OAKVILLE, Ont. –  Months have passed since Jhonattan Vegas bested Charley Hoffman in a playoff to become just the sixth golfer in history to successfully defend their RBC Canadian Open title. Since that final putt dropped, Golf Canada, along with partners RBC and the PGA TOUR, have been working diligently enhancing our spectator experience and corporate hospitality offerings for next year’s championship, taking place July 23-29th, 2018 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

For more than a century, the RBC Canadian Open has been one of the country’s most iconic sporting events. These new corporate hosting opportunities and fabulous viewing experiences ensure the 109th playing of the RBC Canadian Open will be an event not to be missed and that you’ll be able to host your clients in style.

The RBC Canadian Open is an opportunity to captivate guests, colleagues, or clients with a premium entertainment experience never short on drama.  With live golf, anything can happen – and it usually does – and watching the story unfold is only enhanced by tremendous food and beverage services.

There are a ton of experiences to take in before arriving at your special viewing area, including the bustling Spectator Village, where, during tournament week, the Opening Ceremony will take place with legends of the sport. And, you’re not going to want to miss the return of The Rink at the 7th green.

Arguably the most popular activation at Glen Abbey, authentic hockey boards from tee to green encircle the par-3 7th. It’s the embodiment of Canadiana, and is complete with referees and a Zamboni ® ice resurfacing machine.

Once you’ve had a chance to wow your guests with the activations at Spectator Village and banged on the boards while cheering on a great shot on No. 7, it’s time to head to your viewing oasis for the week, and the RBC Canadian Open is proud to announce an all-new lineup of corporate opportunities for 2018.

Hall of Fame Club

The Hall of Fame Club is the premium hospitality product at the RBC Canadian Open. It features 50 tickets per day during competition, all-inclusive food and beverages at your suite, the ability to customize your space, and the best view of the action on the 18th hole at Glen Abbey.

Nicklaus Skybox

Named after golf’s greatest champion, the Jack Nicklaus Skybox gives you a private viewing experience beside the 18th green and down the fairway, along with the practice facilities. You’ll receive 25 tickets per day, all-inclusive food and beverages in your suite, and you can customize your box with your company’s logo.

Champions Club

The Champions Club features great sightlines down the 18th fairway and a view of the 18th green as well. You’ll receive 15 tickets per day and have a designated table with all-inclusive food and beverage service.

Cottages

Inspired by our home and native land, the cottages on No’s 16 and 18 will be your sanctuary. The Cottages on No. 18 feature 12 tickets per day, all-inclusive food and beverage and views of the 18th green and practice area. The Cottages on No. 16 feature 10 tickets per day, all-inclusive food and beverage, and views of the 16th green plus approach shots as the best in the world take on this par five and make a move late in their rounds.

18th Green Club Seats

Located behind the iconic finishing hole at Glen Abbey, Club Seats offer an incredible view of the 18th hole from your reserved seat. Club seats include four tickets per day during competition and food and beverages included with in-seat service.

Trophy Club

Enjoy an upscale hosting opportunity for smaller groups in an air-conditioned suite, and a rooftop viewing deck. You’ll get all-inclusive food and beverage and indoor & outdoor seating with views of five (5) different holes.

1904 Club

As part of our enhancements, we are excited to rename “Golf Canada House” as the “1904 Club”. This evolution reflects the long and storied history of Canada’s National Open Golf Championship first contested in 1904. Celebrate the history of the RBC Canadian Open at an upscale area located between the 16th and 17th fairways. You pick the days that suit your entertainment needs, with reserved washrooms, amazing views, and food and beverages available.

Sign up for the Championship Pro-Am!

An experience unlike any other at the RBC Canadian Open: it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to tee it up with PGA TOUR professionals. You and three colleagues, clients, or guests will play with two (2) PGA TOUR professionals (one per nine holes) and can enjoy an invitation for eight to the Draw Party – an evening not to be missed! Not only that, but Pro-Am participants also receive four (4) special gift packages and eight (8) 1904 Club passes per day, Monday-Sunday.

Click here to learn how you can join us for one of the PGA TOUR’s most fan-friendly events.

Coming off a season filled with milestones, Adam Hadwin believes there is no reason he can’t return to his winning ways early in 2018.

The Canadian golfer will play his second tournament of the year next week at the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, Calif., an event where he has found a lot of success. He finished runner-up there in 2017 on the heels of his record 13-under-par 59 during the third round, and was sixth in 2016.

“You can’t go to a place where you played well and finished second at the previous year and not think that you have a chance to win the golf tournament, that’s for sure,” Hadwin said from his home in Phoenix.

“My biggest hope is that people don’t expect me to shoot 59 again,” he added with a laugh. “At least now I know when I get going low in rounds I’ve gone really low before and it’s nothing new.”

Hadwin had a career-year in 2016-17, earning more than US$3.4 million, finishing 26th on the FedEx Cup standings and becoming Canada’s top-ranked male golfer. He earned first PGA Tour victory, become just the eighth golfer in history to fire a sub-60 round on Tour and became just the third Canadian to ever play in the Presidents Cup.

The breakout season earned him a spot in all four of golf’s major championships in 2018. As a result, his schedule this year will be built around the majors (a “good problem to have,” he said) and may not include the two-tournament Texas swing in May he has done in the past.

He’s never played the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn., but wants to add that event this year, the week before the U.S. Open in June.

The 30-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., has won on every level of golf from the junior ranks in British Columbia through college and on golf’s developmental tours, and says last year’s breakthrough on the PGA TOUR was a combination of lots of hard work and a getting some breaks.

“Obviously I had been trending in the right direction and it just all came together that week. It was nice to play well under the gun and have things go your way,” he said. “There was a little bit of a monkey-off-your-back but after the last five or six months the monkey is right back on it, to be honest.”

Hadwin said his iron play is the key area he’s hoping to improve as the 2017-2018 PGA Tour season ramps up. He admitted he wasn’t hitting as many greens as he should be last season, but his putting saved him.

“When I’m good, I’m good, and I hit a ton of greens, but it just hasn’t been very consistent the last couple years,” he said. “That’s what we’re after now, just dialling in that consistency in certain situations.

“We’re going to dive into stats a little bit more? whatever the case is and really figure out why I’m not as consistent as I should be.”

Hadwin burst onto the scene in 2011 when he finished tied for fourth at the RBC Canadian Open when it was contested at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, just over an hour from where he grew up. He explained he never wanted that result to be the defining moment in his career. With a victory now under his belt, he’s looking for more in 2018 and beyond.

“I’m at the point where I don’t want the win to be the defining moment of my career either? I don’t want it to be ‘blah’ after that. I’m always striving for more, always trying to get better, and always looking for win No. 2, then win No. 3 and so on and so on for the rest of my career,” he said.

Last year was a big year off the course as well for Hadwin, who got married, bought his first home, and bought dog – a cava-poo-chon cross breed named Brad.

“My wife chose the name Brad, and I extended it to Bradford,” he said. “She likes human names for dogs, which I’m fine with. He’s turned out to be a total ‘Brad.’ I don’t know why but it fits him so well, with his personality.”

The Symetra Tour is set to make a tournament stop in 2018 at a member course of the TPC Network operated by the PGA TOUR, as TPC River’s Bend will host the Prasco Charity Championship from Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 1.

Playing an event at a course owned and operated by the PGA TOUR will be a first in the history of women’s professional golf.

“Competing at a PGA TOUR venue is an important step in the growth of women’s golf and demonstrates how our relationship with the PGA TOUR continues to pay dividends for our members,” said LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan. “As our players continue to prepare for the LPGA Tour, we are thrilled that they will have the opportunity to compete at TPC River’s Bend, an outstanding championship golf course.”

Designed by Arnold Palmer, TPC River’s Bend opened in 2001 as a Golf Digest “Top 10 Best New Private Courses in the U.S.” and has been consistently recognized by the publication as one of Ohio’s “Best Courses in State” from 2005 to 2011, as well as 2015 and 2016. The course’s par-72 layout overlooks the historic Little Miami River, 25 miles northeast of Cincinnati. Complementing the golf course is an expansive TOUR-caliber, 12-acre practice facility featuring multiple chipping and putting areas.

TPC River’s Bend has been the site of several professional tournaments, including the PGA TOUR Champions Kroger Classic between 2002 and 2004, and the Chiquita Classic on the Web.com Tour from 2010 to 2012.

“The PGA TOUR is excited to welcome the LPGA’s Symetra Tour to TPC River’s Bend in 2018,” said PGA TOUR Chief Operating Officer Ron Price. “Everyone involved in this partnership is committed to helping grow the game. Having the LPGA compete at a TPC is a testament to that and the growing collaboration between our two organizations.”

In addition to hosting professional events, TPC River’s Bend was home to the 2017 Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships and will be again in 2018.

“I am super excited to hear we will be playing in southern Ohio where there is so much passion for golf, and especially women’s athletics,” said Dayton native and current Symetra Tour player Emma Jandel, also a former two-time Second-Team All-Big Ten selection for Ohio State University (2008, 2010). “The community will be extremely supportive and welcoming of the new event. Personally, I just can’t wait to play what is a sort of ‘home game’ for me.”

The event’s title sponsor—Prasco Laboratories—is also looking forward to having the Symetra Tour make a stop in southwest Ohio.

“Partnering with the Symetra Tour is a strategic fit for Prasco, as our values align closely with the Tour’s commitment to give back to local communities,” said Chris Arington, Prasco’s CEO. “We are pleased to bring women’s professional golf back to the Cincinnati area.”

Adam Hadwin had a career year in 2017, and as the calendar changes, he added two more honours.

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce Hadwin, Josh Whalen, Judith Kyrinis, and Brooke Henderson are the 2017 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country. Hadwin’s magical season where he notched his first PGA Tour victory, shot 59, and played on the Presidents Cup team was also named the Canadian Golf Story of the Year.

“GJAC is happy to honour these golfers and their accomplishments in 2017,” said Robert Thompson, GJAC president. “The accomplishments of the winners – and each of the nominees – show how strong Canadian golf is right now. GJAC wishes the best of luck to in the year ahead.”

Hadwin’s first PGA Tour victory came in March after a thrilling Sunday at the Valspar Championship, where he won by one over Patrick Cantlay. In January, Hadwin became the eighth golfer in PGA Tour history to shoot a sub-60 round.

Just weeks after his win, Hadwin got married and closed on his first home to cap a whirlwind start to 2017. He ascended to inside the Top 50 in the world (becoming Canada’s highest-ranked male golfer in the process), played all four majors, and participated in the Presidents Cup in September.

Henderson continued her impressive start to her LPGA Tour career, winning twice – at the Meijer LPGA Classic and the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open – and nearly defending her title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She finished sixth on the LPGA Tour’s 2017 money list, earning just over $1.5 million in 30 events (the most on Tour).

She was the only unanimous choice out of the four winners.

Kyrinis had a stellar 2017 campaign capped off with a victory in an all-Canadian final at the U.S. Senior Amateur. She also won the Ontario Women’s Senior Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships, along with finishing runner-up at the prestigious North and South Senior Women’s Amateur, and fifth at the Canadian Women’s Senior Amateur.

Whalen finished No. 1 on the Golf Canada Amateur Order of Merit for his fine campaign in 2017. He finished third at the Canadian Men’s Amateur and notched six top-20 finishes during his senior year at Kent State University.

The PGA TOUR announced today that Brad Fritsch has violated the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Policy’s ban on the use of performance-enhancing substances and has been suspended for three months. Mr. Fritsch self-reported this information after discovering that an ingredient in a supplement that he was taking was on the prohibited list. He has acknowledged his inadvertent error and accepted his suspension. He will be eligible to return on February 28, 2018.

Statement from Brad Fritsch’s Facebook page:

“Alright. We start Monday.”

That was a text I sent to my good friend Alex on Saturday Nov 11, the same day I had failed to advance at Second Stage of the Web.com Tour Q-School. Alex is a chiropractor, and he operates a really successful weight loss program out of his office as well. I had seen his commercials that run during the daytime soap operas (my WIFE watches General Hospital, not me; promise), advertising “lose a pound of fat per day.” My wife had done the program once before and lost 25 pounds. It seemed like the perfect time to, finally, lose some weight – I had turned 40 two days prior; I was pretty much the heaviest I’d ever been (242 pounds); and my kids were getting really fast. Plus, it looked like I would have a good two months off. I would lose the weight and simultaneously adapt my golf swing throughout the program with my instructor.

The majority of Alex’s program is low calorie, highly disciplined eating. You eat two meals per day (I did noon and 6pm), consisting of a small protein and whatever vegetables you want. Yes, I almost died in the first two weeks. If it sounds awful, that’s because it was. I tried to drink 120oz of water per day, and then took the supplements that every other program participant takes – a liquid multivitamin, even more vitamin D, a “body detox” solution, a probiotic, and a spray called BioSom.

“Hey, it’s not that spray that got Vijay in trouble, right?”

That was a text from November 30, from one of my brothers. I was telling him and my other brother what I was doing with the weight loss program. It felt like my heart sank into my stomach. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t checked all of the supplements against our Anti-Doping list. I immediately sent a text to Andy Levinson, head of the Tour’s Anti-Doping program.

I should give some background on my feelings about the Tour’s Anti-Doping program, because it has a lot to do with how this has come to this point. I’ve been a huge advocate in expanding its transparency, both in meetings for the Web and PGA Tour and also in private conversations with multiple PGA Tour employees. I like the truth, and I hate rumor and innuendo. I’ve been adamant that we should publicize every offender, no matter the offense. Truthfully, I was mainly thinking of recreational testing when I formulated my opinion, and never for one second considered I would one day be a part of a potential “performance enhancing” violation. The only thing I would ever test positive for is excessive Chick Fil A.

And so it was with my view of the Anti Doping program in mind that I texted Andy Levinson that day. Truthfully, it was 10% my assumption that everything was fine; however, it wasn’t fine. That last supplement ended up containing a substance called DHEA, and it is indeed banned on our Anti-Doping list. But 90% is my dislike of hypocrisy. How could I sit there all those times and say “if it happens, it’s the truth, and if it’s the truth, get it out there,” and when it was my turn, just lie about it?

I couldn’t. It’s not who I am. I believe in the program and if I’m to be suspended, then so be it. It is my own fault that I’m in this position.

I’m just so upset with myself that I didn’t think to question what was in the supplements. But I never did. And in the program rules, it stipulates that a self-report is the same as a positive test. I did know this when I sent the text to Andy Levinson – like I said above, I believe in the program. I’m a proud member of the PGA Tour and I don’t take that lightly. If there is any silver lining, it’s that I thankfully never played a competitive round during all of this. I don’t feel great about this situation, but I’ve had over a month to kind of process my feelings about it. I’m in a good place (and I’ve lost 28 pounds, so I’ve got that going for me). I’m not sure I’d feel exactly the same way if I had competed against my peers while using a banned substance, even if it was out of ignorance.

I just wish I had paid attention to the details. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t pay attention to the details.

I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation to my family, friends, and especially my sponsors, for their unwavering support.

I also want to thank the PGA Tour, Commissioner Jay Monahan, and Andy Levinson for bringing this to a speedy resolution.

To all those who believe in me, who cheer for me, who respect me – I hope those three things don’t change.

Sincerely,

Brad Fritsch

KAPALUA, Hawaii – A new year brought out the best in Dustin Johnson, who powered his way to an 8-under 65 and an eight-shot victory Sunday in the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

In a field that featured the top five players in the world, Johnson made a strong opening statement that the No. 1 ranking he has held for nearly a year might be difficult to take away.

Johnson stretched a two-shot lead to six strokes at the turn, then delivered the biggest moment of the week with a drive on the par-4 12th hole that stopped 6 inches from the cup for a tap-in eagle.

He finished at 24-under 268 for his 17th career victory.

“Plenty of horsepower here.”

Tracking … TRACKING … ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/kiqBRT3U81

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2018

Jon Rahm closed with a 69 to finish second and move to No. 3 in the world.

Canadian Adam Hadwin of Abottsford, B.C., closed with a 1-under 72 to finish the event in 32nd place (+2).

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR and its tournaments generated more than $180 million for charitable causes in 2017, surpassing last year’s record amount by approximately $14 million. This total includes donations made by tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR-China.

The announcement brings the all-time total generated for charity by the PGA TOUR to $2.65 billion. The TOUR surpassed $1 billion in 2005 and $2 billion at the beginning of 2014.

“The entire PGA TOUR family takes tremendous pride in the positive impact that we continue to make each year through the millions of dollars that are raised for very deserving charitable organizations,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “As we often note, beyond the sheer dollar amount, the real story is in the hundreds of thousands of lives that benefit from these contributions every year. Thank you to all of the tournaments, players, sponsors, volunteers and fans who make all of this possible.”

In 2017, five PGA TOUR events raised more than $10 million for charity – the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Valero Texas Open, DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, the John Deere Classic and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. In addition to those tournaments, the biennial Presidents Cup announced a record donation of more than $10.7 million as a result of the 2017 event held at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The PGA TOUR’s flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship, generated $8.7 million in 2017, a large portion of which benefits local children’s charities as part of the tournament’s commitment to generate $50 million for youth-related charities over 10 years. Since that commitment was made in April of 2011, $45 million has been raised toward that goal.

Six PGA TOUR Champions events generated more than $1 million to charity in 2017, with the Shaw Charity Classic leading the way at more than $6 million. Three Web.com Tour events generated more than $1 million, led by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational at more than $2.1 million.

Since coming on board as title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open in 2008, RBC along with Golf Canada have raised $8.78 million for charitable organizations across Canada. Throughout its history, Canada’s National Open Championship has generated more than $50 million in charitable proceeds for important causes.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada has been the official charity of the RBC Canadian Open since 2013. The 15 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada provide a place for out-of-town families to stay while their sick child is being treated at a nearby hospital.

Ronald McDonald Houses provide families of sick children with a home to stay at while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital. As well, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms provide a comfortable place for families to rest and recharge, right inside hospitals. And through Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, they help to bring basic medical care to vulnerable communities. So families can stay together and kids can heal better.

Unlike other professional sports organizations, the PGA TOUR relies on more than 100,000 volunteers annually to run its tournaments, and the vast majority of its tournaments are structured as non-profit organizations designed to donate 100 percent of net proceeds to charity. Community beneficiaries include a broad range of organizations such as hospitals and shelters; youth development programs; food banks; groups that support the military and their families; organizations that support senior citizens; those that help abused women and children, and growth-of-the-game initiatives.

The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 25 countries (84 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 226 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2017, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $180 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.65 billion.

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — PGA champion Justin Thomas is using a television on-course reporter to caddie for him next week in Honolulu while his regular caddie recovers from a foot injury.

But not just any TV reporter.

He said he’ll be using Jim “Bones” Mackay at the Sony Open. Mackay spent 25 years with Phil Mickelson until they parted ways last summer. Mackay now works for NBC and Golf Channel walking the course. He was with the Dustin Johnson pairing on Saturday at Kapalua.

Jimmy Johnson has been dealing with plantar fasciitis and a tear for the last few months. He was in a boot for 10 days before arriving at Kapalua, but the severe terrain has taken a toll. He likely will be in a protective boot for at least a month. Thomas’ father, Mike, caddied for his son Saturday.

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Dustin Johnson has a long game and a short memory.

Johnson holed a 65-yard wedge shot down the hill and up the green for an eagle, and he powered his way to birdies on the par 5s at Kapalua for a 7-under 66 to build a two-shot lead over Brian Harman going into the final round at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

The world’s No. 1 player with a lead is a daunting prospect anywhere, especially on a course where he is a past champion (2013) and has posted 20 out of his 30 rounds on the Plantation Course in the 60s.

Hope for the players chasing him comes from Johnson’s most recent start on the PGA Tour.

That was just over two months ago at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, where Johnson lost a six-shot lead at Sheshan International. Most peculiar about that day is Johnson still was up by three shots, didn’t miss a fairway on the back nine and still got beat.

Johnson says he didn’t even remember Shanghai until it was mentioned to him.

“Look, it was a long time ago,” he said. “It’s a completely different golf course. It was what? Two months ago or something? So yeah, I’m going to try not to think about it tomorrow. Hopefully, I won’t. But I just need to go out and play my game and just see what happens.”

✔️ DJ's wedge magic
✔️ Rahm and Rickie move into position
✔️ Close calls all day long#TheTakeaway pic.twitter.com/epNCyEsArM

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 7, 2018

Johnson seized control quickly Saturday at Kapalua.

Coming off his lone bogey – a poor chip after his tee shot went just over the back of the 11th green – he had 65 yards from fluffy rough, straight down the hill toward the Pacific to a green that was uphill but with the grain and the wind.

Johnson wasn’t sure how far it was, and that wasn’t really significant.

“I was looking just left of the flag, but short of the green,” he said. “I knew once it got on the green that it was going to be pretty good. And obviously, it went in. So that was definitely a nice bonus.”

The rest of his round was power golf. He drove pin-high on the reachable par-4 14th up the hill and into the wind to set up a simple chip-and-putt birdie. He had a short iron into the green on the par-4 15th to set up a two-putt birdie. He saved par with a 10-foot putt on the 17th and two putts for birdie on the 18th capped off his day.

Johnson was at 16-under 203.

Harman couldn’t keep pace, dropping two shots early on the back nine until a late rally for a 69 to stay within two shots. Harman began the day tied with Marc Leishman, who didn’t make a birdie until the 16th hole and wound up with a 76 to fall nine shots behind.

Jon Rahm made up a lot of ground quickly with a birdie-eagle-birdie burst on the scoring holes in the middle of the back nine. A final birdie gave the explosive Spaniard a 66 and left him within range at four shots behind.

Johnson and Rahm have a little history. Rahm nearly chased him down in Mexico City last year in a World Golf Championship, and then three weeks later pushed him to the 18th hole in the final of Match Play, which turned out to be Johnson’s third straight victory.

Rahm loves being in the mix with Johnson, even if the outcome hasn’t gone in his favour.

“Hopefully, I can play good down the stretch like I’ve been doing, just start a little better on the front nine,” Rahm said.

He did most of his damage on the three-hole stretch on the back nine where birdies are available. He just missed the reachable 14th and chipped to a foot for birdie, then hit his second shot on the par-5 15th to 8 feet for eagle, and holed a tricky 10-foot putt on the 16th.

Rahm will play in the penultimate group with Rickie Fowler, who shot a 68 to reach 11-under 208. Jason Dufner shot 69 and joined Fowler five shots behind.

Defending champion Justin Thomas spent more time with his father than he planned. Jimmy Johnson, his regular caddie, had a significant setback with his foot and will have to be in a protective boot for the next month. Thomas put his father to work. He had a pair of double bogeys over the last four holes, sandwiched between birdies, shot 75 and was 18 shots behind.

Jordan Spieth played with Rahm and never got much going in his round of 70, leaving him too far back.

Harman qualified for the Tournament of Championship by making a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Wells Fargo Championship and avoid a playoff with Johnson and Pat Perez.

“I can’t control what Dustin does. He’s a fabulous player,” Harman said. “He’s going to be really hard to beat tomorrow, but trying to do something I’m not capable of is not the way to do it.”

Johnson will be going for his 17th victory on the PGA Tour dating to his rookie season 10 years. Johnson has failed to win just one year during his career, in 2014.

Canada’s Adam Hadwin sits at 3 over par for the tournament following a 74 (+1) on Saturday.

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Marc Leishman played bogey-free and was tied for the lead in the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Just don’t get the idea this is another example of an Australian doing well at Kapalua because he stayed sharp Down Under in December.

Leishman two-putted for birdie on the par-5 18th for a 4-under 69, giving him a share of the lead with Brian Harman (68) going into the weekend on the windy Plantation Course with 15 players separated by five shots.

Stuart Appleby once won three straight years at Kapalua. Geoff Ogilvy is the last player to win back-to-back. Both arrived in Maui having competed in either the Australian Masters, Australian Open or Australian PGA. Appleby did all three one year.

Leishman?

He’s played one time in the last 10 weeks. Well, one tournament, anyway.

“I went to Topgolf a couple of weeks ago,” Leishman said.

It was too cold to practice at his home in Virginia Beach, so he headed to the multi-tiered golf complex where points are scored for hitting at various targets, all while having a few beers and listening to live entertainment. Thankfully, he didn’t take his tour bag, just a half-dozen clubs in a tiny carry bag.

“I scored all right,” he said. “I remember the first time I went there, I didn’t realize there was a leaderboard at the front desk. I scored really high, and then all of a sudden all the people turn around and I’m having a couple of beers, just having fun.”

One patron said to him, “You’re pretty good with the tools.”

He has been pretty good in windy conditions at Kapalua. Leishman didn’t make as many birdies as he would have liked. His only one on the par 5s was the final hole. Even so, he joined Harman at 10-under 136 going into the weekend of this winners-only event.

Harman came on strong on the back nine, and picked up his third birdie in unlikely fashion. He was down the steep slope right of the green on the par-5 15th, and his first chip barely reached the green and rolled back down the hill. He chipped that one in for birdie, and then picked up his fifth birdie of the back nine on the 18th.

Dustin Johnson, with more experience than anyone at Kapalua, overcame a sluggish start for a 68 and was one shot behind, making him perhaps the strongest threat going into the final two rounds.

Johnson is making his eighth appearance at the Tournament of Champions. No one else in the 34-man field has played more three times. His 68 was the 19th time in 29 rounds that the world’s No. 1 player has shot in the 60s, and he has yet to have a round over par.

This was a challenge, at least early.

The wind laid down on his shot into No. 3, and it went long into fluffy rough, leaving him a downhill, downwind putt with the grain. He chipped that 30 feet by and made bogey. On the next hole, he caught a gust and made another bogey. On the par-5 fifth, he had a 7-iron for his second shot and made par.

And then he made seven birdies over the last 14 holes to get within one shot of the lead.

Pat Perez and Chris Stroud each shot 66, while Jhonattan Vegas had a 70. They were two shots behind.

Back in the mix was Jordan Spieth, who opened with a 75. Spieth didn’t have a lot going his way early with a poor club selection on the par-3 second hole and one that was even worse on the par-5 fifth. Spieth went into the hazard with this second shot and took bogey on the second-easiest scoring hole at Kapalua.

And then he couldn’t miss.

He has been working on his putting, trying to get it back to 2015 standards, and he walked in an 18-footer at No. 6 and knew his 12-footer at No. 8 was going to fall even before he stroked the putt.

“That’s a feeling I haven’t had in quite a while with the putter,” he said. “So a big step forward. A lot of progress today.”

Spieth chipped in for eagle from 70 feet on No. 9 and shot 66 to get within five shots of the lead.

Defending champion Justin Thomas took a step back. He hit one too many wayward shots and had a 41 on the back nine for a 75, dropping him 10 shots out of the lead.

The biggest challenge was putting in the gusts, especially on the greens high on the hill that are exposed.

“You’ve got grain, break, speed, wind. Very difficult,” Perez said. “I had trouble with all of them yesterday. Today, I was able to see more of the break. I was able to get the speed and the wind all together. It took me a full day. But it was good.”

Canada’s Adam Hadwin slipped with a 2-over par 75 to sit 12 back of the leaders mid-way through the tournament.