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Young Canadian golfers to benefit from PGA Tour Canada
PGA commissioner Tim Finchem announced today that the PGA Tour would be taking over operational control of the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, now to be known as PGA Tour Canada.
The reincarnation of the Canadian Tour will debut with eight summer tournaments in 2013.
Finchem told the Canadian Press Thursday:
"Having gained a thorough understanding of the golf landscape in Canada over the course of the 2012 season, we are confident that by fully dedicating our assets and resources, PGA Tour Canada will be well positioned to play an increasingly important role in professional golf.
"With a solid foundation of existing tournaments along with outstanding opportunities to establish new events, we are confident PGA Tour Canada will strengthen and grow in the coming years."
Whether the Canadian Tour is able to find success, as Bob Weeks of Score Golf points out, could be hinged on whether or not the PGA Tour name is strong enough to pull new sponsors aboard. Weeks said in his column Thursday referring to the PGA commissioner:
Can he entice — or possibly strong-arm -- the tour's US sponsors to get their Canadian affiliates to shell out? So far, none of the PGA Tour's major backers in the U.S. are involved with golf in Canada even in a minor way. Not FedEx, not Hyundai, not Sony, not Shell or HP. RBC, of course, is an exception.
Or will it be a hunt for new backers, Canadian companies with some spare cash? There aren't too many of those around these days although some are reportedly ready to step up now that the PGA Tour is on board.
But the most interesting point Weeks makes in his piece is how the PGA Tour Canada will affect young Canadian golfers. Weeks believes that this works out well for Canadian amateurs "primarily because the alternative was, well nothing." And with the hopes that minimum pursues of $150,000 per tournament could possibly sway at least some young talent north of the border, Weeks thinks the quality of play could increase, meaning the potential for better Canadian players.
Mike Weir grew up playing in Canada prior to making a career for himself on the PGA Tour, and he feels the PGA getting involved will only help in bringing in sponsorships and thus make the experience for young golfers who choose to play in Canada more positive.
He told PGATour.com:
"I always felt like the Canadian Tour was a good place to play," Weir said. "If you're not on the PGA TOUR, it's a much better option that the mini-tours. It has an international flair, you get to play four rounds, you learn to make a cut. It's well organized with high-quality players. It's different than playing the mini-tours where you're in a cart and play two rounds. The Canadian Tour is a great place to get ready to play a season."
Canadian amateurs can only hope that the PGA's involvement can help turn the Tour in Canada around. For now, as Weeks points out, at least they have a place to play.
