Canadian golf journalists name players of the year
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.
USGA Regional Golf Association Alliance created to support and stimulate grassroots golf
Fifty-nine regional golf associations have entered into a new relationship with the United States Golf Association to enhance the golfer experience at the state and local levels in the United States. These Allied Golf Associations (AGAs), supported by the USGA’s five existing regional affairs offices, will administer the USGA Handicap and Course Rating Systems within defined geographic areas across the country. In addition, they will serve as the community’s primary resource for USGA services such as championship qualifiers, governance, golf facility support and programs that help grow and improve the long-term health of the game.
“Regional golf associations are a vital part of the golf community and the USGA,” said Mike Davis, USGA CEO. “As the game moves forward into the future, we feel this formalized new alliance of working together on grassroots programs will improve how we serve golfers and providing a healthy foundation from which the entire golf community can grow.”
Newly recognized AGAs were identified through a nearly year-long discovery process that encouraged collaboration among existing golf organizations within each state and region, sharing best practices and leveraging programs that have made a positive impact.
The resulting relationship will enable AGAs to provide a variety of competitive playing opportunities that engage more golfers of all levels within their region. The AGAs will also serve as local experts for education on topics such as modernizing golf’s rules, the new World Handicap System and related governance functions.
Each AGA will also have direct access to USGA research, funding for programs such as USGA P.J. Boatwright Internships, data and technology, additional expertise to better serve the health of golf facilities and support of national grow-the-game initiatives including PLAY9.
One of the alliance’s most significant benefits to golfers will be the centralized computation of USGA Handicap Indexes in the United States to improve efficiency, consistency and governance oversight. The move to a more modernized, digital platform will also empower Allied Golf Associations to more deeply engage golfers within their community through rich, real-time player data.
An AGA Council has been formed to share information, help ongoing service delivery and provide continuous feedback directly to the USGA to better serve golfers and golf clubs. The 12-member council consists of AGA executive directors who will represent regions and markets throughout the United States.
The alliance marks the latest step by the USGA to more deeply engage the local and regional golf community. It complements the USGA’s existing presence in all five major golf regions in the United States – Northeast, Great Lakes, Southeast, Central and West – where dedicated Regional Affairs directors currently serve in residence.
In addition to its five Regional Affairs directors, the USGA also supports golf clubs and facilities through the USGA Green Section, providing agronomic expertise through 13 regional offices.
Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum previews 2018
Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada, caught up with journalist Ian Hutchinson of Golf News Now in a phone interview on Wednesday to discuss the successes of 2017 and what’s ahead for Golf Canada in 2018 and beyond.
Listen to the clip here.
Dustin Johnson powers his way to win at Kapalua
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).
PGA TOUR and its tournaments surpass $180 million generated for charity in 2017
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.
Statement on the passing of former Shaw Communications CEO Jim Shaw
It is with sadness and respect that Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation extend sincere condolences to the entire Shaw family as well as to our friends at Shaw Communications on the passing of former CEO Jim Shaw who passed away on January 3, 2018.
“On behalf of Golf Canada, the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian golf community, we extend our most sincere condolences to Jim Shaw’s entire family and his many friends and colleagues with Shaw Communications,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “The Shaw family and the team at Shaw Communications have been passionate supporters and promoters of the game of golf in their community. From their partnership with the RBC Canadian Open and deep philanthropic ties to the Golf Canada Foundation to their incredible vision in transforming the Shaw Charity Classic into a gold-standard charitable platform and so many other endeavours, the Shaw family has had an incredible impact on Canadian golf and our deepest thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”
Tiger plans to play Torrey Pines, Riviera on west coast
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Tiger Woods is playing twice in California over the next six week as he begins another comeback on the PGA TOUR from back surgery.
Woods announced Thursday he will play the Farmers Insurance Open on Jan. 25 at Torrey Pines, the San Diego course where he has won eight times. That includes the 2008 U.S. Open, his 14th and most recent major.
He also says he will play the Genesis Open at Riviera in Los Angeles that starts Feb. 15. Riviera is where Woods played his first PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old amateur. He last played in 2006, though it now is back in play because the Tiger Woods Foundation runs the tournament.
“I’m very excited to be back at Riviera,” Woods said. “To be able to play in an event that I used to come to as an amateur, as a junior and now as the tournament host, that is on one of the most historic sites in all of golf, it’s a dream come true.”
The schedule is similar to the one last year when Woods was returning from back surgery. It just didn’t last long.
He played in the Bahamas against an 18-man field with no cut, said he was feeling good about his health and his game, and then resumed a PGA Tour schedule at Torrey Pines. But he missed the 36-hole cut for the first time in San Diego, flew to Dubai and withdrew after opening with a 77 because of back spasms.
Two months later, Woods had fusion surgery on his lower back — his fourth back surgery in three years — and was out the rest of the year until he returned at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and tied for ninth, 10 shots out of the lead.
Different about this return was that Woods was hitting with power, at times hitting it past Justin Thomas and Henrik Stenson, and he played several practice rounds before the Bahamas with Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Daniel Berger and Dustin Johnson. All of them remarked that he looked much fitter, healthier and happier.
The PGA Tour figures to get an even bigger boost.
“I think Tiger’s return and the excitement based on how he looked … based on what it does for ratings, what it does for a non-golfer’s interest in golf, it’s got to be at the forefront of the excitement,” Jordan Spieth said.
“With Tiger, we just don’t exactly know what it’s going to bring. But I think because of the way that the Hero went and the confidence that he’s talking with, the place that he’s at in life right now, I think he’s in the best position he’s been in in a few years to come back and be a regular out here competing.”
Woods did not mention any other events he might play. He is No. 656 in the world ranking and not eligible for the two World Golf Championships in March, key tournaments leading into the Masters.
He has not played all four majors since 2015 — he missed the cut in three of them — because of his back injuries. He has not made the cut in all four majors since 2013.
Woods has 79 career victories on the PGA Tour, the most recent at the Bridgestone Invitational in 2013. He needs four more to break the record held by Sam Snead.
St. Paul’s Jamie Sadlowski partners with Cleveland Golf
Cleveland Golf is pleased to announce the addition of Canadian Jamie Sadlowski to their professional tour staff. Sadlowski, a two-time World Long Drive Champion, agreed to terms on a multi-year contract to serve as a global brand ambassador for Cleveland Golf.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Cleveland Golf as a global brand ambassador,” Sadlowski said. “As I begin my second year of professional golf around the world, I know the Cleveland Launcher HB Driver, along with the compliment of irons and wedges, will deliver the performance I am looking for.”
Sadlowski, 29, hails from St. Paul, Alta., where he actually started out as a junior hockey player. Sadlowski began his golfing career on the World Long Drive circuit where he won back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009, and never finished lower than fifth in the world while competing. In 2016, Sadlowski made the transition to competitive professional golf where he competed in different events around the world. Last year, Sadlowski made his PGA Tour debut at the Dean & Deluca Invitational at Colonial Country Club and the Safeway Open, while playing in 10 events on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada.
Sadlowski will play the Cleveland Launcher HB Driver, Srixon Z-U65 Utility 2i and 3i, Srixon Z Series irons, Cleveland’s RTX-3 wedges (52°, 56°, 60°), and Srixon’s Z-Star XV golf ball. In addition, Sadlowski will wear a Cleveland Launcher HB hat, Srixon glove, and carry a Cleveland Golf bag.
“As one of the longest tour players on the planet, we know Jamie had many options when selecting his driver,” said Rodney McDonald, Vice President of Tour Operations. “We designed our Launcher HB driver to help all golfers bomb it long and straight – and we’re glad Jamie agrees. I’ve seen many tour players hit drivers, but watching Jamie hit it 370 yards down the fairway in competitive rounds is almost unbelievable. His validation of our technology is really exciting for us.”
With a refined swing geared towards competitive rounds, Sadlowski put together some impressive launch conditions with Cleveland’s Launcher HB Driver in his hands: ball speed of 190.3 mph, launch angle of 9.7°, spin of 2,454 rpm, carry distance of 343 yards and total distance of 372 yards.
“With the Launcher HB driver, I know I will be able to drive the ball longer and straighter which is the key to my game,” Sadlowski said. “I’ve never been more confident in my golf clubs.”
On Jan. 23, 2018, Sadlowski will be giving a demonstration and clinic in the Cleveland Golf area at the 2018 PGA Show Demo Day in Orlando, FL. He will be available to meet with the media during that timeframe. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact Noelle Zavaleta to set up a time to speak with him.
In 2018, Sadlowski will play in events on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour and the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada.
TaylorMade Golf unveils Twist Face technology in new M3 & M4 drivers
Carlsbad, Calif. – TaylorMade Golf has shifted the paradigm of golf club engineering with the introduction of the M3 & M4 metalwoods, highlighted by the company’s breakthrough innovation – Twist Face technology.
Re-imagining traditional driver face design, TaylorMade’s Twist Face technology is truly the first of its kind. Twist Face, featured in both the new M3 & M4 drivers, is TaylorMade’s solution to counteract golfers’ most common misses, more specifically, those resulting from the high toe and low heel impacts.
M3 Driver
Armed with Twist Face, the M3 is the sequel to TaylorMade’s highly successful M1 driver. The M3 driver features a new matte silver front section and a raised, aerodynamic five-layer carbon composite crown.
Exclusive to the M3 in both 440cc and 460cc models in a new Y-Track adjustability system that allows the CG adjustment of the head. The Y-Track allows for two 11 gram weights to be moved for both heel and toe control, as well as center of gravity. It offers golfers more than 1,000 CG configurations, more than twice as many as the M1. With the weight in the back position, the MOI (or essentially the club’s forgiveness) is 10% higher than M1.
Availability & Pricing
Available for pre-order on February 1 and at retail on February 16 .
M4 Driver
Complementing the M3 driver and its unrivaled personalization is the M4 driver, which differentiates its design by putting an emphasis on unparalleled forgiveness with straight distance. The M4 driver not only utilizes the new Twist Face and Hammerhead technologies, it also incorporates Geocoustic™ engineering.
Availability & Pricing
Available starting February 16, 2018.
2017 in review: Professional golf
The year 2017 is drawing to a close and what a year it was for Canadian golf. Our pros won literally around the world and on just about every tour imaginable. Our amateurs of all ages made Canada proud at home and abroad. And, off the course, there were significant moments that are well worth memorializing as 2018 looms on the horizon. This is the first of a three-part series remembering most, if not all, of those memorable moments.
(If we’ve unintentionally overlooked any—there were so many, after all!—please let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
March:
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C, had a year to remember. In March, he wins his first PGA TOUR title at the Valspar Championship in Florida. In January, he shoots a 13-under-par 59 in the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in California. His outstanding season-long performance earns him a spot in the Presidents Cup in late September.
Lock it in! @ahadwingolf collects his first #PGATOUR victory with a 1-stroke win @ValsparChamp
RT to send a BIG ?? congratulations! pic.twitter.com/J5bjNazUdn
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) March 12, 2017
April:
Calgary’s Stephen Ames wins his first PGA TOUR Champions title, holding off Bernhard Langer at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in Georgia.
June:
Nineteen-year-old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., wins the Meijer LPGA Classic, her fourth LPGA Tour title.
Jean-Philip Cornellier of Club de golf Knowlton in Quebec wins the PGA Championship of Canada at Deer Ridge GC in Kitchener, Ont.
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand wins the Manulife LPGA Classic at Whistle Bear GC in Waterloo, Ont.
July:
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas defends his RBC Canadian Open title at Glen Abbey GC in Oakville, Ont., winning a one-hole playoff over Charley Hoffman.
This edition of our national men’s Open garners even more attention than usual, due to innovations such as “The Rink,” which transforms the par-3 seventh hole into a hockey-themed fan experience complete with hockey boards, a Zamboni, bleachers, and volunteers in black-and-white referee jerseys. Even course designer Jack Nicklaus relishes the experience, taking what he says was his first shot with a hockey stick.
August:
Sung Hyun Park wins the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club but, to Canadian fans, Brooke Henderson of nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., is the real star. Finishing T12 at her home course, she shows incredible talent and determination, firing a course-record 63 in the third round after almost missing the 36-hole cut on Friday. Tournament sponsor CP makes a $2-million donation to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., wins the DATA PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at Scarboro G&CC in Toronto.
Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., wins the Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship in Missouri.
Jim Rutledge of Victoria, B.C., wins his fifth PGA Seniors Championship of Canada at the Burlington (Ont.) G&CC.
Brittany Marchand wins the Symetra Tour’s PHC Classic in Wisconsin.
September:
Richard T. Lee of Toronto wins the Asian Tour’s Shinahan Donghae Open.
Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City wins the Symetra Tour’s Garden City Charity Classic in Kansas.
October:
Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City finishes eighth on the Symetra Tour money list to earn a spot on the 2018 LPGA Tour.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., earns his PGA TOUR status by finishing in the top 25 on the Web.com Tour finals money list. He joins Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., who qualified for the PGA TOUR by virtue of his 10th-place finish during the Web.com Tour’s regular season.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., wins the New Zealand Women’s Open for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season and fifth overall.
Congrats to @CanadianPacific ambassador @BrookeHenderson on winning the @NZWomensOpen, finishing with a 3-under 69 for a five-stroke victory pic.twitter.com/JfQO3YHivL
— CP Women’s Open (@cpwomensopen) October 2, 2017
December:
Ryan Yip of Calgary, Albin Choi of Toronto, and Stuart Macdonald and Seann Harlingten of Vancouver finish inside the top 45 in the final stage of the Web.com Tour qualifying school to earn guaranteed starts in 2018.
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., earn conditional status on the 2018 LPGA Tour at the final stage of qualifying school.
Brooke Henderson was named Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year.