Current and recently retired NHL players will compete in an
18-hole competition prior to the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto

OAKVILLE/TORONTO, ON – Golf Canada and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) are proud to announce the creation of the RBC Canadian Open/NHLPA Faceoff taking place at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. on Thursday, May 29.

This unique event will take place one week prior to the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and will feature current National Hockey League (NHL) Players and Alumni competing in a one-day tournament. The format will see eight teams of two players competing in an 18-hole competition, culminating in a playoff on the iconic no. 14 Rink Hole at TPC Toronto.

“We are excited to partner with the NHLPA on this new initiative leading into the 114^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship. Golf and hockey bring a natural intersect for players and we want to thank the NHLPA and its members for their shared enthusiasm in bringing this concept to reality,” said Tim McLaughlin, Chief Marketing Officer, Golf Canada. “We have seen the success and growth of golf content online and through social media, and this promises to be a fun and engaging experience for the players ahead of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.”

The roster of current NHLPA members set to compete in the inaugural RBC Canadian Open/NHLPA Faceoff at TPC Toronto includes Will Cuylle and Calvin deHaan (New York Rangers), Jamie Drysdale (Philadelphia Flyers), Warren Foegele and Quinton Byfield (L.A. Kings), Robert Thomas (St. Louis Blues), Ryan Strome (Anaheim Ducks), Logan Stanley (Winnipeg Jets) with more players to be named later.

In addition, current TSN personalities and NHL Alumni, Jeff O’Neill (Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs), and Carlo Colaiacovo (Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres), will also be competing on May 29.

“Golf and hockey have traditionally gone hand-in-hand here in Canada, so we’re thrilled to partner with Golf Canada to bring the RBC Canadian Open/NHLPA Faceoff to life,” said Devin Smith, NHLPA Senior Director, Sponsorship & Player Marketing. “The opportunity to bring NHL players and the RBC Canadian Open together here at this incredible venue at TPC Toronto in such a fun and unique format is something we at the NHLPA and the players are very excited about. We are looking forward to a great day of competition along with some fun and engaging content for fans, in partnership with Golf Canada and RBC.”   

Scoring will follow a stableford format, with set points awarded based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. Points will be awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points). The top teams with the highest total of accumulated points will advance to the playoff.

The competition will be closed to the public but will be covered on both Golf Canada and NHLPA social media channels and a full-length feature piece will be shared online shortly after the completion of the event. The 114th playing of the RBC Canadian Open will take place June 4-8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. For more information on the RBC Canadian Open, including volunteer opportunities or to purchase tickets, please visit rbccanadianopen.com.

Click here for more information on the RBC Canadian Open/ NLPA Faceoff

Ludvig Åberg, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Alex Noren to compete in the
114th playing of Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship

Oakville, ON – RBC and Golf Canada are pleased to announce that international stars Ludvig Åberg, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Alex Noren have all confirmed their commitment to compete in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

Åberg (world no. 6) returns to the RBC Canadian Open, where he made his professional debut on the PGA TOUR in 2023. In that short time, Åberg has become a two-time winner with his most recent win coming at the Genesis Invitational this past February. Åberg was part of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning side in 2023 and represented his native, Sweden at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In addition to his win, Åberg has earned three top 10’s and four top 25’s this season. He has also earned one international win in his career, the Omega European Masters in 2023.

Im (world no. 21) is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR and has also earned three international wins during his career. This season, Im has earned three top 10’s and six top 25’s including a T5 finish at The Masters last month. Im has been part of the International Team at three Presidents Cups (2019, 2022, 2024) and represented the Republic of Korea at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Im will be making his second appearance at the RBC Canadian Open after finishing seventh in 2019.

Kim (world no. 45) is a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR and has earned seven career international wins. The 22-year-old will be making his second appearance at the RBC Canadian Open, after finishing T4 last year in Hamilton, Ont. Kim was part of the International Team at the past two Presidents Cups (2022, 2024) and represented the Republic of Korea at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This season, Kim has earned one top 10 and one top 25 finish in 13 events on the PGA TOUR.

Noren (world no. 71) has won 10 times on the DP World Tour in his career and will be making his third appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. Noren was most recently in the final pairing of the 2025 PGA Championship this past Sunday, in only his second tournament since returning from an injury that sidelined him for multiple months. Noren was part of Europe’s Ryder Cup win in 2018 and has represented Sweden at the past two Olympic Games (2020 in Tokyo and 2024 in Paris). Noren is a three-time runner-up on the PGA TOUR.

Also joining the international stars are up-and-coming collegiate standouts Luke Clanton of Hialeah, Fla., and Gordon Sargent of Birmingham, Ala.

Clanton is currently the no. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and on Monday was named the recipient of the 2025 Ben Hogan Award, recognizing the outstanding male amateur and collegiate golfer of the year. Clanton earned his PGA TOUR Card through the PGA TOUR University Accelerated and has competed in 13 PGA TOUR events over the past two years. He has earned two runner-up finishes along with an additional top five and a top ten finish. He also made the cut at the 2024 U.S. Open finishing T41, his first tournament on the TOUR. Clanton is a junior at Florida State University and earned the McCormack Medal in 2024 as the world’s top amateur golfer.

Sargent is currently ranked no. 20 on the WAGR and is a senior at Vanderbilt University. Sargent won the 2022 NCAA Men’s Individual National Championship as well as the 2023 McCormack Medal. He became the first player to earn their PGA TOUR Card through PGA TOUR University Accelerated in October 2023. In addition, he finished as the low amateur at the 2023 U.S. Open, finishing T39. He has competed in six events on the PGA TOUR over the past two years.

“RBC and Golf Canada are excited to announce these four great players in Åberg, Im, Kim and Noren to the emerging field set to compete in the 114th playing of the RBC Canadian Open,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “We also look forward to welcoming two of the top amateurs in the world and rising stars  Luke Clanton and Gordon Sargent to compete at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.”

Tickets for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

Team Canada members Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Matthew Anderson, Ashton McCulloch and Hunter Thomson along with Richard T. Lee, Wes Heffernan and Roger Sloan join previously announced exemption recipients, three Regional Qualifying medalists and Canadian PGA TOUR members as part of an 18-player Canadian contingent for the 114th playing of Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley

Toronto, ON – Golf Canada and RBC have confirmed the names of 11 Canadians who have accepted exemptions into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, taking place June 4 – 8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.

Leading the way are four members of Team Canada including Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont. Who will be competing at the RBC Canadian Open for the first time in his career. Earlier this season, Yellamaraju earned his first career title on the Korn Ferry Tour, winning The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in January.

Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. has also earned an exemption after finishing as the top Canadian on PGA TOUR Americas last season and will be competing at Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship for the third time. This season, Anderson is competing on the Korn Ferry Tour and has earned a top five and two top 10 finishes in ten events.

Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. will be competing in his second consecutive RBC Canadian Open, earning his exemption as the top Canadian amateur player on WAGR. McCulloch recently finished his senior year at Michigan State University where he enjoyed a strong three-plus years with the Spartans. Last season, McCulloch also competed in the U.S. Open after earning his spot through qualification. McCulloch won the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and finished as runner-up last year. He will also be competing in The Rocket Classic in Detroit, Mich. in late June after earning a sponsor exemption at his graduation ceremony.

Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alta. earned his exemption by finishing first on the individual leaderboard at the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational last September at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. He is in his senior year of college at the University of Michigan and has two additional victories this year – the Boilermaker Invitational in April and most recently, the NCAA Urbana Regional which earned him a spot into the NCAA Finals (individual) later this month. Thomson will be making his first appearance at the RBC Canadian Open.

Joining the Team Canada athletes are Richard T. Lee of Toronto, Ont. who will be making his fourth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. Lee competes on the Asian Tour where he is currently ranked 16th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Lee has won three times on the Asian Tour, with his most recent victory coming last November at the BNI Indonesian Masters, helping him finish third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Lee has also won four times on the Korean PGA Tour, with his most recent victory coming last month at the Woori Financial Group Championship.

Wes Heffernan of Calgary, Alta. has also earned an exemption for leading the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit and will be competing in his eighth RBC Canadian Open. Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta. has also accepted an exemption to compete in his ninth RBC Canadian Open.

Three other Canadians earned exemptions through RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying including Team Canada alumnus Cougar Collins of Mono, Ont. (First Ontario Regional Qualifier at Brampton Golf Club), Matt Scobie of Oshawa, Ont. (Second Ontario Regional Qualifying at Cherry Hill Club) and Brett Webster of Chilliwack, B.C. (B.C. Regional Qualifier at Squamish Valley Golf Club). An additional exemption will be award on May 21 at the Quebec Regional Qualifer, taking place at Griffon des Sources – Aigle Lion in Mirabel, Que.

As previously announced, Canadian golf icon Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. will be competing in his 32nd RBC Canadian Open, a feat which ties the record for starts in Canada’s National Open Championship with fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cumming.

Currently, an 18-player Canadian contingent will challenge for the national championship led by 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and fellow PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Taylor Pendrith of Richmond, Hill, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. Also confirmed is Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont.

“We are pleased to announce these additional exemptions that provide more Canadians with a chance to compete in our National Men’s Open Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Our home team Canadian contingent has always been part of the tournament’s identity and we look forward to the field continuing to take shape over the final weeks leading into the tournament.”

Three additional exemptions were award to Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, Fla. for winning the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, John Keefer of Baltimore, Md. for finishing as the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas Season Points winner and Barend Botha of George, South Africa for finishing as runner-up on the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas Season Points standings.

There are five additional exemptions to be awarded by Golf Canada and RBC ahead of the final field announcement on Friday, May 30. Four additional spots will be available during the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 1 at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.

Tickets for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Taylor Pendrith delivered a standout performance at the 2025 PGA Championship, finishing tied for fifth at Quail Hollow Club to record his best result in a major championship.

The Richmond Hill, Ont., native carded rounds of 69, 70, 72, and a final-round 68 to close at 5-under-par 279. His Sunday surge vaulted him into a tie with J.T. Poston and Jhonattan Vegas, earning Pendrith a payday of $694,700.

Pendrith was the top Canadian finisher in the field, edging out compatriot Corey Conners, who tied for 19th at 2-under. The result marks a significant milestone for Pendrith, whose previous best at the PGA Championship was a tie for 29th in 2023.

“It feels great to put together four solid rounds on a major stage,” Pendrith said. “I’ve been working hard on my game, and to see it pay off here is really satisfying.”

Pendrith’s top-five finish places him among a select group of Canadian male golfers who have achieved similar feats in major championships. Notably, Mike Weir won the Masters in 2003, and George Knudson tied for second at the 1969 Masters. Stephen Ames also tied for fifth at the 1997 Open Championship.

The tournament was won by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who captured his third major title with a commanding five-shot victory. Scheffler finished at 11-under 273, holding off challenges from Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, and Davis Riley, who all tied for second at 6-under.

Scheffler’s win adds the Wanamaker Trophy to his growing collection and further cements his status as one of golf’s premier talents. The victory also came with a record-breaking $3.42 million prize from the $19 million purse, the highest in tournament history.

For Pendrith, the strong showing at Quail Hollow provides momentum as he continues his 2025 season—with sights set firmly on a home-soil appearance June 4-8 at the upcoming RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.— Mackenzie Hughes of Canada birdied his last four holes Friday for an 8-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead after the first round of the Myrtle Beach Classic.

The winner of the PGA Tour event — held opposite a signature event at the Truist Championship this week — gets a spot in the PGA Championship if not already eligible.

That’s not the case for Hughes or two of the players one shot behind him — Seamus Power and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark — both already in the field next week at Quail Hollow.

Will Chandler also shot 64. He has yet to qualify for the PGA Championship.

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., finished with a flurry, making five birdies over the last six holes. He is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, though it has been more than two years since his last title.

He felt like his putting has let him down in recent week, so he changed up his routine by being quicker and more instinctive on the greens.

“Putted nicely today,” he said. “Then at the end there I kind of caught fire. I can’t remember the last time I birdied the last four holes. But it’s definitely a nice finish.”

The group at 66 included 44-year-old Nick Watney, who hasn’t won in 13 years, and 17-year-old Blades Brown in his first year as a pro.

Ryan Paul grew up just down the street from Glen Abbey Golf Club and his father, Bill Paul, was an instrumental part of the RBC Canadian Open for more than three decades. He started working at the tournament as a summer job while in college and has moved up the ladder at both Golf Canada and Wasserman before returning full time to Golf Canada in 2016.

Now Paul is in the leadership chair at Canada’s National Men’s Open as tournament director and this year is set to be bigger than ever – as the RBC Canadian Open makes its debut at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley – but Paul is more than up to the task.

Paul had spent the last six years at the helm of the CPKC Women’s Open and was the tournament director when Brooke Henderson made history in Regina in 2018. He also oversaw the event as it won back-to-back Tournament of the Year awards at the LPGA Tour’s year-end award ceremony in both 2022 and 2023.

He says one of the biggest things he’s excited about for 2025 as the championship makes its debut at TPC Toronto is watching the spectator journey unfold from plan to practice.

Paul has been used to getting to a course for the first time (each of the CPKC Women’s Open events in 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024 took place at first-time venues although Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in 2023 had hosted the RBC Canadian Open in the past) so he and the team are no strangers to this effort.

“It’s fun to put together a plan that we think will work great for spectators and players and volunteers and just to really see that come to life when we open the gates on June 2 will be unbelievable,” Paul says.

Paul knows how cool an opportunity it is for the golfing public in Canada to have the RBC Canadian Open once again on a public course.

“We’ve seen it at Glen Abbey and my hope is that you have those ‘where-were-you moments like a Nick Taylor putt to win, or a Tiger Woods bunker shot. Those things become the ‘moment’ at TPC Toronto and we get people who throw a ball in a bunker or try to drain a long putt. It just makes (the Canadian Open) that much more special,” Paul says. “When you have that opportunity and you can see the fans where they’re like, ‘I hit my drive here!’ And all the players are just so far ahead, it’s really cool.

“TPC Toronto is such a special property where it’s got teeth to host a PGA TOUR event but it’s such a great golf course to just play as a public golfer. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Paul spent a good amount of time at THE PLAYERS Championship in March introducing himself to plenty of golfers who will make up the RBC Canadian Open field. He says speaking to the Canadian contingent has been super helpful as he gets a better understanding of what they’re excited about for TPC Toronto and all the venues they’ve been to – what’s been good and what can be improved on.

On the PGA TOUR, the Canadians (and, thankfully, this country has never had a bigger or more successful group all playing week-in and week-out) are the tournament’s biggest ambassadors.

“Having (the Canadians) also do my job a little bit, walking the range and telling players how great it’s going to be in Canada this year is certainly important. We’re always striving to have the best field we can and having Rory McIlroy back again, as well, is incredible and really shows what the player experience means and if we’re putting on a good show, taking care of these players, they’re always going to come back,” Paul says. “Rory, outside the Canadians, has been our biggest ambassador celebrating this as a National Open and how important that is and what it’s like to play in Canada and with our fans. It’s been remarkable and those things go a long way.”

The RBC Canadian Open has undergone an impressive evolution over the last half-decade or so with even more fun on-site activities than ever before. Paul remembers when The Rink hole, for example, was just an idea – and all we had were hockey boards and a Zamboni. Now it’s a “must-visit” destination at any RBC Canadian Open, and despite the fact that the tournament travels each year, The Rink gives the tournament a signature hole, even though it’s at a different course every time.

With the new date in 2019 the RBC Canadian Open really launched into this new era, Paul says, of being more than a golf tournament. It was all about food and music and was more of an outdoor festival than just a golf tournament.

As the snow melts, Paul says, he’s just excited to get up to TPC Toronto and see all the building unfold. The tournament is around the corner.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all plays out,” Paul says, “and I know it’s going to be a great week.”

Even casual golf fans in Listowel, Ont., were invested in Corey Conners’s run at the Masters.

Brian Hare and Brian Paulmert were sharing a beer at Crabby Joe’s on Main Street in Listowel as Conners teed off in the final round of the Masters on Sunday, four shots back of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy for the lead. Although neither bar patron know Conners personally or follow golf closely, they were rooting for their hometown’s star.

“It’s always good to see someone from a small town doing well or prospering, doing what they love to do,” said Hare.

“Listowel’s a bump, eh?” added Paulmert. “When I’m in the States people ask where I’m from and I say ‘an hour and a half from Toronto’ because no one knows Listowel.”

“You talk about Corey, he’s a small-town boy doing good.”

Conners shot a 3-over 75 on Sunday to finish the tournament tied for eighth at 5 under. 

It’s the fourth time he has finished in the top 10 at Augusta National. He tied for 10th in 2020, tied for eighth in 2021 and tied for sixth in 2022.

McIlroy beat England’s Justin Rose in a one-hole playoff for his first-ever Masters title.

Conners was the top ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour heading into the Masters, the first major of the men’s golf season, sitting sixth in the FedEx Cup standings. His eighth-place finish will drop him down to No. 7 in the rankings.

The 33-year-old has built his professional reputation on consistent play with remarkable ball-striking ability.

He shot a 68 in the first round, then back-to-back 70s to enter Sunday’s final round in sole possession of third. McIlroy was the third-round leader at 12 under, American Bryson DeChambeau was second at 10 under, and Conners was 8 under.

“Like I said, I’m not a big golfer, but I’ve heard he’s made a fight to win this tournament,” Hare said.

Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., is the only Canadian male to ever win a major. He claimed the green jacket as Masters champion in 2003, inspiring a generation of Canadian golfers including Conners.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., has won two majors on the women’s schedule: the Women’s PGA Championship in 2016 and the Evian Championship in 2022.

Winnipeg’s George Knudson, who is tied with Weir for most PGA Tour wins by a Canadian at eight, was the closest to winning a major before Weir’s triumph. He lost the 1969 Masters by a single putt.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was the other Canadian to make the cut at Augusta this year. He shot a 1-over 73 on Sunday to finish a 3-over overall, good for 40th.

Around the corner from Crabby Joe’s was the Back 9 Sports Bar, a golf-themed spot where a half-dozen people were watching the action from Augusta National but also keeping an eye on the Toronto Blue Jays game out of Baltimore, Canada’s national women’s hockey team at the world championships in Czechia, and anticipating that evening’s Toronto Maple Leafs game in Carolina.

Conners himself often stops by the Back 9 when he’s in Listowel and in one corner, near the twin golf simulators, is a wall filled with memorabilia from his career including signed golf flags from the Masters and the Valero Texas Open, which he won in 2019 and 2023 for his two PGA Tour victories.

——-

Catch Corey Conners at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto Osprey Valley. For ticket info, visit www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

Despite being one of the best Canadian golfers on the PGA Tour, Taylor Pendrith didn’t really grow up dreaming of playing in the Masters.

Instead, his goal was to play in Major League Baseball or the NHL.

Pendrith, who was the MVP of his high school baseball team in Richmond Hill, Ont., and also played junior A hockey, will make his Augusta National Golf Club debut on Thursday. 

“Honestly, even the first few years in college playing college golf, I didn’t really know I was going to play professionally,” Pendrith told reporters on Tuesday. “So obviously I watched the Masters tournament and followed golf, but never really thought I would be here until probably the last year of college.

“Once I got my PGA Tour card it became more of a reality that, ‘hey, if I do play well I could get here.'”

Pendrith played at Kent State University before turning pro in 2014, working his way up from the PGA Tour Canada to the Korn Ferry Tour and finally the PGA Tour. The 33-year-old qualified for the Masters, the first major of the men’s golf season, when he won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on May 5.

“I had been a couple times as a spectator and it will be a really special week,” said Pendrith. “It’s already been such a cool week, and to have all my family and friends here, it’s awesome.”

Pendrith will be joined at Augusta by Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont.

Conners and Pendrith played together at Kent State and were the best men at each other’s weddings. They’ve gone on to play together on Golf Canada’s national team and were twice members of the International Team at the Presidents Cup.

“(Pendrith) looked great out there,” said Conners after the four Canadians practised together. “It was awesome to share that experience with him. 

“Tried to tell him a few of the things that I learned over the years. But I think this golf course is great for him.”

Conners is the highest ranked Canadian on the FedEx Cup standings, sitting sixth heading into the Masters. He’s played in the tournament seven times, finishing in the top 10 in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“I think there is an added comfort level knowing you had some good rounds out here, knowing what it takes to play well,” said Conners, who is also 33. “I think that’s definitely huge here compared to some of the weeks.

“Obviously, it’s the biggest golf tournament in the world. Just fun to be here any time, but definitely having had some decent results, there is lots of positives I can draw from.”

Taylor is 16th on the FedEx Cup rankings and Pendrith is 39th. 

The 54-year-old Weir primarily plays on the Champions Tour and is therefore unranked on the PGA Tour, but automatically qualifies for the Masters as the 2003 champion. Weir is still the only Canadian man to win a major.

Taylor, 36, has won on the PGA Tour five times, including three playoffs. He thinks a major win could be close for him.

“I know I’m not far off, it’s just getting through that barrier of probably the belief standpoint and then I’ve played well enough at a vast majority of golf courses that there’s no reason I can’t compete out here,” said Taylor, who will be competing at the Masters for a third time. “So getting that belief is definitely probably the next step and then from there I can shoot some good scores.”

Canada well represented at Masters Tournament, Augusta National Women’s Amateur and
Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals

As the calendar turns to April, golf fans worldwide focus their attention on Augusta, Ga. to celebrate a tradition unlike any other and watch in anticipation as to who will be next to don the iconic green jacket.

Canada will be well represented at the 89th Masters Tournament with four Canadians currently set to compete including past Masters champion, Mike Weir (Bright’s Grove, Ont.), Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and 2023 RBC Canadian Open winner, Nick Taylor (Abbotsford, B.C.).

Weir will be competing in his 26th Masters Tournament. His iconic win in 2003 was secured on the first playoff hole at Augusta National Golf Club to beat Len Mattiace and become the first Canadian Masters champion and the first Canadian male golfer to win a major.

Conners, who will be competing in his eighth Masters Tournament including 2015 as an amateur, had three consecutive top 10 finishes between 2020 and 2022, with his best finish, T6 coming in 2022. Taylor will be making his third appearance at the Masters, his best finish was T29 in 2020, while Pendrith will be making his Masters debut.

Also returning to Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta National) is Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club’s superintendent, Eric Ruhs, who has been volunteering with the Augusta National Agronomy department since 2014. Ruhs has been the superintendent at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club since 1987 and was honoured as the 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.

Lauren Kim set to compete in second consecutive Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Before the Masters Tournament kicks off, Augusta National will host the sixth annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), from April 2-5.

Team Canada member, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. will be competing at her second consecutive ANWA, looking to build on last year’s T14 finish. Kim is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas where she has enjoyed a great deal of success throughout her season. She claimed her second collegiate title at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and has three additional third place finishes along with a top-five and a top-six.

The ANWA features a field of 72 amateurs competing over 54 holes of stroke play with a cut following 36 holes. The opening rounds will be contested at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. on Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3. The top 30 players and ties will advance to the final round at Augusta National on Saturday, April 5. The entire field will play a practice round there one day prior on Friday.

The first two rounds of the ANWA will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC will air the final round on April 5 from Noon – 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information on the ANWA including the full field, click here.

Three Canadians set to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals in Augusta

Following the ANWA, the 11th annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals will be contested on Sunday, April 6 at Augusta National.

Three Canadians will be among the 80 qualified junior golfers that have earned invitations to compete in Augusta. They are:

Allen Kong from Vancouver, B.C. who will be competing in the Boys 7-9 division. Kong earned his spot through a regional qualifying event at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wa., where he gained 133 points, fourth highest in his division among other national final competitors.

Jenny Guo of Langley, B.C. will be competing in the Girls 12-13 division. Guo recorded 143 points at her regional qualifying event at Chambers Bay, where her total was the second highest among other national finalists in the division. Guo also finished second at the inaugural Canadian U15 Championship last August at the Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont.

Riviera Lindholm of Toronto, Ont. will also be competing in the Girls 12-13 Division. Lindholm earned her qualification at a regional event at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. where she totaled 150 points, the highest total among national finalists in her division. Last season, Lindholm earned a T4 finish at the Canadian U15 Championship and placed second at the 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event in the Girls 12-13 division.

Canadians have enjoyed past success at the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, with three current Team Canada members having previously won their respective divisions. LPGA Tour member Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont. won the Girls 14-15 division in 2017. Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. won the Girls 10-11 division in 2018 and Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont. won the Girls 14-15 division in 2019. Fellow Canadian Alexis Card of Cambridge, Ont. won the Girls 7-9 division in 2021.

Drive, Chip and Putt is conducted in partnership with the USGA, the Masters Tournament and the PGA of America and is a free youth golf development program. The competition tests the skills of the game, measuring accuracy in driving, chipping and putting. Each competitor is scored on a 30-point system – the player with the best drive is awarded 10 points, the closest cumulative chips, 10 points and the player with nearest cumulative putts, another 10 points. The player with the highest total combined score will be named the winner from each age and gender division.

For more information on the 2025 national finalists and regional qualifying results, please click here. For more information on Drive, Chip and Putt, please click here

TPC Sawgrass is considered one of the toughest courses in the world, with its No. 17 one of the most recognizable and difficult holes in pro golf. 

But Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith feel they’re up for the challenge at THE PLAYERS Championship this week. 

“It’s a course where the way it’s set up, you need to hit fairways,” said Pendrith, a native of Richmond Hill, Ont. “If you can drive it well, then there’s lots of scoring opportunities. If you’re not driving it well, it can be a long week.

“But it’s a really cool course. You can be creative on some holes and around the greens. It’s just one of my favourite golf courses to play, and the final stretch is an awesome finish.”

Conners, from Listowel, Ont., finished third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday to ascend the FedEx Cup standings. Like his best friend Pendrith, he was eager to take on TPC Sawgrass shortly after finishing his round at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

“I think my ball striking was really strong, I think I putted quite well,” said Conners shortly after the Arnold Palmer Invitational wrapped up. “Most of the days I was hitting my lines. 

“Got a lot of freedom with my iron play, hit a lot of great shots this week, and I think that will be important to continue next week.”

Conners, Pendrith and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., are currently the top-tanked Canadians on the PGA Tour. 

Taylor is ninth, Conners is 11th, and Pendrith is 35th.

Conners hopes to carry his momentum from Bay Hill into TPC Sawgrass.

“I did a lot of things really well (at the Arnold Palmer Invitational),” said Conners. “This week I hit the ball really well and, yeah, it’s another demanding golf course next week, a course I really like.

“So lots of good stuff, good feelings heading into the Players.”

Pendrith took a small step back when he missed the cut at the Cognizant Classic on March 2, but otherwise he’s had an excellent start to the season with two top-10 finishes already. He started the year with a tie for 13th at the Sentry on Jan. 5, a tie for seventh at the Farmers Insurance Open on Jan. 25, and a tie for ninth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Feb. 2. 

“I’ve played some really good golf and put myself in a decent position on the weekends,” said Pendrith. “I had a really good finish at the Farmers and a really good finish at Pebble so the game feels good. Lots of confidence.

“The putter hasn’t been co-operating, I would say, as it did last year, yet, so been hitting it really nice. So hopefully keep doing that and see some putts go in.”

Taylor, Conners and Pendrith will be joined in Ponte Verde, Fla., by four other Canadians at the Players: Adam Hadwin (83rd) of Abbotsford, Mackenzie Hughes (110th) of Dundas, Ont., Ben Silverman (139th) of Thornhill, Ont., and Adam Svensson (149th) of Surrey, B.C.

EPSON TOUR — Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., tied for sixth at the Atlantic Beach Classic last week to move up to 18th in the Race for the Card points list on the second-tier Epson Tour. She’ll lead the Canadian contingent into this week’s IOA Golf Classic on Friday. Yeji Kwon (83rd) of Port Coquitlam, B.C., and Monet Chun (94th) of Richmond Hill, Ont., are also in the field at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood, Fla., as are Vancouver’s Leah John and Josee Doyon of Saint-Georges, Que.