale and exhale as you use your arms and legs to slowly roll the back and side of your hip against the foam roller.  Complete three sets of 30 seconds.  As you improve add more pressure against the foam roller by reducing the support of your arms and legs.

Flexibility – hip flexor stretch

Roll onto your back and pull the foam roller under your pelvis without arching your lower back.  Lift both legs up to 90 degrees hip and knee flexion.  Slowly lower one of the legs down until it is straight while keeping the other leg in the flexed position.  Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Any trace of inclement weather from the previous day was erased with clear skies and beaming sunshine as the Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario concluded at Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club in Smiths Falls, Ont. The 36-hole competition finished with a pair of Team Canada members emerging victorious – Young Pro Squad member Rebecca Lee-Bentham claimed the title while Jennifer Ha earned low amateur honours.

Lee-Bentham opened the day in a three-way tie atop the leaderboard. The National Team Young Pro Squad member distanced herself from the pack and secured the victory by shooting the low round of the day – a 2-under 69. “I went out with a really relaxed mindset which helped me to concentrate on each shot more and not worry about results. I think that’s what helped me today,” said the Toronto native when asked about her combined 2-under 140 performance.

With the victory, Lee-Bentham not only takes the $10,000 winner’s share of the tournament’s $60,000 purse, she has also secured an exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to be played August 17-23 at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C. “It’s good knowing that I secured the spot. The CP Women’s Open is probably my favourite stop on tour, so just to have the opportunity to play in it again this year is a blessing,” reflected the Team Canada member.

Lee-Bentham’s Young Pro Squad teammate Brooke Henderson returned to her home course and finished one shot shy of the winner. The 17-year-old registered a bogey on her first hole, but finished the round without another to go with two birdies. The two Young Pro Squad members’ under-par rounds were the only ones of the tournament.

Brittany Henderson, the elder of the two Henderson sisters, finished in a five-way tie for third place. The rookie on the Symetra Tour carded a second-round 73 and completed the competition at 4-over 146.

Joining Brittany Henderson for a share of third was National Team Amateur Squad member Jennifer Ha. The Calgary native was one of four players to notch back-to-back 73s; the only difference is that the Ha was the lone amateur to do so. “It was an up and down sort of day,” said Ha of her round. “I hit the ball well and overall, I’m pretty happy with the way I played. Winning low amateur has made this event extra special.”

Ha sees the honour as a stepping stone as she heads into an important summer. “It gives me a lot of confidence going into the season. It’s going to be a big year for me as I get ready to become a professional. It gives me a boost knowing that I can finish high at a professional event. Hopefully this trend continues and I can build upon the success I found here.”

For a second day in a row, the Canadian National Team contingent fared well. Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., finished in a four-way tie for eighth with a score of 5-over. Thornhill, Ont., native Elizabeth Tong equaled her first-day 74 for a share of 12^th place while London, Ont., product Maddie Szeryk was T14 at 7-over. Of the 23 amateurs in the field, the four National Team Amateur Squad members finished at the top.

Rebecca Lee-Bentham joins Michelle Piyapattra of Corona, Calif., as the winners of the first two legs on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour. The Tour’s third and final stop, the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, will be contested July 20-22 at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont. In addition to the exemptions awarded to the Tour champions, the top two competitors on the Jocelyne Bourassa Order of Merit, who are not otherwise exempt will join the trio at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship, provided they have played in at least two of the three Tour events.

The five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will also be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.

Additional Information on Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario can be found here.

Last month, the Golf Canada Foundation debuted its ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge and to date the initiative has raised just over $24,085. Teams registered in the ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge have the opportunity to play a round at one of Ontario’s most prestigious golf courses in exchange for their commitment to fundraise in support of junior golf through the Golf Canada Foundation.

The ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge hosted its first event of the series at The National Golf & Country Club on June 9.

“Our first qualifier event had very positive feedback from the participants,” shared Martin Barnard, CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation. “The National was in pristine shape, there was an exciting playoff finish, and some teams even mentioned it made them want to sign up for another qualifier event this summer.”

The ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge continued on June 15 with teams competing at both Öviinbyrd Golf Club (Muskoka, Ont.) and London Hunt and Country Club (London, Ont.).

“We’ve seen a great response from the public in this inaugural year of the event. People are excited at the opportunity to play some of the best and most exclusive clubs in Ontario,” added Barnard. “Not only are teams getting a fantastic playing experience, but more importantly they are also excited at the unique opportunity to contribute to junior golf initiatives across the country. They understand the value of introducing youth to golf and nurturing their passion for the game.”

Funds raised from the ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge will assist in growing and developing golf programs which cater to youth of all ages and development stages. At the grassroots level, the Golf in Schools program introduces children to golf through their school’s physical education program. The next step, the CN Future Links program, encourages young golfers to refine their driving, iron play, chipping and putting skills in a competitive but friendly setting. The support from the ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge will also focus upon high-performance Canadian juniors through the Junior Golf Development Centres and the National Development Squad.

In addition to supporting junior golf initiatives and playing at Ontario’s best courses, teams are competing for the Challenge’s grand prize: a round at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. on Monday, July 27 following the 2015 RBC Canadian Open. The top-five fundraising foursomes as well as the winning teams from each ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge event will be awarded the opportunity to truly ‘Play Like the Pros.’ They will experience Glen Abbey in the same conditions as PGA Tour players during this year’s playing of Canada’s National Open Championship from July 20-26. Teams will be tested by the unforgiving rough, Sunday pins and lightning-fast greens.

The current top fundraising team, ‘CPA My Ball in the Woods’, has raised $3,710 towards their goal of $4,000; they will be playing in the upcoming Hamilton Golf and Country tournament on June 23.

The following mini-tournaments remain on schedule for the ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge:   

For more information, to pledge a team or to register for the ‘Play Like the Pros’ Charity Challenge, please visit www.playliketheprosgolf.com.

INVERNESS, N.S. — It was a picture-perfect day at Cabot Links in Inverness, N.S., with four players surviving the demanding 36-hole match play affair.

Danny King, Alf Callowhill, Ron Kenesky and Oliver Tubb now head into the final day of the PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf.

The No. 1-seeded Danny King of the Performance Academy at Magna captured the Al Balding bracket, with the fourth seeded Alf Callowhill of RattleSnake Point Golf Club winning the Stan Leonard bracket. No. 7-seed Ron Kenesky of Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club took down the George Knudson bracket, while the Moe Norman bracket went to the 20th seeded Oliver Tubb of Seymour Creek Golf Centre.

“Every time I step on a tee I look around and take it all in,” King said about the idyllic surroundings at Cabot Links. “You can’t help but feel relaxed out here and that’s one of the reasons I’m hitting it better than I ever have before in my life.”

The two-time PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner takes on Callowhill in the one semi-final match Thursday morning, while Kenesky meets Tubb in the other. The two winners will play in the championship’s final match Thursday afternoon, with the winner taking home the historic P.D. Ross Trophy and the first place prize of $15,000.

For the full leaderboard, CLICK HERE.

Since re-launching in 2011, the PGA Championship of Canada has been contested as a match play event with players from the four brackets—Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman—looking to advance through the six rounds to capture the historic P.D. Ross trophy.

However, this year’s championship sees the top-16 players from the 36-hole stroke play portion of the event filling outr the four match play brackets—Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman—with the eventual champion winning four match play rounds.

Tubb, who has an educational background in landscape architecture, says he not only appreciates the world-class design qualities of Cabot Links, but the prettiness of the property as well.

“When you’re out there along the beach and the waves are shimmering with this glistening surf it’s just so perfect and gorgeous,” he said. “This is just such a great venue and the PGA of Canada has done such a great job with everything this week, it’s been amazing.”

Cabot Links, which debuted at No. 2 on SCOREGolf’s 2014 Top 100 Ranking and is currently No. 42 on Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, is located on the western shores of Cape Breton Island in Inverness, N.S.

Nestled between the rural community of Inverness and the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Rod Whitman-designed course is Canada’s first authentic links layout. The natural and rugged Nova Scotia landscape—dramatic seaside, undulating terrain, sandy soil—dictates the layout of the course with every hole affording an ocean view and five holes playing adjacent to the beach.

Attendance to the PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during tournament play.

CALGARY, Alta. — Many of the greatest names in golf will continue to thrill Calgary sports fans until 2017, thanks to Shaw Communications extending their commitment as title sponsor of the Shaw Charity Classic for two more years.

The award-winning tournament, which has raised record amounts of money for youth-based charities in Alberta, will continue to be played at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.

“The Shaw Charity Classic has been a tremendous success, both as a must-attend social event in Calgary, but most importantly as a platform to support fantastic charitable organizations across Southern Alberta,” said Brad Shaw, CEO of Shaw Communications. “As we head into our third year, we are proud to be extending our partnership with the Shaw Charity Classic and to continue working with our Champions Tour and Patron Group partners to support the well-being of children and youth in our community.”

The two-year extension was announced during a special visit by PGA TOUR Commissioner, Tim Finchem in Calgary on Wednesday where he delivered a keynote address on the Business of Sport during a Calgary Chamber luncheon.

“The Shaw Charity Classic has clearly established itself as one of the top events we have on this Tour, and I am thankful for Brad and the entire Shaw Communications team for ensuring it continues to give our players the opportunity to play in Canada until 2017,” said Tim Finchem, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR. “Thanks to Clay Riddell and all of the patrons along with Brad Shaw and his team at Shaw Communications. This tournament has all the ingredients of an exceptional event: tremendous volunteer support, strong corporate involvement, unprecedented international media coverage, significant promotional presence in the community, a stellar field, and most importantly of all – it raises big money for charities.”

With the leadership of Shaw Communications, the Shaw Charity Classic made an immediate impact when the tournament debuted in 2013. It received an Outstanding Achievement Award for a first year event by the Champions Tour. It became the first Champions Tour tournament outside the United States to win the prestigious “President’s Award” last year for capturing all the intangibles that make it stand out from the rest.

Most notably, the Shaw Charity Classic has celebrated record setting charitable donations in each of its first two years. The tournament originally went into the PGA TOUR history books with a charitable donation of $2,267,251 in its first year and topped that mark in 2014 by raising $2,406,610 for more than 20 youth-based charities in south-Alberta.

“Our goals have always been very clear in bringing this event to Calgary. To provide Calgarians with the opportunity to witness an elite, family-friendly professional sporting event during the summer, but also to raise significant money to support children’s charities in the city and across the province,” said Clay Riddell, tournament chairman and one of five members that make up the Patron Group who financially back the event. “None of this could be done without the commitment from everyone at Shaw Communications who are true leaders in the community. We are grateful to have them alongside us until 2017 to help build on our solid foundation.”

Rocco Mediate ran away with an impressive seven-shot victory to claim the inaugural winner’s cowboy hat. Fred Couples helped tournament officials deliver a memorable encore performance last year when he shot a final-round 61 that included a chip-in eagle on the 54th and final hole to force a playoff with Billy Andrade. Couples got sized up for a traditional white Calgary cowboy hat of his own after winning the first playoff hole.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Wednesday’s second round of stroke-play qualifying produced four Canadians advancing through to match play in the championship flight at the Nashville Golf & Athletic Club.

Headlining the Canucks as one of the low-64 qualifiers is Team Canada’s Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C. Ko, 17, posted a 2-under 142 (70-72) to finish in third place through two rounds of qualifying.

Joining Ko is fellow Development Squad member Michelle Kim of Surrey, B.C., who posted a 6-over 150 (78-72). Rounding out the four Canadians are two former Team Canada members—Sabrine Garrison of Calgary (77-74—151) and older sister of Michelle, Taylor Kim (78-74—152).

Six other Canadians are in the field in Tennessee, placed in the following flights based on qualifying results:

Second flight

Grace St-Germain (80-78—158)

Josée Doyon (79-80—159)

Fourth flight

Kiersten Klekner-Alt (81-84—165)

Kennedy Bodfield (90-76—166)

Gracie Howie (85-85—170)

Marlies Klekner-Alt (90-81—171)

Click here for qualifying scores

Click here for match play pairings

TOYOTA CITY, Japan – Team Canada’s Men’s Development Squad collectively posted a 1-over 214 in Wednesday’s second round of action to slip three spots into seventh place at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup.

Team Canada’s foursome was led by the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué. product, Étienne Papineau. The 18-year-old carded a 2-under 69 to move up to eighth place individually.

Canada’s second round total was rounded by an even-par 71 from Trevor Ranton of Waterloo, Ont. and a 3-over 74 from Vaughan, Ont., native Tony Gil.

The team’s non-counting score of the day was posted by A.J. Armstrong of St. Albert, Alta., who struggled on the day with a 4-over 75 after opening with a 70 on Tuesday.

As a team, the Canucks currently sit alone in seventh place—where they finished in the tournament last year. With two rounds left to play, the quartet will look to chase down the Norwegians, who carded a remarkable 11-under 202 on Tuesday to take a three-stroke lead over host Japan (-10).

First round co-leader Sweden (-9) goes into Thursday’s third round in third place, ahead of three other teams: Korea (-7), Chile (-6), the United States (-5)—all joining Canada as the seven teams under par for the tournament.

Team Canada is paired up with South Africa and Mexico for the third round at the Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course. Ranton will kick things off for Canadians at 8:40 a.m. JST.

Click here for team scoring.

Click here for individual scoring.

The second stop on the 14^th Canadian Women’s Tour saw rains come and go, but when play resumed following a three-hour delay, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Seul-Ki Park and Jennifer Greggain took to the course and conquered the wet conditions at Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club to take the lead.

Dark skies and heavy rains clouded the morning and allowed for just the first 10 groups to tee off on-time before unplayable conditions delayed the remainder of the field of 84. The downpour subsided and gave way to brilliant sunshine to mask the wet conditions on the course. Seul-Ki Park opened with a pair of birdies on her first four holes, but the Northbrook, Ill., native couldn’t maintain her quick start. She concluded her round with a bogey on hole 18 to finish at even par.

“My tee shots kind of cost me today, but I was able to make three birdies to even out my three bogeys,” said Park, when asked about her round. “I think if I tighten up a little bit, I can position myself a little bit better. But obviously, it’s not over until the last shot.

Park’s two co-leaders needed time to re-focus following the delay, but settled down as the round progressed. Chilliwack, B.C., product Jennifer Greggain finished the front nine with a bogey to fall to 2-over par, but a pair of birdies on the 13^th and 17^th holes drew her back to even.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Rebecca Lee-Bentham needed a moment to gather herself, but quickly regained her form to take a share of the lead. The Toronto native went bogey-free on her final 12 holes and added a trio of birdies, including one on her final hole, to move into the tie for first.

Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad fared well to open the competition. Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., carded four birdies and sits in a three-way tie for fourth. She and Christina Foster are currently knotted for low amateur honours.

The Henderson sisters, Brooke and Brittany, opened the two-day tournament on their home course with identical 2-over 73 performances. Brooke, the younger of the two, notched birdies on the 1^st and 4^th holes, but succumbed to the difficult course conditions. Sister Brittany found her form and ended her round even across the back nine. The two are part of a six-player tie for seventh alongside National Team member Jennifer Ha of Calgary.

The remaining members of Team Canada – Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., and Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., – finished T13 and T15 respectively to put all six National Team members within the top-15 and within four strokes of the lead.

The purse for the tournament is set at $60,000 with $10,000 going to the champion.  The tournament winner will join Canadian Women’s Tour – Alberta champion Michelle Piyapattra in receiving a prized exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open taking place August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.

The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, the concluding event on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour, is set to be hosted at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont., from July 20-22. In addition to the three winner exemptions, the top two competitors on the Jocelyne Bourassa Order of Merit, who are not otherwise exempt will join the trio at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship, provided they have played in at least two of the three Tour events.

The five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will also be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.

The final round of Canadian Women’s Tour – Ontario is slated to get underway at 8 a.m. before the final threesome tees off at 10:10 a.m.

For full results and additional information, please visit the tournament’s official website.

CALGARY – Calgary’s James Love took the win with a tournament total of 7-under 135 for the Alberta Open Championship at Carnmoney Golf & Country Club. Starting the final round in sixth place, Love played a strong game on the second day, allowing him to capture the title.

Love started the front nine strong with a birdie on the first hole, continuing with a double-bogey on the second and a birdie again on the third hole. A remarkable comeback on hole 16 had Love drop 75 yards from the pin after putting it in the water and hit his approach, one bounce into the cup to save par. His five consecutive birdies on holes 9 through 13 contributed to his stellar final round score of 66.

The whirlwind victory was emotional for the 31 year old Love, who recently suffered the loss of his father to cancer. “To win this event is nice,” a teary Love explained, “he was my biggest fan and my best friend.”

As the winner of the 2015 Alberta Open, James Love has earned an exemption into the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada’s Syncrude Boreal Open, set to take place June 25th to 28th at Fort McMurray Golf Course.

On the 18th hole, both Tyler Saunders and Dustin Risdon had their chances to win or tie Love at 7 under par. Unfortunately, both were unable to capitalize on the opportunity and could not force a play off.

The 2015 Alberta Open Championship will be remembered for its many highlights. Among those were Alexander Scherer, who scored an albatross on the 18th hole. Scherer couldn’t see how the shot played out initially. “Is it in?” Scherer reflects on the experience, “he said it was in and that’s when my mind was blown. I needed it.”

Over 90 players competed at Carnmoney Golf & Country Club in Dewinton, Alberta. Playing off the championship tees, Carnmoney is designed to challenge experienced golfers. The course played at 6.858 yards, par 71. The support from the host club staff and volunteers was amazing. “They truly make conducting a championship of this caliber possible,” says Jack Lane, Tournament Director.

For the full leaderboard, click here.