PGA Championship of Canada returns to Calgary

Sixty-four players selected from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC will vie for the P.D. Ross Trophy and a share of the $100,000 purse.

As was the case in 2011, this year’s championship will be contested as a match play event with players from four brackets—Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman—looking to advance through the five rounds to the final championship match.

Defending champion Vincent Dumouchel of La Prairie (Club de Golf) looks to become the first back-to-back winner of the championship since the famed George Knudson in 1976-77.

“Winning what I think is the biggest golf championship in Canada was very special to me,” Dumouchel said of his win at Cottonwood Golf & Country Club in 2011. “Having your name on the same trophy as players like Moe Norman, Stan Leonard, Arnold Palmer, George Knudson and Lee Trevino is unbelievable.”

In addition to Knudson winning five championship titles, Norman (2), Bob Panasik (2), Wilf Homenuik (2), Al Balding (4), Bill Kerr (2), Gordon Brydson (2), Stanley Horne (3), Willie Lamb (5), James Johnstone (2), Percy Barrett (2) and David Black (3) have all won multiple times. However, Leonard—a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame—holds the record for most PGA Championship of Canada wins with eight.

At more than 7,200 yards, the Thomas McBroom redesigned Talons Course at Country Hills is bound to be a major story line throughout the week. McBroom’s redesign, which was completed in 2010, saw every tee box and bunker on the course altered.

Another story line that will play itself out at Country Hills is the RBC Canadian Open exemption.

The player who sits atop the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC at the conclusion of the PGA Championship of Canada will earn an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., which will be played July 23-29.

While current No.1-ranked Brian McCann (The Academy at BraeBen) holds an 11-point lead over Daniel King (The Performance Academy at Magna) atop the Player Rankings, it’s possible any player ranked 12th or better could earn the exemption with a win in Calgary.

Rankings and exemptions aside, Jacklyn Miller (North Bay Golf & Country Club), will become the first women participant in more than 30-years when she tees it up in her first round match.

For the full field breakdown of the 64 participants, click HERE.  

The event will get underway with the Mr. Lube Tournament for Life Pro-Am, an annual charity event in support of prostate cancer research. The first Pro-Am was held in Toronto in 2010 and has now expanded to Calgary. This one-day tournament will help to increase the profile of our partnership and work with Prostate Cancer Canada. As a partner of both the PGA of Canada and Mr. Lube Canada, Prostate Cancer Canada helps to battle this disease by building awareness and generating funds for research.

Business tycoon and television star, Jim Treliving has accepted the role as Honourary Chair for this year’s Mr. Lube Tournament for Life.

The native of Virden, Man., who stars in the hit CBC shows, Dragons’ Den and the Big Decision, is also Chairman and Owner of Boston Pizza International Inc., will lend his support to the tournament that is dedicated to improving the lives of men and families facing prostate cancer.

Amateurs looking to take part in the Mr. Lube Tournament for Life Pro-Am can register online at www.tournamentforlife.com

The championship’s bracket will be made available June 11 on the PGA of Canada’s website.

The first PGA Championship of Canada was contested in 1912 at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club. The championship was not held 1915-18; 1943; and 2006-2010.

For more information about the PGA of Canada, visit us online at www.pgaofcanada.com