Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Mike Weir set to represent Canada at Masters
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Mackenzie Hughes of Canada plays his shot from the third tee during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Golf New Brunswick
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 06: Mackenzie Hughes of Canada plays his shot from the third tee during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
National Press.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Three Canadians will tee it up in the first men’s golf major of the year today.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont.; Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont.; and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., are in the field for the Masters at Augusta National.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 07: Corey Conners of Canada talks with his caddie Danny Sahl on the third hole during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Weir gets in by virtue of winning the 2003 edition of the tournament.
Hughes is in after qualifying for last year’s Tour Championship, while Conners gets his berth for tying for 10th at last year’s Masters.
The event is back on its traditional April date after being moved to November last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conners is 43rd in the world men’s golf rankings, Hughes is 51st and Weir is 808th.
Canadian Alexis Card wins girls 7-9 division at Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 04: Alexis Card, participant in the girls 7-9, poses with her first place overall trophy during the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National Golf Club on April 04, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Golf New Brunswick
AUGUSTA, Ga – Canadian girls continued their success at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship once again on Sunday with a victory from Cambridge, Ont., native Alexis Card.
Card, 8, won the girls 7-9 division with a total of 23 points for a two-point victory over fellow Canadian Anna Wu of Victoria, B.C. Card impressed getting full points in both the driving and putting categories (10) while rounding it out with three points at the chipping station.
It was Wu stole the show at the chipping station, chipping one in and giving off a memorable reaction which caught the attention of star Phil Mickelson.
With the win, Card becomes the fourth Canadian (all females) to win a Drive, Chip and Putt title in as many years. Savannah Grewal (Mississauga, Ont.) won in 2017, followed by Vanessa Borovilos (Toronto) in 2018 and Nicole Gal (Oakville, Ont.) in 2019.
Golf NB is excited to announce that our 2021 tournament registration will open on April 12th at 7:00 AM.
Golf NB and Golf Canada have transitioned to a new Tournament Software provider for 2021 (Golf Genius). To ensure a smooth registration process, please take the time to read the following tips to familiarize yourself with the new process:
Membership & Personal Information
Your first and most important step (before tournament registration opens) should be to login to the Golf Canada Score Centre and make sure ALL of the following are updated:
Your membership is active for the 2021 golf season *To renew your membership, please contact your home club.
Update your profile information including
date of birth
address
email address
It is critical that this information is correct as this will be synced to your new Golf Genius profile
Handicap Index
Ensure your Handicap Index is up to date and accurate as this could affect your tournament eligibility. You must have at least 5 scores posted in the past 12 months.
Your Golf Canada Score Centre account login information is now your primary login information to register for Golf NB championship events
CLICK HERE to log into your Golf Canada membership account.
Once you have completed the above, you will be ready for registration. Here are some other tips:
Golf Genius is now the official tournament software for Golf NB and Golf Canada. Please ignore all previous BlueGolf login details as BlueGolf login information is no longer in use.
Registration will only be available through your internet browser i.e. Google Chrome.
If you have any questions, please us via email at info@golfnb.ca.
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by Golf NB to its 45 partner facilities and 6,600 individual members include: provincial championships, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, and junior golf development programs.
Golf Canada will tee it up for 2021 National Amateur Championships
Golf New Brunswick
Golf Canada will tee it up in 2021 to conduct national amateur championships and is working with public health authorities in host communities to finalize operational protocols so that the competitions may proceed safely.
Following a 2020 season that saw the cancellation of all Golf Canada competitions due to the pandemic, the 2021 schedule will feature nine National Amateur Championships, eight NextGen Championships for junior-aged golfers, and several USGA qualifiers which will be hosted at member clubs across Canada.
“We are taking a measured but optimistic approach to conducting our 2021 championship season and we are excited to welcome the athletes back to our competitions,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “Golf Canada will continue to prioritize the safety of players, volunteers, host club and tournament staff, and host communities and will work with regional health authorities and our host clubs to get our national amateur competitions back on the tee. We also want to thank our roster of host clubs and volunteer committees for giving back to the game and joining us in this journey.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE GOLF CANADA’S 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Operational protocols for each competition will align with local and provincial health and safety guidelines that have allowed golf courses to open for regular play. Should public health guidelines or interprovincial travel restrictions warrant, Golf Canada will make modifications to the competition schedule including a change to the size and composition of tournament fields or an outright event cancellation should circumstances dictate.
National Amateur Championship registration will open on Wednesday, April 7 at 12:00pm EDT while registration for all NextGen Championships will open on Monday, March 29 at 12:00pm EDT.
Applications will be open to any Golf Canada members who meet the eligibility criteria. Given the current federal travel restrictions in place, Golf Canada will not be accepting registration from foreign residents for our championships at this time. More information on the application procedure will be available on each championship information page.
Golf Canada will also resume calculation of the NextGen National Junior Order of Merit to identify and give recognition to top-performing junior girls and boys across Canada who have achieved success during the 2021 season. The 2021 NextGen National Junior Order of Merit schedule can be viewed here and consists of Canadian events from the period January 1 to August 15, 2021 with a maximum of five (5) counting events for a player’s ranking.
With continued COVID-19 limitations and international travel restrictions, Golf Canada will not track a National Amateur Order of Merit in 2021. Golf Canada is carefully following the impact of the pandemic on international travel and competition and how those factors might impact the Team Canada Selection criteria for 2021/22, which are currently under review and can be accessed here once published.
Canadians needing a social outlet and a sense of recreational normalcy during the uncertainty of the pandemic in 2020 turned to golf in a major way. Now Golf Canada, with the support of industry partners, will build on the excitement, increased interest, and elevated levels of play with a national golfer retention campaign to welcome new and returning players back to the golf course in 2021.
The campaign – GOLF IS CALLING – is a Canada-wide marketing initiative to speak to new, younger golfers as well as the community of avid players, each uniquely drawn to the game whether it be for exercise, the social experience or the challenge of the sport.
“For so many Canadians who needed an outlet to play, be social and feel a sense of normal, golf was there for us,” said Applebaum.
“Golf is a sport of invitation, where we bring others along to experience and enjoy the game for a lifetime. GOLF IS CALLING is also a return invitation to the avid players and new enthusiasts who enjoyed the game in record numbers this past year. It is also an outreach and welcome to young and diverse audiences and a powerful confirmation that our sport offers the healthy attributes, safe environment, and industry capacity of nearly 2,300 facilities to support physical, social, and mental well-being in a meaningful way.”
GOLF IS CALLING features a vibrant and new look for golf. The campaign messaging and creative was informed by deep market research as well as creative trends from across industries and broader sport to reflect an industry-wide effort to promote golf participation. This season long, national marketing campaign features a fresh and inviting energy as the calling for Canadians to play more golf.
“As marketers and sport leaders, we look for moments to connect with golfers, and this past year has offered an unparalleled signature moment for the golf community to influence and entrench behaviours that will benefit our sport for the long run,” said Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Morbi. “With more than 700 customizable assets that golf facilities and industry partners can leverage in their marketing efforts, this is a special moment to rally the full weight and collective voice of our sport to inspire more play in 2021.”
The suite of tools is available to golf courses and industry stakeholders to share in national roll-out of the golfer retention campaign. The bilingual campaign will be presented as SORTEZ, GOLFEZ across all French language assets and Golf Canada will support the campaign with a paid media buy executed across social and digital channels.
In conjunction with the campaign, Golf Canada has also relaunched its website as a portal to enhance the golfer experience and support tee-time booking through a national course look-up tool. This feature can be found on www.golfcanada.ca and will connect golfers with facilities across the country.
Despite a season suspended in most parts of Canada through early May, data from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) of Canada reported a 18.9% increase in total rounds played across the country in 2020. Golf Canada members as well as public players who track an official handicap index experienced a significant lift in play, posting a record 7.8M scores to the Golf Canada Score Centre, a 7% lift over the prior year with monthly score posting records set from June through October.
Canadian levels of engagement in the sport mirrored strong growth metrics across North America as new and avid players invested in tee times as well as memberships, equipment, league play, junior golf, and instruction.
As Canadian golf facilities continue to manage the impact of the pandemic on non-golf revenues, the game is thriving as a safe and healthy recreational option that drives significant economic, employment, tourism, environmental and charity benefits to communities across Canada.
Supported by comprehensive healthy and safety protocols enacted by the golf community as well as adjustments made to the golf course experience, the sport is well positioned with momentum.
“Creating a national campaign that speaks to golfers of varying abilities and connection to the game is no easy feat, and we continue to be extremely sensitive to the disastrous impact of the pandemic which has taken a significant emotional, economic and mental toll,” added Shawn Evans, President and CEO of GolfNorth Properties who is also Chair of the Golf Industry Advisory Council. “At the same time, we see the opportunity in golf’s emergence through the pandemic to present our sport in a fresh way to new audiences with a visceral consumer experience that will be noticed.”
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) is pleased to announce its 2021 Tournament Schedule which will include 15 various competitions and see the naming of some 34 separate provincial champions at 11 of New Brunswick’s top golf facilities.
The 2021 schedule is headlined by Golf NB’s six “Major Championships”, the NB Under-13 & 15 Championship (June 19th-20th, Gage Golf & Curling Club), the East Coast Junior Championship (June 29th-30th, Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club), the NB Ladies Provincial Championships, Driven by Audi Moncton (July 4th – 6th, Royal Oaks Golf Club), the NB Men’s Amateur Championship (July 9th – 11th, Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club), the NB Under-19 Championships (July 17th – July 19th, Hampton Golf Club), and the NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships (July 26 to 28, Fredericton Golf Club).
For a complete Golf NB Event & Championship Schedule CLICK HERE.
As the Provincial Golf Association and the governing body of golf in New Brunswick, Golf NB conducts the province’s amateur golf championships as part of its mandate to promote the sport and support the game of golf in the province Golf NB’s Championship Season at a Glance… The 2021 competition calendar includes seven team events and seven individual stroke play events including;
Golf NB will once again kick off the competitive golf season with the 39th playing of the NB Men’s Four Ball.After the event’s cancellation in 2020, Golf NB is excited to return to the beautiful and historic Algonquin Golf Course for 2021.Hosting both Amateur Men’s and Senior Men’s divisions, the NB Men’s Four Ball will once again provide the perfect starting point to New Brunswick’s competitive golf season, at one of the provinces’ most challenging and picturesque venues.
Entry into the 2021 NB Men’s Four Ball includes two competitive rounds, a tee gift, a food and beverage voucher, and the opportunity for prizes in both gross and net flights.
The Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club will play host to NB Ladies Four-Ball for the ninth time in the event’s 14-year history. Tied to Gowan Brae’s annual Ladies Two-Person Scramble, the 2021 NB Ladies Four-Ball is a perfect way for the golfing women of New Brunswick to spend time with friends while enjoying one of the province’s top championship courses.
Entry into the 2021 NB Ladies Four-Ball, Presented by Four Rivers Brewing Co. includes one competitive round, a tee gift, a food and beverage voucher, and the opportunity for both gross and net prizing.
NB Under-13 & 15 Championship June 19 & 20, 2021 – Gage Golf & Curling Club
The Gage Golf & Curling Club will play host to newly revitalized NB Under-13 & 15 Championship as some of the province’s best young junior players converge in Oromocto to start the competitive golf season. Previously incorporated with the NB Under-19 Championship, 2021 will mark the resumption of a separate event to showcase New Brunswick’s Under-13 & 15 boys and girls players.
Entry into the 2021 NB Under-13 & 15 Championship includes one practice round, two competitive rounds, a tee gift, a food and beverage voucher, and the opportunity for both gross and net prizing.
East Coast Junior Championship June 29 & 30, 2021 – Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club
The Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club will once again open its doors to some of eastern Canada’s top junior golfers during the 22nd playing of the East Coast Junior Championship. With 1,000 Golf Canada Order of Merit Points up for grabs and past champions like Charles-Eric Bélanger, Valerie Tanguay, Anne-Chatherine Tanguay, Maude-Amiee LeBlanc, Ron Harvey Jr., and Brodie Flanders, the East Coast Junior Championship has been Atlantic Canada’s premier junior championship since its inception.
Entry into the 2021 NB East Coast Junior Championship includes one practice round, two competitive rounds, a tee gift, and championships in the Under 19 Boys, Under 19 Girls and Under 15 Boys categories.
NB Ladies Provincial Championships, Driven by Audi Moncton July 4 to 6, 2021 – Royal Oaks Golf Club
Royal Oaks Golf Club, in Moncton, NB will challenge New Brunswick’s to female golfers, as it plays host to the 85th playing of the NB Ladies Provincial Championships from July 4th to 6th. With Leanne Richardson set to defend three of the four trophies on the line (the NB Ladies Amateur, NB Ladies Mid-Amateur, and NB Ladies Senior) and Kathy Grebenc looking to hold on to her NB Ladies Super Senior crown, the 54-hole event is sure to see another exciting finish.
Entry into the 2021 NB Ladies Provincial Championships, Driven by Audi Moncton includes one practice round, three competitive rounds, a tee gift, and food and beverage vouchers and the opportunity for both gross and net prizing for competitors.
NB Men`s Amateur Championship July 9 to 11, 2021 – Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club
The Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club will play host to the NB Men’s Amateur Championship for the fifth time, and first, since 2005 when the Sussex Golf & Curling Club’s Ron Harvey Jr. claimed his first NB Men’s Amateur title. “We are excited to be able to bring the NB Men’s Amateur Championship back to Gowan Brae, which has proven to provide the ultimate test of golf”, said Gary Melanson, Golf NB Tournament Chair.
In addition to the NB Men’s Amateur Championship, eligible players will also compete for the 2021 NB Mid-Amateur crown and five positions on Team NB, three positions on the NB Men’s Amateur Team, and two positions on the NB Mid-Amateur Team. With the final Mid-Amateur Team position, as well as the first alternate positions, being awarded at the NB Mid-Master Championship to be held later in July at the Fredericton Golf Club.
Additionally, upon registration availability the 2021 NB Men’s Amateur Championship may also include a Senior Men’s field, with a minimum of 42 participants to be contested from a forward set of tees, of between 5,800 and 6,000 yards. The overall field size for the NB Men’s Amateur Championship will not exceed 144 and the total number of participants in the Senior division will be dependent on the overall number of entries from the Amateur / Mid-Amateur age categories.
Entry into the 2021 NB Men’s Amateur Championship includes one practice round, three competitive rounds, a tee gift, and the opportunity for prizing based on a minimum of four divisions.
NB Under-19 Championships July 17th to July 19th, 2021 – Hampton Golf Club
The Hampton Golf Club in Hampton, NB will once again play host to the NB Under-19 Championships. With four championships up for grabs, Boys & Girls Under 19 & Under 17 titles, as well as positions on the Team NB, there will be lots to play for on the 6,509 yard, Graham Cooke layout, that will also serve as the host venue for the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.
Entry into the 2021 NB Under 19 Championships includes one practice round, three competitive rounds, a tee gift, and the opportunity for prizing.
NB Senior & Mid-Master Championships July 26 to 28, 2021 – Fredericton Golf Club
The Fredericton Golf Club, in Fredericton, NB, plays host to the 45thNB Senior Men`s Championship and the 2021 NB Mid-Master Championship from July 26th to 28th.
The two events will be run concurrently, as separate events, over the same three-day period and will carry a maximum field of 144 players overall. In addition to the NB Men’s Senior & Super-Senior Championship and the NB Mid-Master Championship, eligible players will also compete for four positions on Team NB, three positions on the NB Men`s Senior Team, and one position on the NB Mid-Amateur Team.
Entry into the 2021 NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships includes one practice round, three competitive rounds, a food and beverage voucher a tee gift, and the opportunity for prizing based on divisions.
NB Family Classic & Adult Junior, Driven by Audi Moncton August 9, 2021 – Country Meadows Golf Club
The 41st playing of the NB Family Classic & Adult Junior, Driven by Audi Moncton at Country Meadows Golf Club.
This 18-hole event uses a Pinehurst Scoring method where partners both drive on each hole and then each play a 2nd shot with the other’s ball. After the 2nd shots, a choice is made regarding the ball with which the hole will be completed, playing alternate shots from there until the ball is holed out. This unique event provides opportunities for the entire family with three different divisions; Male/Male, Female/Female, and Mixed in both the Family Classic and Adult Junior flights.
Entry into the 2021 NB Family Classic & Adult Junior, Driven by Audi Moncton includes one competitive round, a meal, and a tee gift.
Jim Connolly “Little Swingers” August 9, 2021 – Country Meadows Golf Club
The Jim Connolly “Little Swingers” is open to two-player teams made up of one youngster between the ages of 5 and 10 and one adult. The Jim Connolly “Little Swingers” combines a 45-minute instructional clinic with 9 holes of golf using the Pinehurst Scoring method. Named for the late Jim Connolly, the Golf Professional Emeritus of The Riverside Country Club, the date for the Jim Connolly “Little Swingers” has yet to be determined but will be posted on golfnb.ca once it is available.
Entry into the 2021 Jim Connolly “Little Swingers” includes a pre-event clinic, 9 holes of golf, a meal, and a tee gift.
Atlantic Golf Championships September 18 & 19, 2021 – Mill River Resort (PEI)
The 2021 Atlantic Golf Championships will return to Prince Edward Island (PEI), as the Mill River Resort gets set to host the 7th playing of the Atlantic Golf Championships on September 18 & 19, 2021, where some of the region’s top amateur golfers will gather to compete over 36 holes for both individual and team titles in this unique invitation-only event.
The 2021 Atlantic Golf Championships will see male and female golfers in amateur (under 40) Mid-Master (male 40-54 & female 40-49), Senior (male 55+ and female 50+), and Super-Senior divisions (one male and one female over 65) competing for both provincial teams and individual titles. With individuals being invited to participate based on their 2020 performances in Golf NB’s three adult Player of the Year Challenges, Team NB will set out in search of it’s 4th consecutive Atlantic Golf Championship team title after capturing the most recent 2019 Atlantic Golf Championships.
Entry into the 2021 Atlantic Golf Championships is by invitation only and includes one practice round, two competitive rounds, a players’ banquet, and the opportunity to earn an exemption into the 2022 Canadian Championships.
Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge, Driven by Audi Moncton September 18 & 19, 2021 – Lakeside Golf & Country Club
The Lakeside Golf & Country Club will play host to the 21st playing of the Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge. The yearlong competition involves clubs entering 16-player teams (divided into five different handicap flights) in search of the 2021 crown. Each round of the competition consists of a home and home series between the clubs, with each team fielding 8 sets of two-player teams who compete in a “Hole by Hole” match play format with the team winning the most total holes advancing to the next round. The final matches will be hosted at the Lakeside Golf & Country Club on September 18th and 19th in 2021.
“The Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge, Driven by Audi Moncton is one of Golf NB’s most inclusive events”, said Tyson Flinn, Executive Director of Golf NB. “With players ranging in handicap indexes from 0.0 to 20.0+, the Past Presidents’ Cup provides a truly unique form of comradery and competition that is unmatched in any other event.”
Entry into the 2021 Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge, Driven by Audi Moncton is open to all Golf NB partner facilities.
Estabrooks Cup, Driven by Audi Moncton October 2 & 3, 2021 – Memramcook Valley Golf Club
The North and South will renew their rivalry at the Memramcook Valley Golf Club for the 24th playing of the Estabrooks Cup on October 2nd & 3rd. The 2021 Estabrooks Cup, Driven by Audi Moncton will again pit the best golfers, in the Amateur Men, Senior Men, and Ladies divisions, in the province against each other in this best on best “Ryder Cup” style competition.
The Estabrooks Cup has seen many changes over the years, but 2021 will again see the makeup of each team include 2 Amateur Men, 8 Senior Men, and 8 Ladies, for 18 player teams, which will include two “Playing Captains”, one male and one female, from each side.
Entry into the 2021 Estabrooks Cup is by invitation only with players being selected from the TaylorMade NB Men’s Player of the Year, the NB Senior Men’s Player of the Year, and the Royale NB Ladies Player of the Year Challenges.
Dormie Workshop Par 3 Challenge 2021 will mark the second year of the Dormie Par 3 Challenge, a unique competition for players participating in the Golf NB East Coast Junior Championship, the NB Under 19 Championship, the NB Ladies Provincial Championships, the NB Men’s Amateur Championship, and the NB Senior Men’s & Mid-Master Championship.
The Dormie Par 3 Challenge will see the players with the best performance on the par-3’s of each event receive a unique prize provided by Dormie Workshop.
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by Golf NB to its 45 partner facilities and 6,600 individual members include: provincial championships, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, and junior golf development programs.
2021 RBC Canadian Open cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 challenges
Round 3 of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club,
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA AND TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA – Due to logistical challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA TOUR, title sponsor Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Golf Canada announced today that the 2021 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for June 7-13 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Etobicoke, Ontario, has been cancelled.
“Even with an extensive health and safety plan in place, we faced a number of significant logistical challenges that led us to this decision,” said PGA TOUR President Tyler Dennis. “While we are disappointed to cancel Canada’s National Championship, we are thankful to our partners RBC and Golf Canada – along with our Canadian fans — for their unwavering support and cooperation throughout this process. We look forward to the RBC Canadian Open returning to our schedule next year.”
The RBC Canadian Open had put together a comprehensive health operation protocol with consultation and direction from local, provincial, and federal government and health officials, and was working together with a multitude of partners to navigate the impact of the travel restrictions and quarantine measures currently in effect, given the number of stakeholders required to cross the border for the week of the event. A decision timeline was also established to allow the PGA TOUR a sufficient window to fill the event date.
Tournament organizers will now redirect efforts to the return of the RBC Canadian Open to the PGA TOUR schedule in 2022.
“Together with RBC and the PGA TOUR, we set a decision timeline based on the most up to date travel and quarantine restrictions in effect along with consideration for the TOUR’s ability to pivot and successfully fill a significant date on the schedule,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “It was also important to be respectful partners to the health leaders and government officials who have helped inform our operation protocols and provided great direction on this journey. The timing simply did not align for us and we are deeply disappointed that the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open will have to wait another year.”
Since assuming sponsorship of Canada’s National Golf Championship in 2008 and the RBC Heritage in 2012, RBC continues to be a strong advocate for the game, supporting PGA TOUR and LPGA players through Team RBC, and funding youth and amateur golf initiatives in Canada through the Golf Canada Foundation.
“We share in the disappointment with our RBC Canadian Open community over the cancellation of this year’s tournament,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “Persistent challenges and health and safety considerations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including international travel restrictions, quarantine measures and government mandates, presented significant logistical challenges for this year’s tournament. We are immensely proud to be title sponsor of Canada’s National Open Championship, and to promote this great sport. We are more excited than ever to return in 2022 and bring this world-class event to new and existing Canadian golf fans.”
Established in 1904, the RBC Canadian Open — the third-oldest national championship in golf behind The Open Championship and the United States Open — had been previously conducted every year since 1904, with the exception of wartime cancellations from 1915-18 and 1943-44, and as the result of complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The RBC Canadian Open was last played in June 2019 at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ontario, with Rory McIlroy winning in his debut appearance.
To fill the week left open on the calendar, the PGA TOUR will secure an alternative venue in the United States to host an official FedExCup event for one year only. Details on the replacement event are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Today, we are celebrating #InternationalWomensDay To everyone who has shown the strength and courage to overcome obstacles & stand up for inequality, we thank you. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. We all must #ChooseToChallenge#IWD2021
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 04: Corey Conners of Canada smiles on the 17th green during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 04, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Bay Hill was bustling Thursday, just like golf before the pandemic. The fans were limited in numbers but they all wanted the same dose of entertainment provided by Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
First it was McIlroy, slowly feeling better about his game, and with good reason. Starting with a 55-foot putt on the par-3 second hole, he ran off five straight birdies for a share of the lead with Canadian Corey Conners in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 6-under 66.
In the group behind McIlroy was DeChambeau, who has been contemplating a shot across the water to cut the 528-yard sixth hole down to size by going for the green. This was not the day with a slight breeze into his face, so the U.S. Open champion had some fun. He took out an iron, and then hit a conservative tee shot (309 yards) to the middle of the fairway.
It was a boring birdie, his third in a row, and he opened with a 67.
“There was a high expectation level of me trying to go for the green there, and it was a little pressure that I wasn’t expecting,” DeChambeau said. “But no, it was fun. The crowds were great with it. I pulled out an iron as a joke off the tee box. And for me, it was just too much off of the right and more into the wind than anything.”
In the group with DeChambeau was Jordan Spieth, making his debut at Bay Hill, and producing high adventure in a 70 that left him satisfied he remained on track – and irritated hitting off the toe of his driver and into the water on No. 6.
Even having to hit his third from the tee, he salvaged bogey with a 25-foot putt and made a 35-foot birdie on the next hole.
“Definitely proud of the way I responded, but the way I putted today, certainly would have liked a lower number,” Spieth said. “But it all just comes down to one shot for me today.”
Conners, from Listowel, Ont., played in the afternoon and was 6 under through seven holes, capped off by an eagle on the par-5 16th. He took the lead with birdie on the par-5 sixth, but finished with a three-putt bogey from 60 feet to fall into a tie with McIlroy.
Shadow Creek winner Jason Kokrak opened with a 68. Of the 60 players who teed off in the morning, only six broke 70. Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton shot a 77, while past Bay Hill winner Francesco Molinari took a step back from his progress with a 78.
McIlroy wasn’t too happy with his game after missing the cut – a rarity for him these days – at Riviera, then not having ideal practice sessions. He still managed some improvement last week in the World Golf Championship, and saw big even better results Thursday.
Most pleasing was seeing the ball go where and how he wanted it. He made three of his birdies on par 3s, the strength of Bay Hill. What stood out was a pair of 5-irons into the wind on the 14th and 17th holes, both tight draws, flighted the way he wanted to about 15 feet.
“Those shots last week that I was trying to hit were missing the target 20 yards left,” he said. “So it was nice to just see them coming out in the window I was anticipating.”
He said it was his best round of the year, and it helps being at Bay Hill, where McIlroy had a victory and no finish worse than a tie for sixth the last four years. He has seen enough of Tiger Woods’ eight victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational to appreciate how to attack.
“He played it very conservatively. He took care of the par 5s. And that was usually good enough to get the job done,” McIlroy said. “So sort of take a little bit of a leaf out of his book.”
He only made birdie on two of the par 5s, going long on the 16th and having to lay up on the 12th from a fairway bunker.
Through it all, it was the activity outside the ropes at Bay Hill that stood out.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational was the last PGA Tour event that had a full complement of fans, one week before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down golf. The tournament is allowing 25% of capacity – roughly 5,000 fans a day – and when most are watching some of golf’s bigger draws such as McIlroy, DeChambeau and Spieth, it feels even larger.
All were wearing masks, though no one got high marks for social distancing.
“It’s nice to hear some cheers and a little bit of energy from the fans,” Martin Laird said after a 69. “It was fun to play in front of a crowd again.”
Nicky Taylor and Adam Hadwin, both from Abbotsford, B.C., struggled in the first round. Taylor fired a 1-over 73, while Hadwin shot a 7-over 79.
Liz Hoffman has served on Golf Canada’s Board of Directors since 2012 and has been a recognized leader in Canadian sport as an athlete, coach, and administrator.
She honed her executive leadership skills over a 39-year career with the University of Toronto including 16 years as Director of Athletics and High-Performance. She has been active with many sport organizations, serving as a past president of Canadian USport and Ontario University Athletics and as an officer and board member of both Ontario and Field Hockey Canada. She also served on the Board of Directors of Coaches of Canada and as a member of the Sport Development Committee of Swim Canada.
During her time with Golf Canada, she has contributed across a multitude of committees, councils and working groups including most recently serving as Chair of the Compensation Committee, the World Junior Girls Steering Committee and as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Renewal. She has previously chaired the Amateur Competitions, Sport Development and Human Resources Committees, as well as the Ad Hoc Committee to Review the COC Report. She has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Diversity Enhancement Working Group, and the Volunteer Services Working Group. Hoffman is also a member the Board of Directors of the Golf Canada Foundation, serving on the Executive Committee as Secretary and chairing both the Scholarships & Grants and the Women’s Fund Committees.
A past President of the Golf Association of Ontario, she was also the non-playing captain of Canada’s Women’s Team at the 2012, 2014 and 2016 World Amateur Team Championships and served as Golf Canada’s delegate to the Biennial meeting of the International Golf Federation in 2018. In 2020, she participated as a program mentor in the R&A’s Women in Golf Leadership Development Program and also joined the PGA of Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. She has been active as a tournament chair and starting & scoring official at Golf Canada amateur, professional, and international competitions.
A former provincial, national, and international golfer who won both the Ontario Junior and Quebec Women’s Amateur Championship, Hoffman is a member of both the Thornhill Golf Club and the Mad River Golf Club and shares her passion for the game with her husband Rick and their sons Matt and Mark.
