Brooke Henderson Team Canada

RBC signs three emerging Canadian pros to sponsorship deals

TORONTO — RBC deepened its commitment to Canadian golf with the addition of three of Canada’s next generation of golfers – Smiths Falls, Ont. native Brooke Henderson, and Abbotsford, B.C., natives Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin – to Team RBC, strengthening its impressive roster of touring professionals.

With promising careers ahead of them, all three golfers embody the spirit of determination and hard work that will inspire the next generation of fans. This announcement further demonstrates RBC’s support of Canadian golf talent poised to make their mark on the world stage.

Henderson, a member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad, joined the professional ranks last month after an impressive amateur career that saw her become the first Canadian ever sit number-one on the women’s World Amateur Ranking. Both Hadwin and Taylor also represented Team Canada earlier in their careers. RBC is a long-standing sponsor of Golf Canada’s National Team program.

“We are thrilled to add Brooke, Adam and Nick to Team RBC,” said Jane Broderick, chief brand and communications officer, RBC. “We are proud of our record of supporting golf at the grassroots level in Canada, through our partnership with Golf Canada and the National High Performance Team. It’s gratifying to see players like them rise through the ranks and make it to the highest levels of competition – we can’t wait to see how their careers develop.”

The 17-year-old Brooke Henderson vaulted to the top of the world amateur rankings with six tournament wins in 2014, a runner-up finish at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, and low amateur honours with a T-10 finish in the U.S. Women’s Open. Henderson also claimed low amateur honours at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and led Canada to a runner-up finish at the Women’s World Amateur, where she placed as low individual. Currently the highest ranked Canadian female golfer in the world, she was voted Female Amateur of the Year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada, for the third year in a row. Brooke makes her LPGA professional debut this week at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic.

“I’m excited to grow my partnership with one of Canada’s top brands,” said Brooke Henderson. “I’ve been fortunate to have received support from RBC for several years through their ongoing assistance of Golf Canada’s development program, but to now have an official relationship with RBC is very exciting and I look forward to working closely with them as I take the next step in my career.”

A former Canadian Amateur champion and the number-one ranked amateur in the world, Nick Taylor had an impressive career at the University of Washington before turning pro in 2010. He had a swift and impressive ascent to the PGA Tour from the Web.com Tour in 2014. He then became the first Canadian in five years to win a PGA Tour event at the 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship, solidifying his PGA Tour card through the 2016/17 season. ”RBC’s support of golf, particularly in Canada, is widely noticed and greatly appreciated by the players,” stated Nick Taylor.

“I am proud to join the impressive group of individuals who have had the privilege of representing the RBC brand on the PGA Tour.”

Adam Hadwin won twice on the Web.com Tour, finished first on the Tour’s money list, and earned full status for the PGA Tour in 2014-15. A graduate of PGA Tour Canada, Hadwin has been a rising star in Canadian golf since finishing T-4 at the 2011 RBC Canadian Open. He was named the 2014 Male Professional of the Year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada, narrowly beating fellow Team RBCers Graham DeLaet and Nick Taylor. “It’s an honour to represent RBC along with some of the world’s most iconic players,” said Adam Hadwin. “I’ve admired many of these guys for years, so having this connection with them in addition to the opportunity to compete against them week to week is an exciting opportunity for me.”

Henderson, Hadwin and Taylor join fellow Canadians Graham DeLaet, David Hearn and Mike Weir on Team RBC, along with seven of golf’s international greats: Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Morgan Pressel and Brandt Snedeker. RBC is the Official Banking and Financial Services provider to all Team RBC members. As well, they participate in marketing initiatives for RBC, and act as ambassadors for the brand. When they aren’t playing in tournaments, they often participate in a variety of functions as RBC ambassadors. These include employee events and charitable initiatives that support RBC’s commitment to kids and youth.

In 2014 this was highlighted by a social media campaign, #RBCGolf4Kids that raised awareness and $312,000 for children charities around the world.