PGA Tour Canada


PGA Tour Canada, commonly referred to as the Canadian Tour, is a men's professional golf tour headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The United States based PGA Tour took over operation of the tour on November 1, 2012, at which time it was renamed PGA Tour Canada. In 2015, Mackenzie Investments became the umbrella sponsor of the tour, branding it as the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada.
PGA Tour Canada is one of three international PGA Tour-sanctioned tours, along with PGA Tour China and PGA Tour Latinoamérica. These provide access to the Korn Ferry Tour and are part of the path to the PGA Tour.

History

The origins of the current Canadian Tour can be traced back to the Carling of Canada Golf Tour, which ran for four years from 1966 to 1969. In 1970 Carling Brewery reduced their sponsorship commitments to just a handful of the main tournaments and the tour became less coordinated. Later in the year Imperial Tobacco Canada, under the Peter Jackson brand, signed on as title sponsor and brought scattered Canadian professional events back under one umbrella. The Peter Jackson Tour started in 1971 bringing together seven provincial opens, with each purse reaching C$15-20,000 by 1977. The Tour developed predominantly Canadian touring pros but also welcomed players from around the world. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Dave Barr and Dan Halldorson – both two-time PGA Tour winners – competed on the circuit in the 1970s and made several appearances once they were established on the big tour. Fellow Canadians and PGA Tour winners Al Balding and George Knudson also returned home several times in their career to play the circuit.
As the 1970s continued, government legislation began restricting the amount of advertising and sponsorship that tobacco companies were allowed to participate in. In 1978, anticipating future legislation that would ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship in Canada, Imperial Tobacco withdrew its title sponsorship of the circuit. Several tournaments disappeared and although a few carried on, there was no longer any cohesion to the circuit. In 1982, Canadian touring professionals formed the Tournament Players Division within the Canadian Professional Golfers Association and proposed a reorganized circuit under the guidance of Ken Tarling.
In 1985, TPD members selected Bob Beauchemin as president with the mandate to "build, promote and conduct tournaments of the Canadian Tour to develop Canadian professional golfers to a world-class level." The reborn Canadian Professional Golf Tour began play in 1985 and had six events. Nevertheless, the Tour was still linked with the CPGA. In January 1986, Beauchemin convinced the CPGA's Board of Directors to grant the TPD autonomous status within the CPGA and to be responsible for its own funding.
The next step involved organizing tournaments in such a way as to maximize the benefit for the players. At the time, most tournaments were 36- or 54-hole events and several were pro-am formats. To prepare players for the PGA Tour, they set a goal for all tournaments to be 72 holes with no pro-ams during the actual competition. Prize money, exemptions and draws would need to mimic the format used on the PGA Tour and European Tour. Although it took until 1989 for all tournaments to play 72 holes, the Canadian Tour began attracting players from not only the United States, but from around the world in the mid-1980s.
The Canadian Tour has sent many players on to PGA Tour success. Canadian Mike Weir, the winner of eight PGA Tour titles – including the 2003 Masters - earned Rookie of the Year honours on the Canadian Tour in 1993. In 1997, Weir captured the 1997 Canadian Masters and BC Tel Pacific Open as well as the Order of Merit. He first qualified for the PGA Tour in 1998. Other PGA Tour winners who played the Canadian Tour include 2005 U.S. Open winner Michael Campbell, 2004 Open Championship winner Todd Hamilton, Steve Stricker, Stuart Appleby, Peter Lonard, Scott McCarron, Tim Herron, Chris DiMarco, Nick Watney, Stephen Ames, Paul Casey, Arron Oberholser, D. A. Points, Ken Duke, Mackenzie Hughes, and 2008 RBC Canadian Open winner Chez Reavie.
The former Canadian Tour became an associate member of what was at the time the trade body of the world's main men's tours, the International Federation of PGA Tours, in 2000. In 2009, it became a full member when the Federation expanded to include all of the main women's tours. It is one of a number of lower-level tours at which Official World Golf Ranking points are available, with a minimum of six given to the winner and points to the top six plus ties.
The Canadian Open, which is the richest golf event in Canada, is a PGA Tour event. The top three from the PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit the week before the Canadian Open are given entry. The prize money does not count toward Order of Merit earnings.
PGA Tour Canada offices are at Golf House in Oakville, Ontario, on the grounds of the Glen Abbey Golf Course. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course has hosted more than 20 Canadian Opens since 1977.
In 2011, the Canadian Tour made history when Isabelle Beisiegel became the first woman to earn a Tour card on a men's professional golf tour.
In October 2012, the PGA Tour acquired the Canadian Tour, renaming it PGA Tour Canada effective November 1, 2012, for first use in the 2013 season. Under the new system, the top five players on the PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit earn Web.com Tour cards, with the money leader fully exempt and those 2nd-5th conditionally exempt. Players ranked 2nd through 10th are exempt through to the finals of qualifying school and those who finish 11th–20th are admitted to the second stage. The re-tooled tour offered at least eight tournaments per season, with total purses of about $150,000 apiece. For 2015, the purses were increased to $175,000 for the first eleven events. Those who finish in the Top 60 earn entry into season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship, with a $200,000 purse and are guaranteed at minimum full PGA Tour Canada status for the next season. In 2018, the purses were increased to $200,000 and $225,000 respectively.
Like many smaller tours, PGA Tour Canada has its own series of qualifying schools at various sites. The medalist at each of the six sites is fully exempt for the season. Those in the top 14 are exempt through the first six events, when a reshuffle occurs. In the event of a tie, a playoff determines the final exempt position. Those in the top 40 including ties are conditionally exempt.
In 2015, Mackenzie Investments became the tour's umbrella sponsor. For the next six years, the tour was named Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada. Through various PGA Tour Canada's initiatives, over $4.1 Million has been raised for charities throughout Canada since 2013.

Alumni

Since the PGA Tour took ownership of the Tour, 31 PGA Tour Canada alumni have gone on to earn status on the PGA Tour. Of those 31, six have won on the PGA Tour: Nick Taylor, Tony Finau, Mackenzie Hughes, Aaron Wise, Adam Long, and Corey Conners.
Current alumni on the PGA Tour include John Chin, Corey Conners, Joel Dahmen, Cameron Davis, Julián Etulain, Tony Finau, Joey Garber, Talor Gooch, Brandon Harkins, Kramer Hickok, Mackenzie Hughes, Hank Lebioda, Adam Long, Pan Cheng-tsung, Seth Reeves, Sam Ryder, Brady Schnell, Ben Silverman, J. J. Spaun, Sepp Straka, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor, Aaron Wise, and Chase Wright.

Order of Merit winners

This list is incomplete.
YearWinnerCountryEarnings
2019Paul Barjon127,336
2018Tyler McCumber139,300
2017Kramer Hickok122,502
2016Dan McCarthy157,843
2015J. J. Spaun91,193
2014Joel Dahmen80,992
2013Mackenzie Hughes52,114
2012Matt Hill48,273
2011José de Jesús Rodríguez80,228
2010Aaron Goldberg156,119
2009Graham DeLaet94,579
2008John Ellis113,315
2007Byron Smith91,202
2006Stephen Gangluff67,336
2005Michael Harris95,622
2004Erik Compton85,876
2003Jon Mills55,321
2002Hank Kuehne105,959
2001Aaron Barber75,337
2000Steven Alker93,617
1999Ken Duke122,188
1998Brian Kontak84,878
1997Mike Weir80,696
1996Trevor Dodds129,158
1995Trevor Dodds78,468
1994Eric Woods44,083
1993Eric Woods45,937
1992Chris DiMarco57,148
1991Guy Boros64,025
1990Brandt Jobe40,844
1989Jerry Anderson63,655
1988Dave Barr94,750
1987Jim Benepe37,832
1986Dave Barr54,525

Records