JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods is skipping the Match Play Championship in Arizona in two weeks.

Woods announced on his website Thursday that he wasn’t planning to compete in the first World Golf Championship. He says his plan was to attend the Sochi Olympics in Russia before his girlfriend and champion skier Lindsey Vonn got injured.

Instead, he will stay home and prepare for three tournaments in Florida. He’ll next play the Honda Classic on Feb. 27 followed by title defenses at Doral and Bay Hill.

This was the first time Woods has missed the Match Play Championship when healthy and the tournament was held in America.

This means the Match Play will be without three of the top players in the world -Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott.

On Thursday, 2013 PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. joined a conference call with reporters to discuss the upcoming Web.com Tour season and reflect back upon his successful 2013 season on PGA TOUR Canada.

The former Team Canada member posted four top-10 finishes and won the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial in his first season as a professional. He led the PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit, and will debut on the Web.com Tour next week at the Pacific Rubliales Colombia Championship presented by Claro.

Below are select quotes from the call with Mackenzie Hughes:

On his preparation for the upcoming Web.com Tour season: “I’ve been taking some time off to get fully prepared for the year. Since the PGA TOUR Canada season ended, I’ve played a few (NEC Series) PGA TOUR Latinoamérica events last fall to stay competitive, but I wanted to make sure I was rested and had a chance to take care of a few things off the course. I’m feeling relaxed and I’ve had a chance to work on my game and get ready for the upcoming year, and I’m really excited heading into next week.”

On reflecting on his PGA TOUR Canada season in 2013: “Even when you say it now, looking back and thinking about four top-10s and a win in my first season, it doesn’t seem real. To have the season that I did in my first year as a professional was a dream come true. I definitely set high goals for myself, but to have the season that I did was huge, especially after getting off to a slow start and missing the first few cuts. Starting off slow was definitely a mental test, but it helped me learn to grind it out and to get the most out of my game.”

On the experience of playing PGA TOUR Canada: “It definitely helped me a lot as a player. In the few PGA TOUR events that I have played, I thought it was really similar in terms of the setup, the fans and having galleries on the weekend, the leaderboards and things like that. It’s almost like a mini PGA TOUR. It was great for me to get out to places I’ve never been to before. I had never been to Victoria, I had never been to a few of the other places we played. That helped me a lot as a professional. And as far as the competition goes, any time you have access to the Web.com Tour, you’re going to get guys to come up and play. With the American guys coming up and some of the international players, the competition is really, really strong.”

On playing in his first major at the 2013 U.S. Open: “From the moment I qualified, it felt like the doors were opening. It seemed like something good was about to happen. Everything about the whole week I would do over and over again. I got to play some practice rounds with Lee Westwood and Brandt Snedeker, and later with Mike Weir, Adam Hadwin and David Hearn, and just picking up a few things from those guys helped a lot.”

On the announcement of the Nova Scotia Open on the Web.com Tour: “I think it’s great for us as players to see the game growing in Canada. I think it all goes back to Mike (Weir) winning the Masters in 2003, and now to see Graham (DeLaet), David (Hearn) and Brad (Fritsch) playing well on the PGA TOUR and guys like myself, Albin (Choi), Nick Taylor and Matt Hill coming up, I think the future’s very bright for the game here. The more opportunities we have to play here in Canada the better.”

Sandra Craig has devoted much of her adult life to the game of golf.

As the current president of Alberta Golf, Craig has been tirelessly volunteering across her home province for over a decade.

Known as ‘Sandy’ to many, Craig has been a vital component in Alberta Golf’s Sport Development and Championship portfolios. She has chaired both committees as well as many individual team events and tournaments.

Craig began her journey with the Alberta Golf family in 2001 and has been working diligently ever since. Over the last two years as president of the association, she has worked in transitioning Alberta Golf from an operational to a policy governance board. The new structure required full-time commitment and Craig was instrumental in making this happen.

Notably, Craig has chaired both the Sport Development and Championship committees, as well as many individual team events and tournaments.

She will be fondly remember at Alberta Golf for her continued leadership of the Alberta Open and for her role in raising over $100,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation through that process.

This year marks the conclusion of her presidency but her legacy will be remembered for one of hard work, commitment, determination and more importantly for bestowing to the golf industry a modernized version of Alberta Golf that is ready to meet the future’s oncoming challenges.

The Volunteer of Year Award will be presented Saturday, February 8 at the closing dinner of Golf Canada’s Annual General meeting in London, Ont. This is the eighth year for the initiative which recognizes individuals in the golf community whose tireless efforts and dedication help to grow the game in Canada.

Here’s a look at Craig’s dedication to golf in Alberta over the past decade:

Alberta Golf Achievements

 2001

Junior Zone 2&3 Captain and Board Member

E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair

2002

Junior Zone 2&3 Captain and Board Member

Alberta Junior Ladies Championship Chairman

E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair

Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp

 2003

Junior Ladies Committee Chair & Board Member

Senior Men’s Championship Chairman

Senior Ladies’ Championship Chairman

E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair

Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp

 2004

Junior Ladies Committee Chair & Board Member

Junior Girls Championship and Team Trials Chairman

Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp

 2005

Zone 2 Member Services Captain & Board Member

Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman

Senior Ladies’ Championship Chairman

2006

Zone 2 Member Services Captain & Board Member

Ladies Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman

Calgary and South Zone 4 Ball Championship Chairman

Bantam Championship Chairman

 2007

Calgary Zone Director and Board Member

Senior Ladies` Championship Chairman

Jr Boys Qualifying Chairman

Bantam Championship Chairman

2008

Tournament Director and Board Member

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Men`s Amateur Championship Chairman

Ladies` Amateur Championship Chairman

2009

Tournament Director and Board Member

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Men`s Amateur Championship Chairman

Calgary and South Zone 4 Ball Championship Chairman

Junior Girls Championship and Team Trials Chairman

 2010

Calgary Zone Director and Board Member

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

 2011

Vice President of the Board

Led the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Amateur Qualifying Chairman

Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman

Senior Ladies` Championship Chairman

2012

President and Chairman of the Board

Implemented the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Standing Committee Member: Nominating Committee

2013

President and Chairman of the Board

Fine-tuned the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach

Standing Committee Member: Human Resources and Compensation, Nominating Committees

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Graeme McDowell twisted his back and swung a club to loosen his joints in the morning chill of February at Pebble Beach, a course that looked nothing like he remembered it.

“I was a little more warmed up the last time I played here,” he said.

The first fairway, once lined with thousands of fans, was empty on this day. The putting surfaces were emerald green. McDowell recalls them being closer to brown. That was the U.S. Open, his first major. This is the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-am.

For three years, McDowell had little incentive to return to the scene of his greatest individual feat.

“It’s not going to get any better than how it felt last time I was here,” McDowell said. “It was pretty tough to top the experience that weekend — the emotions, my dad, winning my first major championship. Doesn’t get any better than that. So I really wasn’t in a rush to come back.”

He found two good reasons to return, starting with the silver-haired man who joined him on the tee with a smile bigger than Stillwater Cove.

Kenny McDowell walked at least 108 holes the week of the 2010 U.S. Open, which included two practice rounds. McDowell’s father was on the 18th green after the final shot, embracing him as he said “You’re something, kid.”

They are partners this week, a treat for both of them.

“Being here brings it all back,” the father said. “Being able to play in the tournament, it’s a dream come true. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it justice, but I’ll be trying.”

Kenny McDowell has a handicap index of 12. He was never a great golfer, just a great father for an aspiring golfer. McDowell recalls his father organizing tournaments for the kids at Portrush, driving them across Ireland for competitions. He was involved in golf without knowing enough about the swing to meddle.

He talked about the long summer days when his son would sneak onto Portrush and play into the darkness.

“We used to have to go looking for him,” Kenny McDowell said. “My wife would say, ‘He could be playing golf at night.’ I said, ‘I’ll tell you exactly where they are.’ I would drive out to the car park. There’s a big bush at the back of 17 green and the next thing you’d hear is, ‘I’m coming out.”’

They played together in the Dunhill Links Championship, a European Tour event in Scotland modeled after Pebble Beach. It doesn’t attract the kind of crowds expected for Saturday for all the celebrities. The McDowells are playing with Jason Bohn and actor Chris O’Donnell. Right behind them will be two-time Pebble winner Dustin Johnson with Wayne Gretzky (his future father-in-law), and John Daly with Kid Rock. In front of them will be actor Lucas Black and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith.

Peyton Manning was a late entry into the field, just a few days after a Super Bowl loss to Seattle. He played a practice round Wednesday with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who will be playing with his own quarterback (Tom Brady) when the tournament starts Thursday.

Pebble Beach is serious business on Sunday, all about the celebrities on Saturday and plenty of fun leading up to that point.

For the McDowells, the week already got off to an ideal start.

They played San Francisco Golf Club, Cypress Point and Monterey Peninsula even before getting to Pebble Beach. There were memories on every hole, such as the shot into 8 feet on the par-3 fifth for his lone birdie of a brutal final round. Kenny McDowell couldn’t help but think of Dustin Johnson’s triple bogey as he walked up the second fairway.

“If that had been Graeme, I’d have been back in the bar,” he said.

The 18th was special, without being over the top. McDowell called it a “poignant moment,” though he didn’t want to get too wrapped up in the memory that he is defined by it.

“Emotionally, I don’t think that moment will be beaten in my career,” McDowell said. “But I’m not going to put Pebble up there on a pedestal and say, ‘That is the highlight of my career,’ because I want more. I want more Pebbles, I want more major championships, I want more things.

“So there’s a fine balance between getting too obsessed by it emotionally,” he said. “It’s fun to be out there and just reconnect a little bit with my thoughts and feelings that day.”

More than the ultimate Father-Son golf trip, McDowell has a big season ahead of him in a Ryder Cup year. He hasn’t played since the World Challenge two months ago. He typically starts his year at Riviera, a tough place to shake off the rust. Along with playing Pebble with his father, McDowell said it would be a good week to play without putting too much emphasis on results before heading into the meat of his season.

“At least by the end of the week, I’ll know where I’m at,” McDowell said.

Until then, he’ll have no trouble remembering where he is at Pebble Beach.

Registration opens today for Golf Canada’s Amateur Championships, CN Future Links and Canadian Women’s Tour events.

Competitors looking to play in one of Golf Canada’s eight national amateur championships, six CN Future Links stops or three Canadian Women’s Tour events can view the championship schedule and register online by clicking here.

Canadian Women’s Tour returns for its 13^th season

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour – Canada’s only women’s professional golf tour.

This season’s scheduled stops include May 12-14 at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C., June 23-25 at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont. and the Tour’s final stop set for early July in Alberta to be announced in the coming days.

New for 2014, the top five (previously the top 3) players on the Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into LPGA Stage 2 Qualifying.

In addition, the champion of each Canadian Women’s Tour stop will receive an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. As well, following the conclusion of play at the final Canadian Women’s Tour event, two (2) additional exemptions will be awarded to the top competitors, not otherwise exempt, on the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.

Groove Specifications for 2014 Golf Canada Championships

Golf Canada has determined our plans to implement the new groove specifications for our championships starting in 2014. The Rules Committee recently approved the following:

• Introduce the groove condition of competition for the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur and the 2014 Canadian Women’s Amateur.  Note: this does not automatically include the qualifying events for these championships.  Please refer to the conditions of competitions at your respective provincial amateur championships.

• Introduce the groove condition of competition at all other championships (national amateur championships, CN Future Links, and Canadian Women’s Tour events) beginning in 2016.

For more information on the groove specification: Groove FAQ for Golf Canada Championships

Thirty golfers have been named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List including Canadians Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont.

The Ben Hogan Award is the most prestigious award in men’s college golf and is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all college and amateur competitions during a one-year period.

Both in their senior year at Kent State University, Conners and Pendrith have excelled on the collegiate and national level. Conners is currently the highest ranked Canadian amateur in the world at No. 22, while Pendrith sits at No. 28.

As the reigning Jones Cup champion, Conners was also semi-finalist at the U.S. Men’s Amateur championship and runner-up at the Canadian Men’s Amateur championship this summer. In NCAA action, he became the first back-to-back champion of the Gopher Invitational in 2013.

Pendrith, 22, captured the prestigious 2013 Porter Cup and also finished tied for second at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. This fall at Kent State, he finished runner-up at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational.

A list of 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the current list, will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. On Wednesday, May 7, that group will be pared down to three finalists. The winner will be crowned at a black-tie banquet at Colonial Country Club on Sunday, May 18, prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Notable past champions of the Ben Hogan Award include PGA TOUR stars, Hunter Mahan (2003), Bill Haas (2004), Ryan Moore (2005), Rickie Fowler (2008), Kyle Stanley (2009). The lone Canadian to win the award was the Web.com TOUR’s Nick Taylor (2004).

For the complete listing of the 30 players named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List click here.

Conners is no stranger to the big stage – he finished as a semi-finalist at last year’s U.S. Men’s Amateur, for one. Although that accomplishment alone is impressive, the 21-year-old was still yearning for that big win.

The National Team member calmly displays a strong amount of confidence both on and off the golf course. It’s not often you see him give a tiger-esque fist pump or the popular club twirl. It’s more likely the Kent State senior masks his emotions until the round is complete. Having that skillset is very valuable in high-pressure situations, which Conners found himself in when he relinquished a lead on Sunday to enter a playoff in one of the most prestigious amateur events in the world

GC: Tell us what was going through your head in the hours after the big win?

CC: Obviously it’s a pretty awesome feeling. It’s a very prestigious event and I am very excited to get the win and also looking forward to the rest of the season here at school. I have a lot of confidence moving forward.

GC: Would you say this is the biggest win of your career?

CC: I’ve had some pretty special moments on the golf course but to be able to win a big tournament like the Jones Cup is a really great feeling. It’s definitely at the top for me.

GC: Do you feel like you’ve been chasing this win for a while?

CC: You know what (he hesitates).. I’ve been very proud of how I have played in big events, going back to the U.S. Men’s Am in the summer. It’s never fun to lose in a spot like that but it never really bothered me too much.

GC: What happened on the 18^th hole?

The 18^th hole is so difficult – it’s a long par-5 into the wind on the final day. I played some great golf throughout the week so I tried to keep my composure and just stick to my game plan. I actually thought I had a two-shot lead so that tells you I wasn’t paying too much attention to the leaderboard.

GC: Was anyone caddying for you?

CC: No. I carried my own bag – I’m used to caddying for myself in collegiate events so it’s not a big deal for me. Also, I didn’t have anyone like Garrett (Rank) available (he said with a laugh). Rank, also a National Team member, caddied for Conners at the 2013 U.S. Men’s Amateur.

GC: What was your game plan for this course?

CC: Ocean Forest is so difficult, you can really make yourself look silly by putting yourself in the wrong position. I played the course last year so I already had some great notes in my yardage book. Walking the course with DI (Derek Ingram) was awesome, just really talked about the best places to leave the ball around the green. Basically put a lot of focus on putting the ball in the fairway off the tee and then making smart decisions from there.

GC: Who was the first person you called after the win?

First person I called was Derek – he was unable to stay the full day. After that, I called my girlfriend. My cell phone wasn’t actually working right after the tournament so I had a bunch of texts come in later on.

GC: What’s next for you?

I’m back at school now. We’ve just started our practices and basically going at it every day. Our first college event is the start of March so I’ve got a little bit of time to let it sink in and keep working hard to keep my game in top shape.

 Men’s National Team Head Coach Derek Ingram weighs in on the big win

Men’s National Team Head Coach, Derek Ingram, was in Georgia assisting Conners at the event. He couldn’t be more excited for his student and the very bright future that is ahead of him.

“I’m so thrilled for him it’s one of the biggest amateur events in the world and this is one of the best wins we have ever had with the program” he said enthusiastically. “We got into a really nice routine where we would assess the round and study the greens – he’s very smart, you know. He has such a great golf IQ”.

He also went on to describe Conners’ mental game and how that helped in his win.

“He really managed his emotions and adrenaline level which also made a really big difference for him. It couldn’t have happened to a better guy”.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Even without the math associated with the Official World Golf Ranking, it might not be easy to determine which players get into the 64-man field for the Match Play Championship in Arizona at the end of the month.

The first World Golf Championship of the year is for the top 64 in the world ranking.

Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott already have confirmed they won’t be playing — Scott because of his poor record (especially at Dove Mountain), Mickelson because his children are on spring break that week. Tiger Woods also is unlikely to play, which would be the first time he missed Match Play when healthy and it was played in America.

There was talk that Justin Rose might miss that week, though that was before he injured his shoulder. Rose now is scheduled to make his 2014 debut next week at Riviera, and depending on how it goes, he is likely to play in Arizona to make up for lost time.

So the absentee list could include three or four players, meaning the magic number is either No. 67 or No. 68 — or deeper if anyone else withdraws. Scott Piercy, for example, has been dealing with an elbow injury. He’s at No. 65 in the world.

This is the final week to qualify for the Match Play, though players have until next Friday (Feb. 14) to officially commit.

So who’s on the bubble?

The only players competing this week are Richard Sterne (No. 64) in the Joburg Open, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (No. 66) at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Bo Van Pelt (No. 73) at Pebble and D.A. Points (No. 75) at Pebble.

Brooks Koepka finished third in Dubai last week and moved to No. 68, one spot of Florida roommate Peter Uihlein. Neither is playing this week. Uihlein, a former U.S. Amateur champion, missed the cut in Dubai by one shot after his 3-wood to the par-5 18th in the second round caromed off the grandstands and back across the green into the water. That missed cut could end up costing him a spot in a WGC.

Four players worked their way into the top 64 by winning this year — Patrick Reed (Humana Challenge), Scott Stallings (Torrey Pines), Pablo Larrazabal (Abu Dhabi), Stephen Gallacher (Dubai) and Kevin Stadler (Phoenix). Mikko Ilonen also secured a spot by finishing second in Qatar and fifth in Dubai.

Students in their third year of Niagara College’s Business Administration-Professional Golf Management (Co-op) class recently welcomed Scott Simmons, Golf Canada’s Executive Director and CEO.

The students presented Simmons with a donation of $1,500 to Golf Canada in support of the National Golf in Schools program. The funds will be used to sponsor three schools in the Niagara region – Princess Margaret Elementary (Niagara Falls), St Francis Xavier (Stoney Creek) and Greendale Public School (Niagara Falls).

“On behalf of Golf Canada, I’m proud of the continued fundraising efforts of Niagara College students who understand the important link that Golf in Schools creates between the education and golf communities,” said Simmons. “The students and administrators with the Golf Management program understand the important of investing in grassroots golf – introducing the game to young golf enthusiasts who we hope will develop an interest and passion for our sport.”

Professor of the PGM program Grant Fraser continues to see the benefits of this initiative for both the community and his students.

“I believe that it is important for the golf community to support the Golf in Schools program. Our golf management students at Niagara College are part of that community,” said Fraser. “One of the key topics we discuss in our Event Management class is the importance of giving back and doing what we can to help grow the game of golf in the Niagara region. Supporting Golf Canada’s Golf in Schools program helps us do this.”

This was the third year that his students have supported the Golf in Schools program. In the past, they have adopted Fitch Street Public School, Fort Erie Secondary and Glen Ridge PS. The students have increased their fundraising total in each of the three years and hope to continue the streak in the future.

This year’s funds were raised through the students’ third-annual PGM Invitation Charity Golf Tournament which was held at Beechwood Golf and Country Club in Niagara Falls. Students sold raffle and 50/50 tickets and also held a silent auction to raise funds. Fundraising efforts will continue in 2014 when third-year students host the second annual industry showcase at the College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus.

Golf in Schools introduces the game of golf to thousands of students in the country by integrating golf into school physical education programs. With 4.5 million students enrolled at 10,000 elementary and 4,500 high schools, the Canadian school physical education system is the single most concentrated opportunity to introduce children of all backgrounds to the sport of golf, according to Golf Canada.

To find out more about the Golf in Schools program click here.

The PGA TOUR and SportBox Entertainment Group formally announced today details about the Web.com Tour coming to the Canadian province of Nova Scotia for the first time and being the centerpiece of “GOLFest Nova Scotia,” a week-long celebration of golf during Canada Day week.

GOLFest Nova Scotia will feature the Nova Scotia Open, the Canada Cup and the Junior Canada Cup and be a celebration of national pride and all things golf in Canada. Activities will begin on Sunday, June 29^th and conclude when the last putt drops on Sunday, July 6^th.  The festival is being produced by SportBox in partnership with the city of Halifax, the province of Nova Scotia, the Atlantic Golf Organization and the PGA TOUR. All official events will be held at the New Course at Ashburn Golf Club in the Halifax suburb of Windsor Junction.

 Nova Scotia Open

The Nova Scotia Open will be the Web.com Tour’s first official event in Nova Scotia and bring significant exposure to Halifax and Nova Scotia across Canada, the United States and around the world.  It is one of 25 Web.com Tour events that will identify the 50 Web.com Tour members who earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2014-15 season.

The Open will feature a field of 156 golfers competing over 72 holes of stroke play (July 3-6) for a purse of $650,000 US.  Host Ashburn Golf Club’s New Course is a 7,014-yard par-72 layout that was designed by Geoffrey Cornish and opened in 1970. A pro-am will be played on Wednesday, July 2^nd.  All four rounds of the Nova Scotia Open will be produced in HD and televised in the United States on Golf Channel, which is available in 81 million households. The same Golf Channel telecasts will air in Canada all four days. Internationally, the tournament will be distributed in 192 countries and territories, including much of Asia, Latin America and Europe, via PGA TOUR Entertainment.

 Canada Cup

The Canada Cup will kick off the professional golf experience on Monday, June 30^th. It will be a head-to-head battle between Team Canada vs. the World for friendly bragging rights. In 2014, Team Canada will be represented by three PGA TOUR stars, Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet and David Hearn, as well as a top Canadian member of the Web.com Tour. Team Canada will face off in an 18-hole competition against three international PGA TOUR stars and a top international member of the Web.com Tour, all of whom will be announced in the future. The Canada Cup will also feature a nine-hole morning pro-am event prior to the Team Canada vs. the World match.

 Junior Canada Cup

Conducted in partnership with the Canadian Junior Golf Association, the Junior Canada Cup will serve as a platform for the awareness, support and growth of Canadian grassroots golf.  A one-of-a-kind experience for the next generation of Canadian golfers, the Junior Canada Cup will feature six-person teams in an Eastern Canada vs. Western Canada showdown, held the day before the Canada Cup, Sunday, June 29^th. A series of six qualifying events – three in Eastern Canada and three in Western Canada – will be held to determine the six players for both teams.

“The Web.com Tour is extremely excited to be coming to Nova Scotia for the first time this summer,” said Web.com Tour president Bill Calfee.  “The Nova Scotia Open and GOLFest activities will give golf fans of Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia a reason to be at Ashburn Golf Club every day to celebrate Canada Day week. The Web.com Tour’s season-long quest for the 50 available PGA TOUR cards for 2014-15 will feature players from Canada, the United States and all around the globe and be in full swing when the Tour reaches Halifax. The Web.com Tour looks forward to a special week in Nova Scotia!”

While the Web.com Tour will be making its first appearance in Nova Scotia, the Tour has previously played events in Calgary, the greater Toronto area and, most recently, Clarksburg, Ont., in conjunction with Wayne Gretzky and his Foundation.

No. 1 Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. leads that group of graduates onto the Web.com Tour in 2014 as they pursue their goal of playing on the PGA TOUR. In 2014, there are 36 PGA TOUR Canada members who earned Web.com Tour membership (32 via the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament in December and four via top-five finishers on either PGA TOUR Canada or NEC Series-PGA TOUR Latinoamérica). There are 11 Canadian-born members.

Mackenzie won PGA TOUR Canada’s Cape Breton Celtic Classic last September.  The Classic returns to The Lakes Golf Club in Ben Eoin, Nova Scotia in early September.

Twelve Canadian-born players have won a total of 18 times on the Web.com Tour since the Tour’s inception in 1990. The list includes Glen Hnatiuk, who has the most wins (4), Jon Mills, David Morland IV and Rick Todd, all of whom have two wins a piece, and current PGA TOUR member David Hearn.

The 2014 Web.com Tour season kicks off next Thursday (Feb. 13) at the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship presented by Claro in Bogotá, the first of 25 tournaments that will result in 50 players securing their PGA TOUR playing privileges for 2014-2015 based on money lists from both the 21-event Regular Season and the four-event Finals that conclude in September.

Among the 290 players who have Web.com Tour eligibility in 2014 are recent collegiate/amateur standouts and new Tour members Daniel Berger, Blayne Barber, Albin Choi (Toronto, Ont.), Steven Fox, Max Homa, Michael Kim, Nick Taylor (Winnipeg, Man.), Justin Thomas, T.J. Vogel and Eugene Wong (Vancouver, B.C.), Qualifying Tournament Finals’ medalist Zack Fischer, plus four sons of former PGA TOUR winners Olin Browne, Jr., Tyler McCumber, Jamison Sindelar and Matt Weibring.