SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Scottie Scheffler successfully defended his WM Phoenix Open title Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to regain the No. 1 spot in the world.

Scheffler closed with a 6-under 65 to beat Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., by two strokes on the Stadium Course. The 26-year-old Texan took the No. 1 ranking from Rory McIlroy with his fifth PGA Tour victory.

Taylor earned US$2.18 million for finishing runner-up at the lucrative event, which easily his largest single-tournament payday. He entered the weekend with total earnings of $9.1 million for his career that includes two PGA titles.

Last year, Scheffler beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff for his first tour title. Scheffler added victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC-Match Play and the Masters and was the PGA Tour’s player of the year.

Scheffler made a 22-foot eagle putt on the par-5 13th to break a tie with Taylor, then took a two-shot lead on the par-3 16th when he rolled in a 15-footer for par after hitting his tee shot far left on the stadium hole.

Scheffler birdied the par-4 17th with a 5-foot putt and closed with a par to finish at 19-under 265. He earned $3.6 million from the $20 million purse in the second of the PGA Tour’s new designated events, created to bring the top players together more often.

Scheffler became the seventh player to successfully defend a title in the tournament, following Ben Hogan (1946-47), Jimmy Demaret (1949-50), Lloyd Mangrum (1952-53), Arnold Palmer (three straight from 1961-63), Johnny Miller (1974-75) and Hideki Matsuyama (2016-17).

Taylor also finished with a 65. The Canadian bogeyed the 16th, missing a 7-footer after Scheffler holed his par putt.

Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, finished in a tie for 10th at 10 under. He entered the final round three shots off the lead but finished with a final round of even par.

Jon Rahm, the former Arizona State star who opened the year with consecutive victories in Hawaii and the California desert, was third at 14 under after a 68. He also was in position to take the No. 1 spot with a victory.

Justin Thomas was fourth at 13 under after a 65. Jason Day (68) followed at 12 under, and Jordan Speith (70) was another stroke back with Sam Burns (68), Sungjae Im (69) and Tyrrell Hatton (69)

Rickie Fowler was in the group at 10 under. The 2019 winner had a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh, using a 6-iron in the 216-yard hole.

McIlroy closed with a 70 to tie for 32nd at 4 under.

Canada’s Stephen Ames, 58, picked up his third PGA TOUR Champions victory by going wire to wire at the Trophy Hassan II in Rabat, Morocco.

But it wasn’t without a challenge during Saturday’s final round. Australian Mark Hensby got as close as one after a birdie on No. 10, but he missed a short birdie putt at the 12th that would have tied him for the lead.

Hensby proceeded to double bogey each of the next two holes to push Ames’ lead to five, and Ames cruised home from there.

“I knew everybody else had to catch me,” Ames said. “I played the game I needed – put the ball in play. I had opportunities but didn’t make any. Unfortunately, Mark faltered with two double bogeys.”

Hensby, 51, held on to finish solo second. It was his best finish in 11 career PGA TOUR Champions starts.

Ames, who burst from the gate with what would tie for the low round of the tournament in the first round – a 6-under 67 that included eight birdies – needed only 18 pars in the final round to seal the deal.

Ames last won at the 2021 Principal Charity Classic. He led by three shots after two rounds the last time PGA TOUR Champions was in Morocco, for the 2020 Morocco Champions, but he wound up finishing second to Brett Quigley.

“Everybody knows this is a tough golf course. Takes a lot of patience, and there was a lot of patience going on for me this week. I’m ecstatic about the win. It moves me forward nicely.”

Eight talented PGA of Canada coaches to receive in-depth career development and bring a stronger gender balance to high-performance coaching in Canadian golf

Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are excited to announce the names of eight talented coaches who will receive critical education to advance their careers as top golf coaches in the country.

The eight participant coaches from the Women in Coaching program will receive in-depth career development focusing on four main areas: individualized learning plans with monthly one-on-one check-ins, virtual and in-person coaching education and hands-on training experience.

Launched in 2021, the Women in Coaching program aims to strike a stronger gender balance with high-performance coaches that better reflects the Canadian golf community.

“We are thrilled to be supporting female coaches who have a deep desire to develop their skillsets,” said Beth Barz, the Women in Coaching Program’s Coach Developer. “Their continued growth supports all athletes in the player development system who will work with coaches involved in the Women in Coaching program for years to come.”

Application information was posted publicly on Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada’s websites, where applications were accepted this past winter.

“I am proud to be part of the Women in Coaching program and have an opportunity to learn from top educators and other female coaches from across Canada,” said Kat Kennedy, Assistant Golf Coach at Simon Fraser University and one of the eight Women in Coaching participants. “As a current collegiate coach, I prioritize professional development to gain the tools and skills to provide support and guidance to help student-athletes realize their full potential.”

The eight PGA of Canada members were selected based on prior coaching experience and current coaching or volunteer coaching positions. Past competitive playing experience was also considered an asset.

The eight chosen participants for the Women in Coaching program include:

• Shannon Raina – Calgary, Alberta
  Earl Grey Golf Club, Apprentice Professional and Junior Development Leader

• Kat Kennedy – Richmond, British Columbia
  Simon Fraser University, Men’s and Women’s Assistant Coach
• Megan Ratcliffe – Victoria, British Columbia
  Bear Mountain Resort, Assistant Golf Professional
• Michelle Waters – Vancouver, British Columbia
  Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, Apprentice Golf Professional
• Winnie Yun – Langley, British Columbia
  Lago Golf Academy (Westwood Plateau Golf Club), Junior Instructor
• Anne Rogerson – Dorval, Quebec
  Golf Le Champêtre, Head Golf Professional
• Leila Harman – Surrey, British Columbia
  Morgan Creek Golf Course, Saunders Performance Golf Academy Instructor
• Nicola Greaves – Calgary, Alberta
  Willow Park Golf & Country Club, Associate Professional & Junior Leader

To date, 17 PGA of Canada professionals have received training through the Women in Coaching program. This year’s first in-person session kicks off Monday, February 13th in Phoenix, AZ.

Registration for Golf Canada’s competitions is opening soon.  The 2023 schedule features a total of 35 competitions including:

• 10 National Amateur Championships, presented by BDO
• 8 NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards
• 5 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers, culminating at the Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 4
• CP Women’s Open Final Qualifier on Monday, August 21
• Various USGA Qualifiers in May, June and July

Registration will open on the following dates for each category of championships and qualifiers:

NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards will continue to provide a high-performance training ground and championship experience across Canada, which showcases the next wave of elite junior golfers.

Registration will open on Wednesday, February 15^th at 12:00pm EDT.

NEXTGEN CHAMPIONSHIPS REGISTRATION

RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers

Join the world’s best amateur and professional golfers and attempt to qualify for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open. Registrants are selected on a first-come, first-serve basis, as long as each applicant meets the eligibility requirements.

Registration will open on Wednesday, February 22^nd at 12:00pm EDT.

RBC CANADIAN OPEN REGIONAL QUALIFERS REGISTRATION

National Amateur Championships, presented by BDO

True to the life-long sport that golf is, Golf Canada will be conducting 10 national amateur championships for golfers of all ages, genders and abilities.

Registration will open on Wednesday, March 15^th at 12:00pm EST.

NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS REGISTRATION

Katie Cranston was faced with a difficult decision after getting status on the Epson Tour – should she turn pro or go to school?

She chose Auburn University over the second-tier women’s professional golf tour, arriving at the American college halfway through the school year. Just three weeks into the semester, the Canadian golfer is already pleased with her decision.

“It’s just such a good opportunity for me to learn and grow,” said Cranston. “I feel like being here and doing school on top of golf is helping me gain very good time-management skills.

“Getting all my schoolwork done, get to practice, get to qualifying. That’s been really good for me.”

Cranston will make her NCAA tournament debut on Monday when she tees it up at the Nexus Collegiate event. Although it’s hosted by Auburn, the tournament will be held at Albany Golf Club in New Providence, Bahamas.

The 18-year-old native of Oakville, Ont., said that playing against tougher competition, both on her team and at collegiate tournaments, was one of the factors that drew her to Auburn over the professional ranks.

“It was an experience that I was scared to pass up,” said Cranston. “I was worried that I would regret not coming. It was just something that I I wanted to give at least a shot.”

Cranston originally committed to Auburn in November 2021 before tying for 69th at the second stage of the LPGA and Epson Tour’s qualifying tournament at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla., a year later.

“It was really good experience and I was happy with how I did,” said Cranston, who could have had regular starts on the Epson Tour this season. “But through the process, I realized that it wasn’t quite what I wanted to do yet.

“It’s definitely something that I will do in the future, but I just wasn’t quite ready for that.”

On top of her solid performance at Q-school, Cranston won several tournaments in 2022. She was victorious at the Dustin Johnson World Junior, the Scott Robertson Memorial, and the Women’s Porter Cup and also finished second at the Southwest Amateur and fourth at the NextGen Pacific Championship.

Auburn women’s golf head coach Melissa Luellen said that, due to NCAA rules during the COVID-19 pandemic, she wasn’t able to do any evaluations or even meet Cranston in person before the teenager agreed to come to the school. But when Luellen did see her new charge play in person, she was very impressed.

“I watched her hit the first tee shot at the U.S. amateur at Westchester Country Club in New York and my jaw drops like, ‘Wow! That was awesome,” said Luellen. “She is a beautiful, strong ball striker. I’m feeling pretty good about my decision.”

“The Rules of Amateur Status.” “Growing the game.”  

In the past, those phrases were seldom mentioned in the same breath. 

But let’s give credit where it’s due. The Rules of Amateur Status are essential for preserving the integrity of the game by clearly delineating the difference between an amateur golfer and a pro. For example, amateurs must not accept payment or other compensation for giving instruction. (Golf instruction involves teaching the mechanics of swinging a club and hitting the ball.) That mandate belongs to PGA of Canada members. 

But recent changes to those Rules offer an exception if the instruction is part of a program that has been approved in advance. To date, two programs—First Tee ​Canada​ and Iron Lady Golf—have been approved. Each application is reviewed jointly by Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada.

“This change provides a great opportunity to show how the Rules of Amateur Status can be a positive to support amateur golfers and grow the game, especially in underserved demographics,” says Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada’s Director of Amateur Championships and Rules. “It allows approved programs to compensate amateur golfers for their time when helping introduce people to the game.” 

The Rule change doesn’t mean amateurs now can make a fulltime living doing this, McKenna emphasizes. What it allows is a reasonable amount of compensation for their time spent helping beginners, not teaching the game.​  Being an approved program means that the hours spent on instruction is restricted to ensure they fall within the approved parameters.​

First Tee is Golf Canada’s multi-tiered youth development program. Iron Lady Golf is a well-established private initiative designed to introduce women to the game. (So far, more than 20​,000.) The goal is to ​help ​make ​women​​ feel more comfortable by having female ​coaches​​. But with women making up only a small fraction of the PGA of Canada’s membership, having a female pro in every session is​ nearly​ impossible.

So Iron Lady Golf’s founder, Lindsay Knowlton, a Class A PGA of Canada professional, relies on what she calls “ambassadors”, experienced amateurs who assist with the basic fundamentals of etiquette, rules and ​ how to navigate your way around a golf course.​

“​W​​hen I got the news that our program had been approved, I was ​ecstatic because it meant we have the opportunity to introduce more women to golf in Canada,” Knowlton says.​ “We are passionate about helping more women say ‘yes’ to golf, making it more accessible and less intimidating. Our focus is working with beginner to ​​intermediate​ golfers. When​ someone ​shows an interest in ​​wanting ​more ​swing coaching, we​ can ​ pass them ​along​​ to a PGA pro. 

“We provide encouragement, a sense of community and inclusion. That’s what keeps people in the game.” 

The object of this specific Rule (Rule 4) is two-fold. First, to expand the wide end of the funnel to welcome more people, from more demographic segments, into the game.  Second, to provide support and guidance to beginners from more experienced golfers who, in the case of Iron Lady Golf, look like them, i.e, female. 

 “This can be inspirational,” says McKenna. “To see an accomplished amateur or pro who is a woman means a lot and the comfort level goes up exponentially, especially for a beginner.”

For Knowlton, this Rules change is literally game-changing. And, she says, “it’s proof Golf Canada and the PGA​ of Canada​ are 100-per-cent committed to growing the game in Canada.” 

Do you have a program you think would qualify? The modernized Rules of Amateur Status with helpful guidance note are available here.

Have a Rules questions? Contact our experts.

Canada’s Ben Silverman and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get their names etched on the Wall of Champions behind the first tee at Pebble Beach, joining a long list that includes golf greats Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Justin Rose would love nothing better than to be on an adjacent plaque for winning the PGA Tour event at Pebble.

Rose, whose third round was suspended by wind strong enough to blow his golf ball across the green, returned Sunday morning at Monterey Peninsula by playing 10 holes in 6 under for a 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The final round was to start Sunday afternoon, featuring only professionals, and there was no way the tournament could finish until Monday.

The only champions crowned Sunday were Rodgers and Ben Silverman, who held on for a one-shot victory in the pro-am portion of the event. The prize is their name listed on the wall, which features pro-am winners, tournament winners, USGA champions at Pebble and more.

“It’s really significant,” Rodgers said, whose Packers failed to reach the NFL playoffs for only the fourth time in his 15 years as the starter. “It’s always been on my bucket list.”

Rodgers did his share of heavy lifting. Silverman, coming off a Korn Ferry Tour win, finished at 1-over 216 and missed the cut. Rodgers, playing off a 10 handicap, said he had not played golf since training camp until last Monday.

“He’s an athlete, man. Top performer,” noted Silverman. “He knows how to get it done and that’s what he did. It wasn’t like all four days or three rounds of beautiful golf, but when he needed to — when I was making doubles he was making pars. He knew how to get it done.”

They finished at 26-under par, one shot ahead of Peter Malnati and Don Colleran, the retired president and CEO of FedEx whose name already is on the wall.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Keith Mitchell were four behind. Minus the weather, the leading 25 pro-am teams would have played Sunday afternoon.

“Josh Allen was telling me there’s going to be an asterisk by this win because there was only three rounds,” Rodgers said. “But I think our names are going to be up there for a long time.”

Rose was simply happy to be there. This is his first 54-hole lead since he won at Torrey Pines four years ago, though his form has been trending upward toward the end of last year and early into 2023.

He was at 12-under 203.

Eight players were within three shots of the lead, a list that included Viktor Hovland. He’s playing the tournament for the first time, but his last two trips to Pebble have worked out well. He won the U.S. Amateur in 2018 and was low amateur in the 2019 U.S. Open.

Taylor Pendrith, the leader in the clubhouse (-12), made a 46-foot, 8-inch birdie putt on No. 8, the third-longest made putt of his PGA TOUR career; his second-longest came two weeks ago at The American Express.

Pendrith is the first player since 2013 to post a 64 or better in the final round of the event.

“Yeah. I mean, I would say I’m most proud of I hung in there today,” said Pendrith. “Obviously the front nine most of the holes are downwind, so I got off to a great start. Putter was super hot. Made some nice ones early. Kind of kept the momentum going on the back nine. There was some holes that played really tough and I hit some really quality shots that were into the wind, managed to make the putts.”

Calgary – February is Heart Month, and Canadian Pacific (CP) is proud to announce today that BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2023 CP Women’s Open, to be held Aug. 21-27, 2023, at the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver.

“The team at BC Children’s Hospital provides expert care, research and support for children with heart conditions, and CP is grateful to have another opportunity to contribute to the critical work they do,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “The 2023 CPWO marks the third time BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has been selected as the charity partner during CP’s title sponsorship of this exceptional LPGA Tour event, helping raise more than $4 million so far. We’re honored to continue building this legacy.”

This year’s goal is to raise more than $2.5 million for BC Children’s Hospital. Those funds will be dedicated to enhancing the physical spaces of the Heart Centre to create a comfortable and healing environment for patients and their families. Funds will also help to create improved workspaces for cross-functional collaboration amongst the dedicated and talented cardiac team at BC Children’s.

“Kids with heart conditions can be some of the sickest children in BC, and the Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital is there to provide care for every one of them,” said Malcolm Berry, President and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “That’s why we’re so grateful to once again be the CP Has Heart charity of choice. CP’s support helps elevate the incredible care BC Children’s is able to provide to kids and their families across the province.”

In recognition of Heart Month, CP and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation are pleased to hold a month-long fundraising campaign with CP matching all donations up to a total of $300,000. Visit www.bcchf.ca to help make a difference for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation cardiology patients.

“Families of children with heart conditions put their trust in us,” said Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani, Head, Division of Cardiology. “In turn, we help to carry the burden of their child’s health with them. That’s the essence of what our team does at the Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital, and CP has been a part of our team for many years. With CP’s steadfast support, we can continue to improve the healing environment for our patients and their families.”

The Tournament Partners of the LPGA awarded the CP Women’s Open with Tournament of the Year in 2022. Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Sponsor Activation in 2019 and 2022 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

“We are so proud to witness the incredible impact of CP Has Heart on the lives of countless youth in the host communities of the CP Women’s Open,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “There is a real excitement among golf fans and event enthusiasts in the celebrated return of the CP Women’s Open to Vancouver, highlighted by world-class golf, a week-long festival experience and a meaningful legacy gift in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.”

CP has helped raise more than $16 million to support children’s heart health in Canada during the nine years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open.

The PGA of Canada will induct three long-serving members into its Hall of Fame during Canada Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

Dick Borthwick, Jack Bissegger and Adrien Bigras were all PGA of Canada members for more than 50 years, growing the sport through most of the 21st century. The three individuals are being inducted posthumously.

“Dick, Jack and Adrien exuberated a deep passion for golf and we are very excited to honour them with well-deserved spots in our Hall of Fame,” said PGA of Canada President Gord Percy. “Each of these three men worked throughout their entire lives to grow the game. The association is revered today because of the efforts of members like Dick, Jack and Adrien.”   

The Hall of Fame, launched in January 2014 as part of Canada Night at the PGA Merchandise Show, celebrates PGA of Canada members—both past and present. In total, there are 46 individuals honoured with a spot in the Hall of Fame.

Dick Borthwick

Dick was a PGA of Canada member from 1927 to 1978 and engaged in many philanthropic efforts throughout his career, which included stints at some of the top golf clubs in Ontario, including Oakdale and Hamilton Golf and Country Club. In addition, he was the PGA of Canada’s president from 1960 to 1961.

Beginning in 1971, the Dick Borthwick Memorial Charity Golf Tournament is still conducted annually and just celebrated its 50th anniversary. The event has been so successful that it has raised 3-Million Dollars for local Hamilton charities. 

Dick’s son, Bob, is attending Canada Night to accept the honour.

Jack Bissegger

Jack was a member of the association for 57 years, with over 40 of those years spent at Club de Golf La Vallée du Richelieu. He was also a member of the PGA of Quebec Board of Directors for nine years.
Jack always had time for juniors learning the game, running a summer camp for two months each summer. Despite how busy he was at the club, the Golf Quebec Hall of Fame member maintained quite the golf game, winning more than 75 events in his life.

One of Jack’s sons, Thomas, is attending Canada Night to accept the honour.

Adrien Bigras

Adrien, who is a member of both the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame and the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, was a PGA of Canada member for 59 years, serving as an Assistant Professional at the Cardinal Golf Club and at Golf Malborough, before he became Head Professional for eleven years at the Rosemère Golf Club. Later on, his dream came true, and he became owner of the Manoir Golf Club.

Adrien was always helpful and ready to attend fundraising events, which could be counted by the hundreds. All through his career, Adrien preserved a certain nobility and prestige that was remarkable.

Over the years, his achievements include six victories at the Spring Open, seven at the Québec Senior Championship, twelve participations in the Canadian Open, and a victory at the 1965 Québec Open. He also participated in the 1962 US Open in Oakmont, PA, for which he had qualified with the lowest score ahead of 2,000 competitors.

One of Adrien’s long-time colleagues, Gilles Gareau, is attending Canada Night to accept the honour.

GREAT ABACO, The Bahamas – Ben Silverman shot 118 in his first Canadian Junior Golf Association tournament, an unsurprising result given he was 16 years old, relatively new to the game, and still thought of himself as a hockey player rather than an aspiring professional golfer. As Silverman lined up a playoff-forcing 3-footer for double bogey on the 72nd hole of The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club Wednesday afternoon, surrendering the last two shots of what was at one point an eight-stroke lead, it probably felt like a putt for 118.

“I got way ahead of myself in my head, thinking I already won the tournament,” Silverman said.

Silverman made the putt, signed for a 2-under 70 and caught a shuttle ride back up the fairway of the par-5 18th, where he hit shots into two different penalty areas no more than 10 minutes prior.

Cody Blick joined Silverman on the 18th tee this time around. Blick could hardly believe he had a chance at his first Korn Ferry Tour win. Just under a half hour ago, Blick figured a closing birdie for a round of 6-under 66 simply added a little extra flavor to the night’s dinner, as it took him to 15-under par, three strokes clear of a four-way tie for third place and more than enough for back-to-back runner-up finishes. Impressive stuff for someone who was without a single top-25 in 26 career Korn Ferry Tour starts preceding the 2023 season. Yes, dinner would taste phenomenal.

This trip down the 18th fairway, though, it was Blick who put two shots into the same penalty areas Silverman found in regulation, first on the lay up, then the approach. Silverman nearly found the rocky native area up the right side of No. 18 with his lay up as well, but a fortunate bounce off the rocks put him in the fairway and with a routine wedge shot into the two-tiered green.

Silverman left his approach on the front half of the green and two-putted up the slope to his second career Korn Ferry Tour victory.

“It’s amazing. A little overwhelming,” Silverman said. “Honestly almost broke down in the fairway in regulation. It worked out in the end. I’ll learn a lot of lessons from that. Once I knew it was a playoff, Tom Whitney said in the scoring room, ‘No matter what, it was a great week.’ I just wanted to be more committed on my shots the second go round and just give it my all.”

Silverman’s journey to PGA TOUR membership and a second Korn Ferry Tour victory was as unlikely as the fact he lost an eight-stroke lead only to come back and win the tournament in a playoff.

A native of Thornhill, Ont., Silverman played competitive hockey until around the time he turned 16 and still measured 5 feet, 10 inches. Too small and too worried about getting hurt. There were brief stints in volleyball and baseball, even ultimate frisbee. Silverman eventually found himself at a golf camp during a family trip and stuck with the game.

He eventually entered a tournament and shot 118. He graduated high school with a handicap index of 12. He made his way to a Johnson & Wales University satellite campus in Miami, which offered a handful of academic tracks but was known for its culinary program. He walked on to the golf team there and, two years later, did the same at Florida Atlantic University. He turned professional in 2010 and toiled on the mini-tours for four years until he earned PGA TOUR Canada membership. By 2016, he earned Korn Ferry Tour membership, but he missed 11 of 16 cuts as a rookie and yet again found himself without status.

At Final Stage of the 2016 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, things finally turned around. A T6 there ensured Silverman had nearly half a season before he was subject to reshuffles in 2017.

A run of four consecutive top-10s in July and August, highlighted by a victory at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, earned him a PGA TOUR card.

Silverman spent two seasons on TOUR and struggled through the 46-event 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour season, finishing 115th on the points list. Playing from the Past Champion 5-10 Years category in 2022, Silverman made just seven starts as he played Monday qualifiers and found himself at the back end of the Korn Ferry Tour’s priority ranking.

Last October, Silverman missed the cut by three strokes at Second Stage of the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, setting him up for another year of chasing Monday qualifiers and hoping for sponsor exemptions in the 5-10 category. Around Thanksgiving, Silverman got a call from folks at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, the second event of the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season. The tournament awarded him a sponsor exemption.

As the sun set behind the 18th green at The Abaco Club Wednesday night, Silverman became the first sponsor exemption to win a Korn Ferry Tour event since Martin Trainer won the 2018 El Bosque Mexico Championship. And without the help of a tournament volunteer, it may never have happened.

“I had a great start to the morning,” Silverman said. “But I had some butterflies, so I was doing some meditations to kind of calm down. I guess I went longer than I thought. I was looking at my phone… I’ll catch the 8:30 (a.m.) shuttle, no big deal. I get there, and there’s no 8:30 shuttle.”

Silverman negotiated a deal with a shuttle driver, a local resident and tournament volunteer named Victor. The two were on the road and still on Silverman’s intended schedule. Victor asked where Silverman stood in the tournament.

“Leading,” said Silverman, who carried a two-stroke lead into the final round. “He smacked the steering wheel like, ‘Let’s go!’”

Victor watched from the hospitality tent behind the 18th green as the wild scene (did we mention heavy rain showers appeared seemingly out of nowhere, soaked Silverman and the rest of the final group, and left behind a double rainbow?) unfolded along the shores of The Abaco Club. The two shared a lighthearted moment and a celebratory drink at the end of it all. Neither of them would be driving anywhere on this night.

Club ambassador and 2011 Open Championship winner Darren Clarke presented Silverman with perhaps the greatest perk of winning this particular Korn Ferry Tour event: membership at The Abaco Club.

Guess that explains Silverman’s fortunate bounce in the playoff.

“I had no idea, but that’s unbelievable,” Silverman said. “You can guarantee I’m going to bring my wife, friends, sponsors, we’re definitely coming back for a vacation.”

Silverman won’t need an exemption or shuttle schedule for the trip. Surely a new friend will greet him at the airport.