Canadian golf legend and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir will captain Team International at the 2025 World Champions Cup supporting Shriners Children’s, set for December 4–7 at Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater, Fla.

The event features three six-player teams — Team USA, Team Europe and Team International — competing in a three-day series of nine-hole matches that blend team and singles formats. Former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, a back-to-back RBC Canadian Open champion (2006, 2007), will lead the American side, while 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke will guide Team Europe.

Weir, 54, returns to a familiar leadership role after serving as captain of the International Team at the 2024 Presidents Cup in Montréal. The eight-time PGA TOUR winner and 2003 Masters champion is expected to take on a player-captain role again in this competition.

“It’s an honour to lead Team International in this format,” Weir said. “I admired the inaugural event last year and can’t wait to get our name on the trophy.”

The World Champions Cup debuted in 2023 and features players from the PGA TOUR Champions circuit representing their regions. Each team’s six-player roster is determined through a mix of automatic qualifiers, career achievement selections and captain’s picks.

Two players per team automatically qualify based on their position in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, rewarding consistent performance throughout the PGA TOUR Champions season. One or more additional spots are filled by career achievement selections, recognizing players with major victories or significant international resumes. The remaining positions are captain’s picks, allowing leaders such as Weir to select players who best fit team chemistry, strategy and match-play experience.

This structure ensures a balance of current form and proven pedigree, resulting in a competitive and star-studded field.

Weir’s participation continues a strong Canadian presence on the senior stage. He remains one of Canada’s most decorated golfers — the first and only Canadian male to win a major championship — and a key figure in shaping the country’s international golf profile.

Proceeds from the event support Shriners Children’s, with coverage available on ESPN platforms.

CALGARY, Alta. — First Tee – Alberta celebrated a milestone moment in 2025, with nearly $200,000 raised through the generosity of its partnership with the Rogers Charity Classic.

Backed by Calgary’s Patron Group of business leaders along with PGA TOUR professional Stephen Ames, the Rogers Charity Classic (formerly the Shaw Charity Classic) is the lone Canadian stop on the PGA TOUR Champions. Since its launch in 2013, the tournament has raised an incredible $137 million for more than 300 charities supporting children and families in need across Alberta.

The generous funding to First Tee – Alberta is helping Golf Canada expand the reach of its youth development program across the province, providing more equity-deserving children access to golf while fostering life skills development, confidence and community connection. Since 2024, First Tee – Alberta has introduced more than 6,000 youth to the sport through programming at schools, community centres, and golf facilities.

“A year like this doesn’t happen without meaningful partners who believe in what we’re building,” said Kelsey Chadwick, development officer of First Tee – Alberta. “The impact of the Rogers Charity Classic and its philanthropic efforts in the community have been transformational. First Tee is proud to be supported by the Rogers Charity Classic and the event’s tremendous commitment to helping the next generation of golfers thrive both on and off the course.”

A highlight for the program’s fundraising activity came during the Rogers Legends of Hockey Shootout, where junior elite golfer Sydney Bisgrove represented First Tee – Alberta in a 100-yard closest-to-the-pin challenge. Bisgrove’s performance helped secure a $115,000 donation, marking a turning point for the chapter.

“Being part of that moment was unbelievable,” said Bisgrove. “To represent First Tee – Alberta in front of so many people and know that it helped raise such a big donation that will have an impact on grassroots golf opportunities across the province is something I’ll never forget.”

Sean Van Kesteren, executive director of the Rogers Charity Classic, is proud to see the tournament’s impact extend far beyond golf.

“Our mission has always been to showcase the game’s greats while using the tournament to give back,” Van Kesteren said. “The Legends of Hockey event brings fans and families together in a unique way, while also driving real support for charities like First Tee – Alberta.”

Through the 2025 Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program, donations made between March and August were matched up to 50 per cent, generating additional funding of $17,000 for the Alberta chapter.

First Tee – Alberta also received a $50,000 Charity Champion Grant earlier this season which supported First Nation outreach and provided access to the program for communities that may not otherwise have the opportunity to play.

“The Rogers Charity Classic has become a staple in Calgary’s summer calendar and a great example of what can happen when community and sport come together,” said Van Kesteren.

First Tee – Alberta continues to grow thanks to the generous support of donors, organizations and events such as the Rogers Charity Classic. The support of Calgary’s signature championship in helping the chapter achieve this fundraising milestone demonstrates the power of sport in bringing people together and creating lasting change both on and off the golf course.

To learn more about First Tee – Alberta, visit firstteealberta.ca.

CALGARY – Richard Green birdied the par 5, finishing hole of the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club on Sunday to win the 2025 Rogers Charity Classic.

After reaching the 18th green in two, Green two putted for his first-ever PGA Tour Champions event victory in his 71st career start.

The 54-year-old Australian had six birdies and one bogey during his round of 5-under 65 to finish the tournament at 18 under.

Green had five runner-up finishes last year, including at the 2024 edition of the Rogers Charity Classic.

Playing in the group in front of Green, Ricardo Gonzales also birdied the final hole to end the three-day event in second spot at 17 under.

Gonzales finished his round of 5-under 65 on Sunday with four birdies in his final five holes to pull into a tie with Green. The 55-year-old Argentine then watched from the side of the 18th green as Green lagged his lengthy putt to within two feet before making no mistake to take home the title.

Charles Schwab Cup money list leader Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain also birdied the final hole of the par 70, 7092-yard layout for a round of 68 that left him alone in third spot at 16 under.

Charlie Wi carded a round of 6-under 64 to finish the tournament in fourth at 15 under, while Mark Hensby, Steve Alker, Matt Gogel and Tommy Gainey all ended up in a tie for fifth one shot back of Wi.

Although he had a round of 1-over 71 on Sunday, Calgary’s Wes Martin still finished as the top Canadian at 4 under, which put him in a four-way tie for 38th place.

“It’s a little disappointing with the way it ended today,” said Martin, who earned the right to play at his first-ever PGA Tour Champions event by carding an impressive round of 9-under 62 at the final tournament qualifier last Tuesday at Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River, Alta. “I would have liked to shoot under par today.”

Martin’s round featured four bogeys to go with one birdie and an eagle on the par 5, 11th hole.

“I had a perfect number into the green, hit utility, and then it was just a sidewinder putt that happened to go,” said Martin, who estimated he drained the putt from about 25 feet out. “It was finally something to cheer for, right?”

After shooting 70 and 69 in the first two rounds, Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., continued to improve with a 2-under 68 on Sunday to finish the event in a six-way tie for 42nd place at 3 under.

Gordon Burns of Holland Landing, Ont., and former Calgary resident Stephen Ames also shot 68 to finish at 2 under and even par, respectively.

Waiting about 10 minutes to find out he won the 2024 Rogers Charity Classic didn’t bother Ken Tanigawa one bit.

After all, Tanigawa hadn’t experienced victory on the PGA Tour Champions circuit since winning the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in June 2019.

“It has not sunk in, but it feels amazing,” said the 56-year-old American golfer, who was born in Japan but currently resides in Scottsdale, Ariz. 

“Every year that goes by, you’re not getting younger. You kind of wonder, sure, if you’ll ever win. You sprinkle hope out there. You hope you can and you keep working at your game.”

A day after tying the course record at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, Tanigawa had eight birdies during a round of 6-under 64 on Sunday to finish atop the leaderboard at 17 under.

“I played an amazing round yesterday, but you just let it go,” said Tanigawa, who won US$360,000. “You’re starting all over from scratch again today.

“I didn’t think about it or carry on. Expectations to shoot low weren’t there — not to play good nor bad. Just go out and you do your best from the first shot on and see what you can shoot.”

Tanigawa had already finished his round when he found out his final score of 193 was good enough to beat second-place finisher Richard Green by two strokes.

“I was told that Richard bogeyed 17, so he needed to eagle 18 and I knew it was hard to get home in two,” Tanigawa said. “You never know. Weird things happen in this game, so it was nice that it was over.”

Tied at 16 under with Green through 16 holes, Tanigawa birdied the par-4, 17th hole. Playing in the last group, Green bogeyed the hole and then only managed to par No. 18 to finish alone in second place at 15 under.

“It’s just a shame that things just at the end there didn’t really fall my way,” said Green, who finished second for the third time this season. “I thought they were going my way there a little bit through the middle of the round, and probably my start today (with a bogey on the first hole) didn’t really help me very much.

“It’s nice to be competing and contending for golf tournaments. It’s fun. I enjoy being out there contending week in, week out, and I’ll keep rattling the cage.”

Darren Clarke and Jason Caron finished in a tie for third at 14 under, while Mario Tiziani was alone in fifth at 13 under.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Stephen Ames and Mike Weir both shot rounds of 3-under 67 on Sunday.

Ames, a former Calgary resident, finished as the top Canadian at 10 under in a six-way tie for 10th place.

“It wasn’t the greatest ball striking, but I got it around,” Ames said. “I was able to capitalize on holes that I hit some good shots on and made birdies with it.

“Overall it was a bit up and down, but I think it was good that I was handling the bad shots and moving forward and not worrying about too much.”

Currently sitting second in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup money behind Ernie Els, who also finished at 10 under in Calgary, Ames received a nice ovation from the crowd when he walked up to the 18th green before tapping in his par putt.

“Every time I come back here I get that, so it’s wonderful,” Ames said. “No matter where I finish, you get that reward, which is nice. I think all our Canadian fellows get that.”

Weir finished the tournament in an eight-way tie for 20th at 8 under.

“Overall, I felt like I played pretty good so hopefully that will be momentum (for) next week,” said Weir, who will tee it up at The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Mich., from next Thursday to Sunday.

“It’s phenomenal here at this event. This is one of the premium events on the PGA Tour Champions. The fan support is incredible for myself, Stephen and all the other Canadians, so it’s a great place to play.”

Alan McLean of London, Ont., carded an even-par round of 70 on Sunday to finish one shot back of Weir in a tie for 28th spot.

Gordon Burns of Ajax, Ont., carded a 2-under round of 68 on Sunday to finish the event in a tie for 73rd at 4 over, while Calgary’s Steve Blake shot 79 and finished well back of the leaders at 22 over.

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — Canadian Stephen Ames successfully defended his Boeing Classic title Sunday, birdieing the par-5 18th for a 5-under 67 and one-stroke victory over Ernie Els, Steven Alker and Robert Karlsson.

The 60-year-old Ames, a naturalized Canadian from Trinidad and Tobago, won his third PGA Tour Champions title of the season and ninth overall. He won four times on the PGA Tour.

“This stage right now, this is all icing on my cake, so I’m just enjoying this and I’m going to take it as long as it goes,” Ames said.

He finished at 11-under 205 at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge.

“I’m enjoying the winning, let’s put it that way,” Ames said. “It is fun, no doubt about that. This year I’ve been very consistent, more than I was last year, which was actually one of my goals.”

Els and Alker played alongside Ames, each shooting 68. Els also has three victories this season. Second-round leader Karlsson shot 75 in the final group.

Charlie Wi (75) and Kirk Triplett (71) tied for fifth at 8 under.

Local favourite Fred Couples tied for 18th at 4 under after a 71.

As Ellie Szeryk lined up her final putt to seal the win at the B.C. Women’s Open, she spied longtime friend Brooke Rivers lurking around the green with a bottle of water.

Sure enough, when Szeryk made the putt, the chase was on with Rivers trying to douse her with water.

“I ran as far as I could, but she still got me quite good,” Szeryk said with a laugh. “But it was fun. In golf you usually do that to your really good friends when they win. 

“So it was really sweet that she did that. It’s like an unspoken honour.”

Szeryk beat Rivers by four strokes at Pitt Meadows Golf Club on Sunday in their professional debuts. Both golfers also earned berths at the CPKC Women’s Open, July 25-28 at Calgary’s Earl Grey Golf Club.

“It was just really nice to be able to have followed through on something that I had been thinking about,” said Szeryk. “It’s not always easy to golf. It’s just three rounds and you have no idea what the course is like and how it’s going to play.”

Earning their way into the national women’s championship, rather than relying on a sponsor’s exemption, was a relief to both players.

“I knew that there’d be a good opportunity for that,” said Szeryk, from London, Ont. “It’s been on my mind the last couple of months, like since I signed up. 

“I knew I needed to make sure I had my game right so I could take advantage of it because I knew that they weren’t going to be a lot of sponsored exemptions for this Canadian Open.”

Rivers agreed.

“It does feel really good to earn the exemption spot on my own through good play,” said Rivers, from Brampton, Ont. “It also feels a little more rewarding while being there because you feel like you had done everything in order to put yourself there.”

Rivers added with a laugh: “It’s a little bit easier when booking travel that you don’t have to do it the week before.”

Both Szeryk and Rivers turned pro after the conclusion of the NCAA golf season. They’re both spending time with family and practising before the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada tees off at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont., on July 2.

“I’m really excited to turn pro, and it’s something that I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” said Rivers, who played one season at Wake Forest University. “It’s something I’ve been working toward my whole life. 

“I just felt that I was in a position where I was ready to turn pro and I was ready to start competing.”

Golf Canada announced the early commitments to the 50th playing of the Women’s Open on Monday, with eight of the current top-10 and 83 of the top-100 players on the Race to the CME Globe Standings entered in the national women’s championship.

The 156-player field will be competing at Earl Grey Golf Club for the first time in tournament history. It will be the seventh time that Alberta hosts the Women’s Open and first time since 2016.

LPGA TOUR — Hamilton’s Alena Sharp is in the Dow Championship three days after making Canada’s Olympic golf team for a third time. Maddie Szeryk, Ellie’s older sister, just missed out on beating Sharp to the Olympics by 1.41 points in the women’s world golf rankings. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., No. 14 in the world, is also in the field at the Midland Country Club in Midland, Mich. They will be joined by Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., and amateur Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto.

EPSON TOUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is the top-ranked Canadian playing in the Dream First Bank Charity Classic. She’s 120th on the second-tier Epson Tour’s points list. She’ll be joined at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kan., by Vancouver’s Leah John (160th), as well as Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., and Kate Johnston of Ayr, Ont., who are unranked.

PGA TOUR — Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is the top ranked Canadian at No. 30 on the FedEx Cup standings. He will be in the field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, where he finished tied for second in 2022. Adam Svensson (76th) of Surrey, B.C., Ben Silverman (113th) of Thornhill, Ont., and Roger Sloan (194th) of Merritt, B.C., are also in the field.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is No. 23 on the Tour’s points list heading into the Memorial Health Championship. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (33rd), Etienne Papineau (50th) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sudarshan Yellamaraju (100th) of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared du Toit (118th) of Kimberley, B.C., are also in the field at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames leads the Canadian contingent into the U.S. Senior Open Championship. He’s No. 1 on the Charles Schwab Cup money list with two victories so far this year. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., is 25th on the list and also in the field at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I. David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont., is also playing the event.

AMERICAS TOUR — Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., remains the atop the points list of the third-tier Americas Tour heading into this week’s ATB Classic. He’s one of 18 Canadians playing Northern Bear Golf Club in Strathcona County, Alta.

Although Canada’s lone PGA Tour Champions event will have a different name, the goal will still be the same for Mike Weir.

Like he did during his three previous appearances at the Shaw Charity Classic, Weir will do his best to finish at the top of the leaderboard this August at the tournament – now called the Rogers Charity Classic – at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.

Weir had a ninth-place finish in 2021 before finishing well back of the leaders the past two years.

“For me, I think I probably played a little bit too aggressively,” Weir said. “I think it’s got me into a little bit of trouble. 
“This year I’ve got to find a few more fairways and get the flatstick heated up a little more and hopefully make a few more putts.”

Weir finished sixth at last week’s Insperity Invitational near Houston, a tournament he won in 2021 for his lone senior circuit victory so far.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Famer would like nothing more than to become the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour Champions tournament on home soil this summer.

“Hopefully I’ll make a good run at it this year,” said Weir, who noted he’ll face stiff competition from fellow Canadian Stephen Ames, who has won twice this season.

“He’s been playing some phenomenal golf, probably some of the best golf of his career.

“It’s great to see.”

Weir added that he was also happy to see Rogers Communications as the new title sponsor. The company made a $1-million donation to kick-start fundraising for this year’s tournament.

“Shaw obviously did such a great job for all those years,” said the 2003 Masters champion, who recently signed on as a Team Rogers athlete. “Now you have Rogers taking over and seeing it through and continuing on the great tradition that Shaw started.”

American Ken Duke won the tournament last year.

“It’s been one of the premier events on (the) PGA Tour Champions (tour),” Weir said in a phone interview. “Players love coming up to play and it’s a great golf course. We really get some great fan support. The crowds really come out.”

Weir will serve as captain of the International squad at the 2024 Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in late September.

DULUTH, Ga. — Stephen Ames celebrated his 60th birthday with a successful title defense in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, closing with a 5-under 67 on Sunday for his eighth PGA Tour Champions victory.

A stroke behind Paul Broadhurst after matching the tournament record Saturday with a 64, Ames had two eagles in the final round. He won by four strokes, finishing at 14-under 202 at TPC Sugarloaf for his record third victory in the event.

Broadhurst, the 58-year-old Englishman coming off a victory last week in the Invited Celebrity Classic, closed with a 72 to tie for second with Doug Barron (69). K.J. Choi (70) and Steven Alker (71) were 9 under.

Ames became the first multiple winner this year on the tour, also taking the Chubb Classic in February. He has six victories in his last 29 starts after winning twice in his first 175 — the first at TPC Sugarloaf in 2017 — on the 50-and-over tour. A naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad and Tobago, Ames won four times on the PGA Tour.

Ames opened with a birdie on the par-4 first, eagled the par-5 sixth and par-4 13th and birdied the par-4 14th. He bogeyed the par-4 15th and 17th and birdied the par-5 18th.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada)

NAPLES, Fla. — Canada’s Stephen Ames captured his seventh PGA Tour Champions title on Sunday without hitting a shot when the final round of the Chubb Classic was canceled because of a massive storm system moving across Florida.

Tournament officials originally planned to play only nine holes for the final round at Tiburon Golf Club until a forecast of the storm getting stronger led to the cancellation.

Ames shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday to build a three-shot lead over Rocco Mediate, and he was declared the winner. Ames now has five wins in his last 24 starts on PGA Tour Champions.

It was the second time in three weeks the final round was canceled at a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, this time on a different coast. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was washed out on Sunday with Wyndham Clark the 54-hole winner.

Ames finished at 13-under 131 and earned $270,000. Rocco Mediate, who opened with a 63, was runner-up after a 71 on Saturday. Ernie Els was part of a four-way tie for third.

Steven Alker, who won the last two Champions events dating to the end of last season, wound up in a tie for 15th.

It was the first time since the 2021 Insperity Invitational in Houston that a PGA Tour Champions event, typically 54 holes, was reduced to 36 holes because of weather.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PGA TOUR Champions (@pgatourchampions)

Brooke Henderson loves breaking records and this week she’s got a dubious one hanging over her head.

Since 2016, no LPGA Tour player has won the opening tournament of the season and then won a second title in the same year. Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., kicked off 2023 with a victory at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions on Jan. 22 and is in the field at this week’s CME Group Tour Championship, the climax of the professional women’s golf season, still looking for her second win of the year.

“It’s a really weird stat that I don’t like very much,” said Henderson with a laugh. “I thought I would break it earlier but maybe it kind of got in my head a little bit. 

“This would be the perfect week to break that and bookend the season; win the first one, win the last one, that would be obviously ideal.”

Henderson is the only Canadian in the 60-golfer field at Tiburón Golf Club’s Gold Course in Naples, Fla. She enters the tournament ranked 14th in the CME Globe rankings.

At last year’s CME Group Tour Championship, Henderson had an outside shot at finishing atop the standings, but was hampered by a back injury. Instead, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko won the event and the season’s championship.

“The off-season, for me last year was huge,” said Henderson. “I put in a lot of work to strengthen and heal and it has really paid off. 

“Knock on wood, I don’t have the issues that I had last year. That was another thing coming into this week: I was really excited that I’m a lot healthier than where I was this time last year.”

The PGA Tour also concludes its season with the RSM Classic. Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is the defending champion. His victory at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course in Saint Simons Island, Ga., last year was the start to a breakout season for Svensson.

“It is my best year here on the PGA Tour,” he said. “I feel like I’ve played my best golf in my career and I feel like I’m getting better and better. 

“Hopefully, I can keep it going.”

The RSM Classic is the seventh and final PGA Tour event of the FedExCup Fall. All seven tournaments featured winner’s benefits, including a two-year PGA Tour exemption, 500 FedExCup points and invitations to The Sentry, The Players Championship, the Masters and the PGA Championship in 2024.

Svensson enters the event 37th on the FedEx Cup standings, guaranteed a PGA Tour card next season as well as spots in the circuit’s premium events. 

He’ll be joined by at least seven other Canadians next season. 

Nick Taylor (25th) of Abbotsford, B.C., Corey Conners (26th) of Listowel, Ont, Adam Hadwin (45th) from Abbotsford, Mackenzie Hughes (53rd) of Dundas, Ont., and Taylor Pendrith (86th) of Richmond Hill, Ont., have also retained their tour cards. 

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., have earned cards through their rankings on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour.

Svensson has played more PGA Tour golf than most of the top 50 players on tour, including most of the fall events. He said that’s just a product of his passion for the sport more than any kind of strategy.

“I love playing I love competing and I feel like I learn so much each week,” said Svensson. “Even if I don’t play good I still learn and if I play great I learned so I feel like the more events I play … the better I get.”

Conners, Hughes, and Pendrith are also in the field at the RSM Classic this week, as is Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont. Gligic is 204th on the FedEx Cup standings and needs a strong showing this week to clinch a tour membership for next year.