During the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, adidas Golf gave eight lucky spectators the opportunity to participate in a once in a lifetime golf adventure.

In addition to getting up close and personal with the Tours finest, including Canada’s own Mike Weir, wide-eyed fans were immersed in an afternoon of incredible experiences. Take a look at their best day ever.

TaylorMade Golf introduces three new premium putters

One year ago, TaylorMade Golf Company released the most stable putters the company had ever created – the counterbalanced Daddy Long Legs and the counterbalanced Spider Blade. Later, TaylorMade expanded its counterbalance putter offerings to include the Spider Mallet and the ultra-stable Ghost Spider Si.

Today, TaylorMade announces new counterbalanced models of the Daddy Long Legs, Spider Blade and Spider Mallet, each with Tour-inspired aesthetics.

Crafted with insights from TaylorMade Tour Professionals, the new designs feature an enhanced color scheme, including a luxurious black finish and white tungsten heel/toe weights, which frame the ball at address. A matte-black shaft and high-polish sole round out the premium aesthetics.

“The new tour-inspired cosmetic is visually stunning, while also delivering the ultimate in stability and performance,” said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s director of iron, wedge and putter creation. “Each of these putters promote an extremely stable putting stroke, to help golfers deliver a consistent roll time after time.”

Daddy Long Legs is the most stable putter in the trio, with an MOI of more than 8,500. The high-MOI design resists twisting at impact to protect ball speed on off-center hits, promoting a reliable roll regardless of where the ball is struck on the face.

At more than 5,200 MOI, the Spider Blade offers the stability of a mallet putter in a blade shape to promote outstanding twist-resistance and distance control on off-center hits. All three models feature a heavy steel frame, and tungsten heel and toe weights, all designed to raise the MOI to deliver increased head stability.

TaylorMade Tour Staff pros who contributed to the development of these premium putters include Sergio Garcia, who finished tied for second at The Open Championship using the new counterbalanced Spider Mallet; Jason Day; Boo Weekley; and Troy Matteson.

To optimize counterbalance technology, golfers should grip two to three inches below the top end of the grip when assuming a normal stance, posture and address. By doing so, more weight is “above” the golfer’s hands, which is key for increasing stroke-stability. Because players should grip down, each new counterbalanced putter is offered in two lengths: 38” and 35”. The 38” is for players who traditionally use a 34”-36” putter, while the 35” option is for players who traditionally use a 32”-34” putter.

The new Daddy Long Legs is priced at $279.99 CDN, while the Spider Blade and Spider Mallet retail for $259.99. Each model is offered in a single bend 35” or 38” shaft. Retail availability begins August 1. For more information, visit taylormadegolf.ca.

Daddy Long Legs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – U.S. captain Tom Watson said Monday that Tiger Woods’ latest back injury “doesn’t bode well right now” for Woods playing in the Ryder Cup.

Watson told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio he was watching the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational when Woods withdrew after hitting his tee shot on the ninth hole because of another injury to his back.

“Tiger would be a great addition to our team,” Watson said. “As I’ve said all along, I would pick Tiger Woods if he’s healthy and playing well. This doesn’t bode well right now. I just hope that maybe it’s just an isolated problem that he can turn around and possibly play this week at the PGA.”

Woods flew home to Florida on Sunday to be evaluated. It was not clear when he would know if he could play at Valhalla, where Woods won the PGA Championship in 2000. His caddie was on the course Monday.

Woods, in only his third tournament since returning from back surgery, said he jarred his lower back when he hopped into a deep bunker after playing an awkward shot from the slope of the bunker on the second hole at Firestone.

He tried to keep playing and hit some shockingly bad shots – one into the water on No. 3, another on the par-3 fifth that was 65 yards short of the flag.

“I watched him play almost the entire front nine,” Watson said. “And the shot he had at 5 … I said, `Something’s wrong with Tiger.’ You don’t hit that terrible a shot ever – ever. And then, of course, No. 9, he just couldn’t go any farther. It concerns me because that’s an injury that seems like he tried to address before and he’s come back from that particular injury.”

Watson said he sent Woods a text to tell him he was sorry about the injury, and “I hope you get well soon.”

Woods missed two majors and three months of the season after March 31 back surgery. He has no chance of making the Ryder Cup team unless he wins the PGA Championship. If he can’t play this week, that would be the end of his PGA Tour season until after the Ryder Cup.

COPETOWN, Ont. – A number of Canada’s legends of golf are set compete at the 2014 Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf Aug. 6-7 at Beverly Golf & Country Club.

Champions Tour player Jim Rutledge of Victoria eyes his third straight—and fourth since 2010—PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada, but faces stiff competition from the likes of fellow Champions Tour player Rod Spittle of Niagara Falls, Ont.

Past champions in the field include 2011 winner Ken Tarling of Sandford, Ont., 2002 winner Gar Hamilton of Oakville, Ont., and three-time champion Bob Rose of Dundas, Ont. Two-time defending Super Senior winner Norm Jarvis of Surrey, B.C., is also in the field this week.

Other notable players in the field include European Senior’s Tour player and two-time PGA Assistant’s Championship of Canada winner Philip Jonas; Scott Allred, who is ranked No. 9 on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings; two-time PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Remi Bouchard; past PGA of Canada President Ian Clake.; former PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner Ian Doig; past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Marc Girouard; two-time PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner Brian Hutton; Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame member Scott Knapp; former European Senior’s Tour player David Wettlaufer; and six-time PGA Tour Canada winner Daniel Talbot.

Last year at Lookout Point Golf Club in Fonthill, Ont., Rutledge birdied the fourth playoff hole over Spittle. With the dramatic victory, the native of Victoria became just the seventh player in the championship’s history to win three or more times.

Attendance to the Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during tournament play.

Located in Copetown, Ont., Beverly Golf & Country Club is a classically designed Robbie Robinson gem and often referred to as one of the best secrets in Canada golf. At more than 6,500 yards, the par-70 layout features angled greens, traditional bunkering and large mature trees.

The PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the championship became an independent event and has stayed that way since.

Among the Canadian golf legends to win the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman—who won a record seven straight years from 1979-1985—Bob Panasik, Al Balding—who wowed the golf world by winning at age 76 in 2000—and Jim Rutledge.

For first round tee times, click here.

COPETOWN, Ont. – A number of Canada’s legends of golf are set compete at the 2014 Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf Aug. 6-7 at Beverly Golf & Country Club.

Champions Tour player Jim Rutledge of Victoria eyes his third straight—and fourth since 2010—PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada, but faces stiff competition from the likes of fellow Champions Tour player Rod Spittle of Niagara Falls, Ont.

Past champions in the field include 2011 winner Ken Tarling of Sandford, Ont., 2002 winner Gar Hamilton of Oakville, Ont., and three-time champion Bob Rose of Dundas, Ont. Two-time defending Super Senior winner Norm Jarvis of Surrey, B.C., is also in the field this week.

Other notable players in the field include European Senior’s Tour player and two-time PGA Assistant’s Championship of Canada winner Philip Jonas; Scott Allred, who is ranked No. 9 on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings; two-time PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Remi Bouchard; past PGA of Canada President Ian Clake.; former PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner Ian Doig; past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Marc Girouard; two-time PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner Brian Hutton; Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame member Scott Knapp; former European Senior’s Tour player David Wettlaufer; and six-time PGA Tour Canada winner Daniel Talbot.

Last year at Lookout Point Golf Club in Fonthill, Ont., Rutledge birdied the fourth playoff hole over Spittle. With the dramatic victory, the native of Victoria became just the seventh player in the championship’s history to win three or more times.

Attendance to the Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during tournament play.

Located in Copetown, Ont., Beverly Golf & Country Club is a classically designed Robbie Robinson gem and often referred to as one of the best secrets in Canada golf. At more than 6,500 yards, the par-70 layout features angled greens, traditional bunkering and large mature trees.

The PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the championship became an independent event and has stayed that way since.

Among the Canadian golf legends to win the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman—who won a record seven straight years from 1979-1985—Bob Panasik, Al Balding—who wowed the golf world by winning at age 76 in 2000—and Jim Rutledge.

For first round tee times, click here.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There were lots of jokes, some big swings, few surprises and zero injuries – unless you count bruised egos.

That’s how the scorecard read from Tuesday’s long-drive competition at the PGA Championship.

But the real takeaway: Jack Nicklaus still rules.

Once a fixture during practice week of the season’s final major, the long-driving contest had been on hiatus for a half-century. It returned to mixed reviews, with the victory going to Louis Oosthuizen, one of the tour’s longer hitters. He smacked his tee shot at the par-5 10th an impressive 340 yards.

But it seems a little less impressive when you consider that Nicklaus, who won the competition the last two years it was staged previously (1963-64), captured the first of those with a drive of 341 yards, 17 inches – and he was using a small, persimmon-headed driver and wound balata golf ball at the time.

“Incredible,” marveled 21-year-old Justin Spieth, already one of the longer-hitting pros. “He must have had a nice little wind behind him.”

In fairness, the grandstand behind the 10th tee at Valhalla Golf Club stopped some of the breeze at the golfers’ backs. But it gave them a sometimes-stoked audience for their powerful swings. One fan looked up at the board to see John Daly, once the biggest gun out on tour, languishing in 10th and turned to a friend.

“What did he hit,” he asked, “a hybrid (club)?”

No. But usually fun-loving Bubba Watson, who has won two Masters, leads the tour in average driving distance and owns a hovercraft outfitted to look like a golf cart, decided to boycott the event and hit 3-iron off the tee instead.

“I don’t see that we should have a competition like that while we’re playing a practice round and learning the golf course, trying to win a great championship,” Watson said afterward. “There’s no reason to make something up in the middle of the practice round like that. That’s just me. Like it or not, that’s just who I am. That’s just what I think.”

Fortunately, not everyone was such a spoilsport. The best group of the day, to no one’s surprise, was led by Phil Mickelson. Lefty often puts together money games during the practice week leading up to a major, and his playing partners included power hitters Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler, as well as Brendan Steele.

Bradley set the tone by crushing his drive 326 yards, rolling past the marker at 320 that Adam Scott laid down going off the 10th tee first at 6:45 a.m. But that celebration didn’t last long; Fowler promptly uncorked a 328-yarder and then, for good measure, turned back in the direction of the cheering grandstand and flexed his biceps.

By the time Spieth arrived close to 2 p.m., his caddie, Michael Greller, a former sixth-grade teacher, looked over at the golfer and counseled, “I wouldn’t even try.”

Spieth was wolfing down a sandwich with a mischievous gleam in his eye. Alongside him was Scotsman Russell Knox, who was assessing the board.

“Look,” Knox said. “All 314 (yards) will get you is 10th. Great.”

He looked down at the sandwich he was holding. “I don’t want people to see my 272,” Knox said.

A PGA official who was standing nearby with tracking equipment tried to cheer him up.

“The shortest guy right now,” he said, “is Tom Watson at 264.”

No one bothered to add that Watson, a contemporary of Nicklaus, turns 65 in a month. But Knox slowly walked up to the tee, pounded out a respectable 311-yard effort and then Spieth followed with a booming drive that wound up in the right rough. Greller breathed a sigh of relief as Spieth headed down the fairway no worse for the effort.

“The goal?” Spieth said, smiling. “Just try not to hurt yourself.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There were lots of jokes, some big swings, few surprises and zero injuries – unless you count bruised egos.

That’s how the scorecard read from Tuesday’s long-drive competition at the PGA Championship.

But the real takeaway: Jack Nicklaus still rules.

Once a fixture during practice week of the season’s final major, the long-driving contest had been on hiatus for a half-century. It returned to mixed reviews, with the victory going to Louis Oosthuizen, one of the tour’s longer hitters. He smacked his tee shot at the par-5 10th an impressive 340 yards.

But it seems a little less impressive when you consider that Nicklaus, who won the competition the last two years it was staged previously (1963-64), captured the first of those with a drive of 341 yards, 17 inches – and he was using a small, persimmon-headed driver and wound balata golf ball at the time.

“Incredible,” marveled 21-year-old Justin Spieth, already one of the longer-hitting pros. “He must have had a nice little wind behind him.”

In fairness, the grandstand behind the 10th tee at Valhalla Golf Club stopped some of the breeze at the golfers’ backs. But it gave them a sometimes-stoked audience for their powerful swings. One fan looked up at the board to see John Daly, once the biggest gun out on tour, languishing in 10th and turned to a friend.

“What did he hit,” he asked, “a hybrid (club)?”

No. But usually fun-loving Bubba Watson, who has won two Masters, leads the tour in average driving distance and owns a hovercraft outfitted to look like a golf cart, decided to boycott the event and hit 3-iron off the tee instead.

“I don’t see that we should have a competition like that while we’re playing a practice round and learning the golf course, trying to win a great championship,” Watson said afterward. “There’s no reason to make something up in the middle of the practice round like that. That’s just me. Like it or not, that’s just who I am. That’s just what I think.”

Fortunately, not everyone was such a spoilsport. The best group of the day, to no one’s surprise, was led by Phil Mickelson. Lefty often puts together money games during the practice week leading up to a major, and his playing partners included power hitters Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler, as well as Brendan Steele.

Bradley set the tone by crushing his drive 326 yards, rolling past the marker at 320 that Adam Scott laid down going off the 10th tee first at 6:45 a.m. But that celebration didn’t last long; Fowler promptly uncorked a 328-yarder and then, for good measure, turned back in the direction of the cheering grandstand and flexed his biceps.

By the time Spieth arrived close to 2 p.m., his caddie, Michael Greller, a former sixth-grade teacher, looked over at the golfer and counseled, “I wouldn’t even try.”

Spieth was wolfing down a sandwich with a mischievous gleam in his eye. Alongside him was Scotsman Russell Knox, who was assessing the board.

“Look,” Knox said. “All 314 (yards) will get you is 10th. Great.”

He looked down at the sandwich he was holding. “I don’t want people to see my 272,” Knox said.

A PGA official who was standing nearby with tracking equipment tried to cheer him up.

“The shortest guy right now,” he said, “is Tom Watson at 264.”

No one bothered to add that Watson, a contemporary of Nicklaus, turns 65 in a month. But Knox slowly walked up to the tee, pounded out a respectable 311-yard effort and then Spieth followed with a booming drive that wound up in the right rough. Greller breathed a sigh of relief as Spieth headed down the fairway no worse for the effort.

“The goal?” Spieth said, smiling. “Just try not to hurt yourself.”

Winnipeg, Man. – Brian Bullington and Jonathan Garrick share top spot on the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship leaderboard after opening with 6-under 66’s. 

Bullington of Frankfort, Ill., played on the morning side of the draw at Southwood Golf and Country Club. He carded a 4-under 32 closing nine that was highlighted by four birdies over his final seven holes to vault into the early lead.

“I made like a 35-footer footer on No. 1 and on No. 2 I didn’t get up and down, I hit a spike mark which kind of kicked me into gear,” Bullington said. “I birdied the next three which was awesome and I knew that No. 7 was straight downwind so I knew if I could get that I’d probably be in a good position.”

Playing in the final pairing of the day Jonathan Garrick of Atherton, Calif., matched Bullington’s round with a bogey-free 6-under 66. The UCLA Bruins’ junior birdied his two final holes to grab top spot heading into Tuesday’s second round that will be split between Elmhurst and Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

“I birdied No. 10 to start of the back nine and in the middle I made one more but then missed a few opportunities, it was good to finish with two birdies,” Garrick said. “I’ve been playing well but I haven’t been scoring well, I’ve just been kind of waiting for it to all come together and it seems like this week it’s going to go that way.”

Leading the way for the Canadian contingent was Manitoba’s Josh Wytinck and Team Canada’s Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. who opened with a pair of 5-under 67’s. Wytinck of Glenboro, Man. carded seven birdies on Monday, while an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole highlighted Rank’s round.

“I’ve just been hitting it so well and usually when I feel pressure or nerves it’s usually when I’m not playing well,” Wytinck who plays for the University of Manitoba Bisons’ said. “I’ve been playing so well that I’m very confident in myself that if I made putts I’d shoot something like this.”

Colombia’s Ricardo Celia shares third place alongside Rank and Wytinck. Celia finished tied for fourth at the 2013 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and opened his 2014 campaign with six birdies at Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

In the Willingdon Cup team competition, Team Ontario’s squad of Rank, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Chris Hemmerich of Kitchener, Ont. lead the pack after opening with a 7-under 137 team total. Alberta’s A.J. Armstrong of St. Albert, Banff’s Jack Wood and Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon Country trail the trio of Team Canada’s National Squad members by three strokes heading into Tuesday’s final day of Willngdon Cup action. 

Monday’s opening round was contested at both Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and Southwood Golf and Country Club. Robert Ellis of St. Catharines, Ont. and Sam Saunders of Albuquerque, New Mexico carded the low rounds of the day at Elmhurst after posting 3-under 67’s to sit in a tie for 11th.

For a full field list as well as starting times, live scoring and post-round results for the 110th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

Winnipeg, Man. – Brian Bullington and Jonathan Garrick share top spot on the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship leaderboard after opening with 6-under 66’s. 

Bullington of Frankfort, Ill., played on the morning side of the draw at Southwood Golf and Country Club. He carded a 4-under 32 closing nine that was highlighted by four birdies over his final seven holes to vault into the early lead.

“I made like a 35-footer footer on No. 1 and on No. 2 I didn’t get up and down, I hit a spike mark which kind of kicked me into gear,” Bullington said. “I birdied the next three which was awesome and I knew that No. 7 was straight downwind so I knew if I could get that I’d probably be in a good position.”

Playing in the final pairing of the day Jonathan Garrick of Atherton, Calif., matched Bullington’s round with a bogey-free 6-under 66. The UCLA Bruins’ junior birdied his two final holes to grab top spot heading into Tuesday’s second round that will be split between Elmhurst and Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

“I birdied No. 10 to start of the back nine and in the middle I made one more but then missed a few opportunities, it was good to finish with two birdies,” Garrick said. “I’ve been playing well but I haven’t been scoring well, I’ve just been kind of waiting for it to all come together and it seems like this week it’s going to go that way.”

Leading the way for the Canadian contingent was Manitoba’s Josh Wytinck and Team Canada’s Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. who opened with a pair of 5-under 67’s. Wytinck of Glenboro, Man. carded seven birdies on Monday, while an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole highlighted Rank’s round.

“I’ve just been hitting it so well and usually when I feel pressure or nerves it’s usually when I’m not playing well,” Wytinck who plays for the University of Manitoba Bisons’ said. “I’ve been playing so well that I’m very confident in myself that if I made putts I’d shoot something like this.”

Colombia’s Ricardo Celia shares third place alongside Rank and Wytinck. Celia finished tied for fourth at the 2013 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and opened his 2014 campaign with six birdies at Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

In the Willingdon Cup team competition, Team Ontario’s squad of Rank, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Chris Hemmerich of Kitchener, Ont. lead the pack after opening with a 7-under 137 team total. Alberta’s A.J. Armstrong of St. Albert, Banff’s Jack Wood and Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon Country trail the trio of Team Canada’s National Squad members by three strokes heading into Tuesday’s final day of Willngdon Cup action. 

Monday’s opening round was contested at both Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and Southwood Golf and Country Club. Robert Ellis of St. Catharines, Ont. and Sam Saunders of Albuquerque, New Mexico carded the low rounds of the day at Elmhurst after posting 3-under 67’s to sit in a tie for 11th.

For a full field list as well as starting times, live scoring and post-round results for the 110th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

GLEN COVE, N.Y. – Australia’s Su-Hyun Oh shot a 4-under 66 on Monday in the U.S. Women’s Amateur to take the first-round lead in stroke-play qualifying.

The 18-year-old Oh had six birdies and two bogeys at Nassau Country Club. The top 64 after the second round Tuesday will advance to match play.

“I’m playing quite solid,” said Oh, a quarterfinalist last year at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina. “Just giving myself a lot of opportunities and making a few.”

Eighth in the world amateur ranking, Oh matched the women’s course record. She holed out from 40 feet for birdie from off the green on the par-4 11th.

“I thought, `Just get it somewhere there,'” Oh said. “It felt good. I’ll take it any day.”

Sixteen-year-old Hannah O’Sullivan of Paradise Valley, Arizona, was a stroke back. She birdied four of her last six holes and needed only 25 putts.

“I just started hitting the ball better,” O’Sullivan said. “I was putting great all day and just gave myself better opportunities and drained the putts.”

Megan Khang, also 16, of Rockland, Massachusetts, opened with a 68.

Princess Mary Superal, the 17-year-old Filipino player who won the U.S. Girls’ Junior winner last month, had a 70.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., who was low amateur in the U.S. Women’s Open, shot 71 and was tied for 12th with Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont.

Augusta James of Bath, Ont. the newly crowned Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion, opened with a 72.

Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City was 3-over after the opening-round – she fired a 73.

Defending champion Emma Talley, the 20-year-old University of Alabama player from Princeton, Kentucky, was tied for 86th at 76.

HAYWARD, Calif. – Tony Finau won the Stonebrae Classic on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title, closing with a 4-under 66 for a three-stroke victory.

The 34-year-old Finau, from Salt Lake City, had a 22-under 258 total at TPC Stonebrae and earned $108,000 to jump from 24th to eighth on the money list with $238,125. The top 25 after the final four regular-season events will earn 2014-15 PGA Tour cards.

Zack Sucher, the Midwest Classic winner last week in Kansas, had a 66 to tie for second with Fabian Gomez and Daniel Berger. Gomez, from Argentina, finished with a 68. He had a 60 in the second round. Berger also closed with a 68.

Cam Burke and Justin Shin shared the honours as top Canadians in the field, finishing tied for 21st and carding matching 70s in the final round.