OAKVILLE, Ont. – In celebration of Canada Day, Golf Canada and RBC are proud to announce the first 15 Canadians, including 10 tournament exemptions, confirmed for the 2015 RBC Canadian Open taking place at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 20-26, 2015.

Leading the Canadian contingent at Glen Abbey will be Weyburn, Sask., native Graham DeLaet, fresh off a fourth-place finish this past weekend at the Travelers Championship. The finish moved DeLaet to No. 78 on the World Golf Ranking and secured his spot in the field for The Open Championship at St. Andrews.

Joining DeLaet will be fellow Canadian PGA TOUR players David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Abbotsford, B.C., natives Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor; Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., who will be making his 25^th appearance in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

Golf Canada has also granted a tournament exemption to Web.com Tour player Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont. who will make his eighth appearance in Canada’s National Open Championship.

Additional tournament exemptions were given to Team Canada Young Pro Squad members Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., as well as National Amateur Squad members Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas and Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont.

Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., won the 2014 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title to earn his exemption into the 2015 RBC Canadian Open. Leading into tournament week, Rank and Connelly will represent Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games golf competition, July 13-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

PGA of Canada professional Billy Walsh of Markham, Ont., earned his way into the 2015 RBC Canadian Open field as the No. 1-ranked player on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.

Earlier this week, former Team Canada member Richard Jung of Toronto shot a course-record, 10-under 62 at Rattlesnake Pointe Golf Club to top the 144-player field to earn an exemption through the RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier.

“This is OUR Open and we’re proud to have these 15 deserving Canadians compete in the 106^th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “The depth of talent in Canadian golf has never been stronger and I’m sure each of them will feel the tremendous wave of Canadian pride and support from golf fans across the country.”

The 15 Canadian players announced today will look to become the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher claimed victory in 1954.

The Canadians confirmed for Glen Abbey will join a field of PGA TOUR and international stars that includes World No. 3 Bubba Watson, World No. 5 Jim Furyk, World No. 8 Jason Day, World No. 13 J.B. Holmes, World No. 16 Matt Kuchar, World No. 17 Chris Kirk, World No. 22 Brooks Koepka, World No. 26 Brandt Snedeker, World No. 30 Ryan Palmer, World No. 40 Hunter Mahan, World No. 48 Graeme McDowell, World No. 65 Luke Donald, and World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els.

Celebrating Canada Day at the RBC Canadian Open….

For more than a century, our National Men’s Open Championship has been a celebration of Canada’s most talented golfers. This year, that celebration will be on full display as Friday, July 24 has been declared Canada Day at the RBC Canadian Open. Spectators are encouraged to wear red and white to proudly show their support for Canada’s top golfing talents. Players in the field will also be encouraged to wear Canada’s colours to help celebrate the day.

Pan Am golf champion to earn an exemption…

Golf Canada will also grant an RBC Canadian Open tournament exemption to the winner of the men’s Pan Am Golf Competition happening as part of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games. The golf competition will run July 13-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club with 32 players from 16 countries set to compete, including Austin Connelly and Garrett Rank who will represent Team Canada. Besides the champion’s exemption, the rest of the men’s Pan Am golf field will be exempt into the RBC Canadian Open Monday Qualifier happening Monday, July 20 at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.

Canadian players confirmed to compete in the 2015 RBC Canadian Open include:

Graham DeLaet

• Currently the top-ranked Canadian on the World Golf Rankings (No. 78)
• Currently ranked No. 83 in the FedEx Cup standings
• Competing in his 7^th RBC Canadian Open

David Hearn

• Currently ranked No. 177 in the world and No. 88 in the FedEx Cup standings
• Competing in his 13^th RBC Canadian Open

Adam Hadwin

• PGA TOUR Rookie
• Topped the 2013-14 Web.com money list
• Currently ranked No. 174 in the world and No. 114 in the FedEx Cup standings
• Competing in his 6^th RBC Canadian Open (finished T4 in 2011)

Nick Taylor

• PGA TOUR Rookie
• 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship champion (first Canadian to win on PGA TOUR in six years)
• Former World No. 1 Amateur
• Competing in his 6^th RBC Canadian Open

Mike Weir

• 8-time PGA TOUR winner
• 2003 Masters champion
• Inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2009
• Competing in his 25^th RBC Canadian Open

Roger Sloan

• PGA TOUR Rookie
• 2014 Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open champion
• Competing in his 3^rd RBC Canadian Open

Brad Fritsch

• Currently ranked No. 81 on the 2015 Web.com money list
• Career-best PGA TOUR finish: T8 at 2014 Wyndham Championship
• Competing in his 8^th RBC Canadian Open

Corey Conners

• Member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad
• Runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Amateur to earn an exemption into the 2015 Masters
• Competing in his 3^rd RBC Canadian Open

Taylor Pendrith

• Member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad
• Low amateur at 2014 RBC Canadian Open
• Competing in his 2^nd RBC Canadian Open

Adam Svensson

• Member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad
• Two-time runner-up on the Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada
• Competing in his 3^rd RBC Canadian Open

Austin Connelly

• Member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team
• Currently ranked No. 13 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Will represent Team Canada at the 2015 Pan-Am Games golf competition
• Competing in his 1^st RBC Canadian Open

Blair Hamilton

• Member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team
• Currently ranked No. 81 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• University of Houston (winner of the 2015 NCAA Border Olympics)
• Competing in his 1^st RBC Canadian Open

Garrett Rank

• Former Team Canada National Team member
• 2014 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion & 2015 Ontario Mid-Amateur champion
• Will represent Team Canada at the 2015 Pan-Am Games golf competition
• Competing in his 1^st RBC Canadian Open

Billy Walsh

• Currently ranked No. 1 on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC
• Competing in his 2^nd RBC Canadian Open

Richard Jung

• Winner of the 2015 RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier
• Competing in his 1^st RBC Canadian Open

Additional player and tournament announcements will be made in the coming weeks. The final field for the 2015 RBC Canadian Open will be released on Friday, July 17, 2015 after 5 p.m. ET.

For information about tickets, FREE 17-and-under junior passes, volunteer opportunities or corporate hospitality for the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com.

MILTON, Ont.  – The third and final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier concluded in fine fashion as Richard (Sunil) Jung fired a 10-under-par 62 to tie the course record at the Copperhead Course at RattleSnake Point Golf Club, in Milton, Ont. The Markham, Ont., product claimed medalist honours to earn an exemption into the 106^th playing of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club, July 20-26, 2015.

Jung opened and closed his round with eagles to accompany seven birdies. He finished four strokes clear of second place to book his first trip to Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

“This is my first event in six months, my plan was to hit fairways, greens and go for the putts where I could. There were some tricky holes. I had a hard time thinking in the present all day because I was so pumped and having so much fun at the same time,” said Jung, a former member of Canada’s National Development Team from 2009 to 2011.

The 22-year-old recognizes the opportunity before him and is excited to play in his first RBC Canadian Open. “It’s definitely an honour for any Canadian to ever play in the Canadian Open. I’ve had many Monday qualifiers for this event. I’m really thrilled and happy to be able to play the (RBC Canadian) Open, it’s a Canadian’s dream to play in this event.”

A total of 144 players competed in the 18-hole stroke play qualifier at RattleSnake Point Golf Club with 24 players, representing the top-15 per cent of the field and ties (17 competitors at 2-under and seven tied at 1-under), advancing to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier to be staged Monday, July 20 at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Daniel Kim of Toronto capitalized on a seven birdie performance to finish T2 at 6-under par. Also tied for second was Mississauga, Ont., native Jonathan Kim-Moss who finished his last three holes with an eagle and two birdies. The pair earned their spots in the Monday qualifier, alongside amateurs Branson Ferrier of Barrie, Ont., and Chase Komaromi of Delaware, Ont., who both shot 67 for a share of fourth.

The two-stage qualifying procedure for Canada’s National Open Championship features three regional qualifying events held in Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario, followed by the final qualifying competition on Monday, July 20.

The previous two qualifying events held June 1 at Club de Golf St-Raphäel in Île-Bizard, Que., and Squamish Valley Golf and Country Club in Squamish B.C., awarded 25 players with spots into the Final Qualifying event.

A minimum of four players will gain entry into the 2015 RBC Canadian Open through the Monday qualifier.

For additional information and full results from the RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier in Ontario, click here.

TORONTO –  Whether you tweet, share, like, view or blog, #RBCGolf4Kids is looking to score a hole-in-one for kids through an online social media challenge to raise $500,000 for thirteen children’s charities around the world.

For the second year, Team RBC golfers are once again inviting the public to participate in the social media charity challenge by sharing the hashtag #RBCGolf4Kids on Twitter and  Instagram, or joining in on Facebook or www.teamrbcgolf.com – the more shares of #RBCGolf4Kids, the more dollars raised for children’s charities. Three bonus challenges will provide opportunities for Team RBC players to win additional donations for their respective charities.

“One of the greatest investments we make is helping kids and youth succeed and our Team RBC players share this belief and go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of young people,” said Jane Broderick, chief brand and communications officer, RBC. “With the success of last year’s challenge, our players are excited to put on their game faces and take their best swing to raise awareness and funds for child and youth charities.”

Over a five week period from June 15 to July 19, Team RBC ambassadors will compete in a series of weekly challenges – photo trivia, predict an event or fill in the blank – encouraging fans to do the same and share the hashtag #RBCGolf4Kids. The challenge will have ‘share’ thresholds that will trigger increasing levels of donation from RBC each week. The challenge will end on Sunday July 19 at midnight, prior to the start of the 2015 RBC Canadian Open that takes place at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

“For my fans to help me win more than $135,000 last year for the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin in Ireland was amazing. I know how instrumental these funds are in supporting the tremendous work the hospital does for children,” said Graeme McDowell, PGA TOUR golfer and member of Team RBC. “This year’s competition promises to be better than ever and I challenge my fellow Team RBCers to step up their game with fun content that our fans will love to share.”

With charities from around the world benefiting from the challenge, these are the organizations Team RBC is supporting:

Golf Canada in partnership with title sponsor CN announced today that the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event will be hosted at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. on Saturday, July 18^th leading into the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

Now in its seventh season, the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event brings together Canada’s 24 top-scoring juniors in a competition that showcases putting, chipping, iron and driving skills on the national stage.

Delivered by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada, CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenges are conducted throughout the year by facilities running CN Future Links programming across Canada. Scores from each Junior Skills Challenge are submitted online to a national leaderboard, from which top qualifiers are selected prior to the June 22^nd deadline. Participants from six different age groups will be invited as follows:

• Girls 11 and under (5 players)
• Boys 11 and under (5 players)
• Girls 12 to 14 (4 players)
• Boys 12 to 14 (4 players)
• Girls 15 to 18 (3 players)
• Boys 15 to 18 (3 players)

For Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson, hosting the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge leading into the RBC Canadian Open will bring a heightened level of excitement for juniors looking to qualify for the National Event.

“CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge is an exciting platform to motivate junior golfers to want to improve both personally and against their peers across four fundamentally important areas of golf skill development,” said Thompson. “We are excited to host the National Event this year on the same grounds as the RBC Canadian Open just days before PGA TOUR stars vie for our National Open title.”

The winners of the CN Future Links Skills Challenge National Event in the boys and girls 15-18 age groups will receive an exemption into their local CN Future Links Championship in 2016. All other attending participants of the CN Future Links Junior Skills National Event will receive prizing courtesy of Titleist Footjoy.

“The CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge is an excellent part of the entire CN Future Links suite of programs, of which PGA of Canada members are proud leaders in the delivery in the program,” said Gary Bernard, PGA of Canada CEO. “The partnership between the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada continues to grow, thus ensuring the continued growth of developing world-class programs for golf in this country.”

To celebrate the event being hosted for the first time leading into the RBC Canadian Open, junior participants will also have the opportunity to test the storied Glen Abbey layout in an exciting match play format on Sunday, July 19^th prior to tournament week. Following that, junior participants will be provided weekly grounds passes and have an opportunity to be involved in Monday’s Pro-Am and secure a spot in Wednesday’s CN Future Links Walk with a Pro event during the Wednesday Pro-Am.

The Junior Skills Challenge is one of many program elements from the CN Future Links family of programming, dedicated to promoting the active, health and safety values of golf.

Current CN Future Links programming includes the Learn to Play program as well as mobile clinics, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club, Field Trip and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools.

In 2014, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 455 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge running more than 3,200 juniors through qualifying events. More than 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006, more than 1.2 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

To learn more about how to qualify for the 2015 CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

Many of Canada’s top golfers took part in RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying events today in Quebec and British Columbia in hopes of punching their tickets to final (Monday) qualifying July 20 at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

The Quebec qualifier was contested at Club de golf St- Raphaël’s Blue Course in Île-Bizard, Que., where hometown talent Lindsay Wilson finished at 2-under par 70 to claim medallist honours.

Jesse Smith (71) of Ohsweken, Ont., finished runner-up at 1 under, while Sonny Michaud of Neuville, Que., took third after an even-par 72 while six more players finished T4 at 1 over (73). In total, nine players from the Quebec Qualifier will advance to the final qualifier in July.

Squamish Valley Golf and Country Club in Squamish, B.C., hosted Monday’s other regional qualifying event where Dillon Rust of Edmond, OK, claimed victory with a round of 5 under 67.

Seann Harlingten of West Vancouver, B.C., earned runner-up honours with a 2 under 70.

Five players shared third after even-par 72s to round out the 16 players who have earned their way today into the RBC Canadian Open final qualifying round on July 20.

In total, there are three regional qualifying events, each consisting of 18 holes of stroke play. Provided that there are 100 or more players in the field, the low qualifier receives an exemption directly into the 2015 RBC Canadian Open. Otherwise, the top 15 per cent of finishers at each qualifier become eligible to compete at the final qualifying event.

The third and final 2015 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier will be held June 29 at RattleSnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ont.

The 2015 RBC Canadian Open takes place July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

For the full Quebec scoring click: here.

For the full B.C. scoring click: here.

Listen in to our press conference…

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., has been selected to host the 2016 RBC Canadian Open, as announced today by Golf Canada and RBC.

With the venue confirmed, the Jack Nicklaus-designed, Oakville, Ont. layout will host back to back RBC Canadian Opens, beginning this July 20-26 with the 2015 RBC Canadian Open and then again July 18-24, 2016.

For Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons, a two-year commitment to Glen Abbey will allow the tournament to build multi-year momentum in the community and deliver innovative activities to enhance the championship experience for players and spectators alike.

“Together with our partners at RBC, we are proud to announce the RBC Canadian Open will be contested at Glen Abbey Golf Club in 2016.” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons.  “Glen Abbey has always been a terrific host venue for this championship and we look forward to reconnecting with fans and volunteers from Oakville and the Greater Toronto Area who have embraced the RBC Canadian Open over the years.”

“With its storied history, beautiful greens and central location, Glen Abbey has proven to be a premiere venue to host players and golf fans alike,” noted Jane Broderick, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, RBC. “We, along with Golf Canada have worked hard to make the RBC Canadian Open a best-in-class tournament with a strong competitive field and fan engagement opportunities, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to this prestigious course.”

The RBC Canadian Open was last contested at Glen Abbey in 2013, when Team RBC’s Brandt Snedeker picked up his sixth PGA TOUR victory. That year’s event was selected as the “Most Fan-Friendly Event” by the PGA TOUR as part of their annual year-end awards.

The return to Glen Abbey through 2016 marks the first time since 2008 and 2009 that the club has hosted back to back RBC Canadian Opens.

“Since the Canadian Open was first played on this Jack Nicklaus Signature course in 1977, Glen Abbey has produced many worthy champions including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange and Brandt Snedeker,” said Rai Sahi, ClubLink President and CEO. ‘The Abbey’ and the Canadian Open share a special connection and we look forward to adding to that legacy through 2016.”

The 2015 edition of the event will once again raise money in support of national charity partner – Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada. To help welcome the RBC Canadian Open back to Glen Abbey, the Town of Oakville has declared July as Oakville’s Month of Sport.

Glen Abbey was owned and operated by Golf Canada from 1982 to 1998 before the property was sold to ClubLink in the fall of 1998. As the longtime home of Canada’s National Open Championship, ‘The Abbey’ hosted 22 Canadian Opens between 1977 and 2000, as well as, those in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2013. Golf Canada’s head office and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum are located on the grounds of Glen Abbey Golf Club.

For information about tickets, free 17-and-under junior passes, volunteer opportunities or corporate hospitality for the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com.

SYDNEY – Kel Nagle, a former Canadian Open (1964) and British Open (1960) winner, as well as a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, has died. He was 94.

The PGA of Australia said in a statement Thursday that Nagle died overnight at a Sydney hospital. It did not give a cause of death.

The Australian golfer, who won a tournament every year for 26 years after turning professional in 1946, collected 61 victories on the PGA Tour of Australasia and two on the U.S. tour.

His win at St. Andrews came by one stroke over Arnold Palmer, who was attempting to win his third consecutive major that year after taking the Masters and U.S. Open.

Nagle finished second to Gary Player at the 1965 U.S. Open at Bellerive in St. Louis, losing an 18-hole playoff to the South African. Player said then that Nagle was “one of the best short-game players” he had seen.

Nagle also won the Australian PGA championship a record six times and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.

He also played on the PGA Senior Tour (now Champions Tour) in the United States in 102 events from 1981-1989.

Nagle’s other achievements included wins at the 1954 World Cup in Montreal and 1959 World Cup in Melbourne with partner Peter Thomson, a five-time British Open champion.

“It’s a sad day for golf, we’ve lost a champion of our game,” said PGA chief executive Brian Thorburn.

In 1980, Nagle was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the sport of golf and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986.

“Kel was a giant of the game,” said Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt. “But much more than that, he was an ambassador for his sport and his country, universally liked and admired by his peers.”

PHOENIX – Waste Management has announced that the RBC Canadian Open was named the winner of the second annual Sustainability Challenge, a contest sponsored by Waste Management to encourage all PGA TOUR tournaments to engage in and advance sustainable practices at their respective events. With this distinction, the RBC Canadian Open joins the ranks of the Sustainability Challenge inaugural winner, the Shell Houston Open and the Waste Management Phoenix Open as PGA TOUR tournaments that demonstrate the value of responsible sustainability practices.

The RBC Canadian Open received the highest cumulative score for Materials Management, Natural Resources Tracking and Conservation, Economic Impact and Overall Sustainability. Waste Management sustainability experts scored participating tournaments’ submissions and were pleased to note that ninety-one percent of the 22 PGA TOUR tournaments that submitted applications have a recycling program in place and track their diversion of waste from landfills. As the winner, RBC Canadian Open leadership will attend the upcoming Waste Management Phoenix Open and Waste Management’s fifth annual Executive Sustainability Forum.

RBC Canadian Open employs numerous sustainable practices at the carbon-neutral tournament including: diverting waste from landfills through recycling and organics collection; providing free filtered water at water stations located across the grounds; donating unused food to local food banks; offering sustainable transportation options and more. The Royal Montreal Golf Club, home of the 2014 RBC Canadian Open, is also certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary golf course, a designation earned for its certification in six categories: Environmental Planning, Chemical Use Reduction & Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management, Wildlife & Habitat Management, and Outreach & Education.

“We are committed to making the RBC Canadian Open a green event,” said Bill Paul, Chief Championship Officer for Golf Canada. “We are proud to work with RBC and all of our partners to ensure our tournament continues to be a positive example of best practices to reduce the event’s environmental impact within the markets we conduct the championship.”

“RBC is proud of our work with Golf Canada and our other event partners to ensure that the RBC Canadian Open continues to be a positive example of best practices to reduce the event’s environmental impacts,” says Sandra Odendahl, Director, Corporate Sustainability, RBC.

“As a zero waste event, the award-winning Waste Management Phoenix Open has set the ‘green’ standard for sustainability in sports,” said Jim Trevathan, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Waste Management. “The Sustainability Challenge provides Waste Management the opportunity to recognize the successes of a growing number of PGA TOUR tournaments like the RBC Canadian Open that are expanding their green initiatives so that others will continue to be encouraged to ‘green’ the game of golf.”

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Tim Clark plans a return to Torrey Pines, this time to compete with his long putter rather than to make a passionate protest of the rule to ban them.

Clark has accepted the new rule outlawing the anchored stroke required for the putter he has used the last 17 years. This is the last year before the rule goes into effect, and Clark isn’t about to waste it by tinkering with a new club or a new stroke. He wants to play good golf.

That said, he already is thinking about the change and he’s not willing to share his solution.

“I’ve got some pretty good ideas, but I’m not going to tell you just in case they try to ban those,” Clark said with a laugh. “But I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on it. I’m not as concerned as I was maybe at the start of last year because I think I’ve figured something out now and I’ll be fine. But I’m not going to spend my time practicing it now while I’m trying to play tournaments this year with what I’ve used.

“Once they tell me it’s done, then it’s done. Then it will be easier to change.”

He said he will stop at the Scotty Cameron putting studio in the San Diego area after the tournament to work on some putters that fit his ideas. Otherwise, he sees 2015 as a time to build on a year in which he won the RBC Canadian Open and lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Clark is starting his year at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions for the first time in four years. It’s a good spot to be, and even though he is among the shortest hitters in golf, the expansive Plantation Course at a par 73 doesn’t bother him.

Zach Johnson, not known for his length off the tee, won last year. Besides, Clark learned long ago to play to his strengths. Even though Watson could hit the ball some 80 yards longer, when they played a par 5 in a playoff at Shanghai, Watson didn’t think he had an advantage because of Clark’s short game.

Part of that short game is putting, and that part is about to go through a significant overhaul.

The USGA and R&A – and by extension, Golf Canada – proposed the new rule on anchored strokes at the end of 2012, and at a players’ meeting at Torrey Pines with the USGA a few months later, Clark showed up even though he wasn’t playing the tournament. He became the face of protest for the dignified manner in which he argued against banning a stroke that had been around for some 40 years, and for the damage it would cause for recreational players.

The PGA Tour took a stand against the rule, though it was adopted, anyway.

Clark said it affected his game at the start of last year until he realized the change was inevitable.

“Eventually, I realized you’ve got to stop worrying about it and just go out and play golf,” he said. “And I did that, and that’s probably why I was able to win in Canada. I didn’t have that worry in there. Like I say, my thought is to come out and be a better putter. Stop worrying about what’s happened and what’s going to happen and come out and be a better putter.”

Another past RBC Canadian Open champion, Carl Pettersson, also uses a long putter that he presses against his sternum. So does Adam Scott, a former No. 1 in the world, and Kevin Stadler. Others, such as Keegan Bradley, used a belly putter. Bradley switched to a conventional putter at the Hero World Challenge last month.

“I think the belly guys are going to find it pretty easy,” Geoff Ogilvy said. “But the guys who have split hands, like Stads, Scotty, Timmy, that’s different. That’s a big change. Putting attached from your belly and moving it away, it’s not that big of a change. You lose your security blanket, but it’s effectively the same stroke.”

Scott gets the most attention because he won the Masters – the first Masters champion with an anchored stroke – and because of his prominence. But he didn’t change until 2011. Clark made the switch when he was in college and hardly anyone was using the club known as a broom-handle putter.

For the last 17 years, he has not placed his hands together on the club. The left hand has been high on his chest, the right hand at his waist.

“In my case, I’ve never gone back and forth. I found something I felt comfortable with,” Clark said. “Obviously, there are weeks I putted terribly. It wasn’t a case of changing putters, it was a case of working on it.”