BERTHOUD, Colo. – Canadian Taylor Pendrith is in contention for his first Korn Ferry Tour victory with one round to go at the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes.

Pendrith, of Richmond Hill, Ont., fired a 5-under 67 on Friday to reach 11 under through three rounds – leaving him in a tie for second place only one stroke back of leader Will Zalatoris.

Pendrith began the day in sixth after shooting 68-70 in the first two rounds. He followed that up on Friday with his best round of the tournament, going bogey free with five birdies to climb the leaderboard.

Zalatoris got to 12 under by shooting 70, while Erik Barnes sits tied with Pendrith after matching him with a 67.

Pendrith’s best finish this season came two weeks ago at The King and Bear Classic at World Golf Village, where he placed 14th.

Pendrith, who earned two victories last season on Canada’s Mackenzie Tour, is the top-ranked Canadian on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour, sitting 49th.

Meanwhile, Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., has moved into the Top 10 with 18 holes to play. He is 7 under following a 4-under 68, while Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald is 2 over after firing a 75.

Taylor Pendrith isn’t used to his weekly nasal swabbing just yet, but he’s getting there.

Pendrith and his peers on the Korn Ferry Tour get tested for COVID-19 at the start of every week as part of the second-tier golf tour’s safety protocols as it restarts its season. The Richmond Hill, Ont., native passed his most recent test, allowing him to compete at this week’s King & Bear Classic.

“They’re uncomfortable but it’s only 10 seconds, it’s not too bad,” said Pendrith a day after his most recent swabbing. “Not something I would want to get every Monday for the rest of the year but it might have to be that way.”

Golfers are not allowed to play on the Korn Ferry Tour until they get back a negative result from their weekly test. They’re also asked to stay in Tour-sanctioned hotels, fly in chartered planes filled exclusively with players and caddies, and generally try to stay within their bubble. Caddies are also armed with sanitizing wipes to clean off rakes and flagsticks after they’re used.

Pendrith says all these steps have helped him feel safe after the Korn Ferry Tour resumed play last Thursday at the Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass.

“The Tour’s done a really good job of trying to put everything in place, different measures to allow us to compete,” said Pendrith.

“All the guys out here and the staff and everybody involved in the tournament have been doing a really good job of following the guidelines.”

Although Pendrith recognizes that the unscheduled three-month break in professional golf’s calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic was hard on the industry, it had some benefits for him personally.

Pendrith returned home to Canada when golf _ like all professional sports _ suspended play. He had struggled at the start of the season with a flu that became bronchitis and also used the time off to heal up an injured shoulder.

Most importantly, he proposed to his girlfriend Meg Beirnes, a registered nurse in the hematology and stem cell transplant department at Hamilton General Hospital.

“I had other plans but obviously they got changed with the pandemic,” said Pendrith. “But it’s super exciting for us and hopefully I get to see her soon once the border opens up but for now we’re in different countries, relying on Zoom calls.”

Pendrith is tied for third at 7-under with seven other golfers at the week’s King & Bear Classic. He entered the tournament ranked 64th. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. is tied for 25th at 5-under and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. is tied at 144th at 2-over.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The Korn Ferry Tour announced today additional modifications and details regarding the restart of the 2020 schedule and a fall calendar of events that will be part of a one-time, combined 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour season.

The announcement of a fall schedule comes after the PGA TOUR announced last week that, due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancelation or postponement of 13 events from the 2019-20 TOUR Season, eligibility has been extended for exempt 2019-20 PGA TOUR members for the 2020-21 season. These adjustments will result in the Korn Ferry Tour not having a graduating class in 2020; however, the TOUR has established a performance benefit for the top 10 from the Korn Ferry Tour points list following the conclusion of the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance. Those players will be granted access into all PGA TOUR additional events for the 2020-21 season.

The newly created 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour schedule that will bridge two seasons will conclude with 25 PGA TOUR cards awarded at the 2021 WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz, with an additional 25 cards awarded at the conclusion of the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Finals.

With six events completed through the El Bosque Mexico Championship by INNOVA, the remaining 2020 schedule – subject to change – now consists of 23 events. Korn Ferry Tour events to be contested in 2021 as part of the combined 2020-21 schedule will be announced later this year.

“While we won’t have the opportunity to graduate a Korn Ferry Tour Class in 2020, we feel our reimagined wraparound schedule – with newly created playing opportunities – is the best solution to our season that has been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. “We greatly appreciate the support of our tournaments, title sponsors and Player Advisory Council in getting to this point. As we’ve said on several occasions, we will resume play only when it is deemed safe to do so by leading health authorities and government agencies and our tournaments do not negatively impact the critical efforts in the healthcare world and our communities.”

The restart to the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season will begin as previously announced with the Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The event will now be followed by a second event in Northeast Florida at The King & Bear Course at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. This new tournament takes the place of the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth, which will move to one of the newly created fall dates.

The Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank – the Tour’s first event back on Golf Channel – will remain as scheduled the week of June 22-28 in Farmington, Utah, while the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes in Berthoud, Colorado, moves up one week into the June 29-July 5 date.

Following the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes, the Tour will contest two new events at TPC San Antonio – host of the PGA TOUR’s Valero Texas Open – in back-to-back weeks, starting July 6-18. The first event will be played on the Canyons Course, while the second event would be hosted on the Oaks Course, which is the official tournament course for the Valero Texas Open.

“As we look toward a return to golf, the health and safety of everyone associated with the Korn Ferry Tour and our communities will remain our No. 1 priority,” said Baldwin. “With the impact sustained thus far to our 2020 schedule, it was imperative that we strive to create new playing opportunities for our membership, including these four events that were not on our original schedule.”

The Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS in Springfield, Illinois, will move from the week of July 13-19 to one of the new fall dates, which leaves the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper in Springfield, Missouri, as the first of six events on the original 2020 calendar that will remain as scheduled through the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance.

In addition to the Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS and the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth, the Evans Scholars Invitational in Chicago, and the Savannah Golf Championship in Savannah, Georgia, were also rescheduled for the new fall season. The inaugural Orange County National Championship presented by Knight 39 will be played near Orlando the week of October 5-11.

Revised 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Season schedule

• June 8-14: Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass, TPC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley), Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
• June 15-20: The King & Bear Classic at World Golf Village, The King & Bear GC at World Golf Village, St. Augustine, Florida (Saturday finish)
• June 22-28: Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank, Oakridge CC, Farmington, Utah
• June 29-July 5: TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes, TPC Colorado, Berthoud, Colorado
• July 6-12: TPC San Antonio Challenge at the Canyons, TPC San Antonio (Canyons Course), San Antonio, Texas
• July 13-18: TPC San Antonio Championship at the Oaks, TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas (Saturday finish)
• July 20-26: Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, Highland Springs CC, Springfield, Missouri
• July 27-August 2: Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Aetna, The Club at Indian Creek, Omaha, Nebraska
• August 3-9: WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz, Pumpkin Ridge GC (Witch Hollow), North Plains, Oregon
• August 10-16: Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco, Hillcrest CC, Boise, Idaho
• August 17-23: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, Ohio State University GC (Scarlet Course), Columbus, Ohio
• August 24-30: Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance, Victoria National GC, Newburgh, Indiana
• August 31-September 6: Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS, Panther Creek CC, Springfield, Illinois
• September 7-13 : Evans Scholars Invitational, TBD, Chicago, Illinois
• September 21-27: Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth, Crestview CC, Wichita, Kansas
• September 28-October 4: Savannah Golf Championship, The Landings Club (Deer Creek), Savannah, Georgia
• October 5-11: Orange County National Championship presented by Knight 39, Orange County Golf Center & Lodge (Panther Lake), Winter Garden, Florida

The Korn Ferry Tour will resume play with at least the first four events closed to the general public while continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market. Decisions on fan attendance at all events thereafter will be dependent on available protocols that could be implemented to ensure the health and well-being for all involved.

For more information on the Korn Ferry Tour, please visit PGATOUR.com.

Before Mike Weir begins his time on PGA TOUR Champions in May, he threw back the clock on the Korn Ferry Tour. On a leaderboard chalk full of golf’s up-and-coming stars, many of whom are half of Weir’s age, the 2003 Masters champion was holding his own.

That never-give-up attitude has never left Weir, even when it seemed like his game had.

“My mindset was, ‘go as low as you can,’” says Weir of his T17 finish at the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic. It was Weir’s highest result at a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament since 2014.

“As I approach the (PGA Tour Champions) I’ve felt a different energy and I think being around the guys at the Presidents Cup, playing with young guys on the Korn Ferry Tour, you feel like you can compete at that level. I feel good and it energizes you.”

Canada’s @MikeWeir has not recorded a top-20 finish since 2014.

He’s currently T3 at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, one off the lead.

Less than three months from joining @ChampionsTour. pic.twitter.com/Ik3Mb8AL08

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) February 16, 2020

Weir was one of Ernie Els’ captain’s assistants at Royal Melbourne in December, and this year he’s had an open schedule playing on the Korn Ferry Tour before he turns 50 in May.

The eight-time PGA Tour winner says he’s been working with a swing coach, Mark Blackburn, a trainer, Jason Glass, and a sports psychologist, Rich Gordon. It doesn’t sound like Weir, who is off on a ski trip before returning to action in a few weeks on the Korn Ferry Tour, is slowing down any time soon.

“Golf’s a game where you have to have everything working well. You have to have your mind in the right place. The balance in my life is good,” he says. “All those things I’ve been working hard on are paying off.”

Things were bleak for Weir just a few years ago as he battled a myriad of injuries and was in a bit of no man’s land with respect to his status on the PGA Tour.

The Korn Ferry Tour has special exemption category for golfers 48-49 before they turn 50. Since Weir has earned more than $28-million in his PGA Tour career, he was one of the highest-earners trying to play the Korn Ferry Tour out of that special category. He could pick and choose his schedule. But prior to getting to that magic number, Weir tried teeing it up wherever he could – including in Europe and Australia.

But at no point did he think of giving up.

“Even when I was really struggling I never thought that. I know what kind of player I am and I know that wasn’t what I was showing on the golf course,” he explains. “There were a number of things I had to iron out through injury and getting back through mobility and technique. I took it as a big challenge.”

Drew Weaver, who played with Weir for the first two rounds at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, says Weir had a great attitude and a renewed perspective since last year. The two met in 2007 when Weaver played The Open Championship as an amateur. At that point, Weir was 40th in the world.

“He still has a ton of game,” says Weaver. “His chipping has always been incredible and his ball-striking was great. It was nice to see him play as well as he did tee-to-green.”

Part of Weir’s inspiration – aside from the jolt he got from playing on the Korn Ferry Tour like Weaver or being in the Presidents Cup team room – is to see how well his fellow Canadians are doing on the PGA Tour.

He was travelling all day Sunday during Nick Taylor’s win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but he got to his hotel in time to watch Taylor play No’s 17 and 18 and seal the deal. The tournament, where Weir finished runner-up twice – in 2005 and 2009 – is an important one, Weir says, and he was thrilled to see a Canadian lift the trophy.

JERSEY CITY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 28: (L-R) Mike Weir of Canada and Captainís Assistant of the International Team and Adam Hadwin look on during the Thursday foursomes matches of the first round of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club on September 28, 2017, in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Scott Halleran/PGA TOUR)

Taylor’s win got him into the Masters. For just the second time ever, there will be a foursome of guys waving the red-and-white at Augusta National.

“For a number of years it’s just been myself and one other guy and sometimes two. You get more numbers there, you have more chances to win,” Weir says.

And, he’s not counting out the potential for another addition.

Weir points to the success Australian and South African golfers have had on the major championship stage.

“We have that kind of talent,” says Weir. “Someone is going to break through here and win a major championship sooner rather than later. It’s been a long time since I’ve won so we’re due for someone else to do it.”

While it’s unlikely Weir will be competing at other majors other than the Masters – never say never, though – he’s got a strong focus on where he will be moving forward.

He says he has no plans to play more Korn Ferry Tour events after he turns 50, but he’ll mix in a few before May. He’s also playing the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship on the PGA Tour before heading to Augusta. Canadian fans will see Weir at the RBC Canadian Open in June, too.

HAMILTON, ONTARIO – JUNE 06: Nick Taylor of Canada shakes hands with Mike Weir of Canada and David Hearn of Canada after their round in the first round of the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club on June 06, 2019 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, he’ll celebrate the graduation of his eldest daughter from university in late-April. His youngest daughter has just begun university herself, so Weir is becoming an empty nester like most parents his age.

But most parents don’t have the opportunity to re-start their career at 50 with a renewed sense of optimism (or a Green Jacket).

“I’m not saying there wasn’t frustrating moments, but my brain doesn’t work that way,” says Weir of the last few years. “I always believed that I was going to find a way to get better and get it done and find a way back out of it.”

PANAMÁ CITY, Panamá — Taylor Pendrith backed up his opening-round 63 at the Panamá Championship with a second-round 2-under 68 to reach 9-under 131 through 36 holes. The Canadian leads Max McGreevy and Greyson Sigg by two heading into Saturday’s third round.

Beginning on the back nine, Pendrith stumbled out of the gate with a bogey at the par-5 12^th. He made his first birdie of the day at the par-4 14^th and began to settle in. He closed his opening nine with four pars to stay at 7-under for the week.

Pendrith, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, found his rhythm after making the turn. He carded birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 to reach 9-under for the tournament. The 28-year-old played his final six holes at even-par to take a two-stroke lead into Saturday.

“I’m pleased with 2-under. It could’ve been better probably, but it also could’ve been a few shots higher,” Pendrith said. “I think I should be in a good position for the weekend.”

After carding nine birdies on Thursday, Pendrith struggled with his ball striking during the second round. The Kent State University product instead relied on his short game Friday to stay atop the leaderboard.

“I played well but didn’t really hit as many greens as I did yesterday,” he said. “My short game definitely saved me. I hit a lot of nice chips shots and bunker shots and made a lot of putts again.”

Players faced complex conditions at the Club de Golf de Panamá on Friday as gusts of wind reached 23 mph. After playing in soft conditions on Thursday, the wind provided players a different challenge during the second round.

“It’s definitely firming up,” Pendrith said of the course. “I hit some drives that went way further than I expected and had to plan where to land the ball on some greens. It was windier today and I found it a lot trickier to try and get the ball close to the hole.”

#TeamCanada’s @TaylorPendrith leads by 2 heading into the weekend on the @KornFerryTour ?? pic.twitter.com/RaOYnAG3k8

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) February 1, 2020

Max McGreevy and Greyson Sigg sit T2 at 7-under 133. After opening with a first-round 70, McGreevy caught fire on Friday posting a bogey-free 7-under 63. The 24-year-old began his second round with birdies on three of his first four holes. He went on to make the turn at 4-under and tallied three more birdies over his final nine holes.

“I just finally got the putter rolling today,” McGreevy said. “I hit it well yesterday but just didn’t really get anything going. I made two 15-footers on the first two holes and just felt pretty confident the rest of the round with the putter.”

In 2019, McGreevy traveled overseas to play on the PGA TOUR Series – China. McGreevy made the cut in all 13 starts in China and added a victory and nine top-10s. His stellar play earned him Player of the Year honors and a return to the Korn Ferry Tour.

“Having such a solid year over there gives me a lot of confidence,” he said. “Every single time I step up to the tee box out here, I have that same mentality that I can hopefully be up at the top of the leaderboard every single week.”

Sigg, who began the day at 6-under, struggled over his first nine holes. Beginning his round on the back nine, the 24-year-old carded two bogeys against one birdie to make the turn at 5-under for the tournament. After beginning his second nine with five pars, he tallied birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 to get back to 7-under for the week.

“I knew I was right there and still playing good,” Sigg said. “I just wanted to give myself four or five looks coming in and I was able to make a couple of them.”

Sigg is making just the third start of his Korn Ferry Tour career. The University of Georgia product earned guaranteed starts for the 2020 season after finishing T7 at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. He is making the first start of his career in Panamá after recording back-to-back top-25s to start the 2020 season.

“I’ve been hitting it really well,” he said. “The last couple of weeks in The Bahamas, I felt like I didn’t really get much out of it. This week, I’m making a couple of putts and hitting it great and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Dan McCarthy, Seth Reeves and Grant Hirschman sit three strokes off the lead at 6-under 134.

Third-round tee times will run from approximately 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. with players teeing off Nos. 1 and 10.

PANAMÁ CITY, Panamá — Taylor Pendrith carded a 7-under 63 to take the first-round lead at the Panamá Championship. Greyson Sigg sits alone in second after posting a 6-under 64 at the Club de Golf de Panamá. Grant Hirschman and Ryan Ruffels are two strokes off the lead after posting matching 65s on Thursday.

Pendrith began his round with a fast start carding birdies on three of his first four holes. The 28-year-old added three more birdies against one bogey to post a front nine 30. Despite making his second bogey of the day on No. 11, he rallied with birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 to get back to 6-under. Pendrith stuck his approach on the last and holed his short birdie putt to finish the round at 7-under.

“It was pretty smooth honestly,” Pendrith said of his round. “It’s nice to get off to a good start. I hit a lot of really good wedge shots inside 10-feet and my putter was on. I made a really good bogey on No. 11. I birdied the next hole and had a lot of good looks coming in.”

Pendrith spent last season refining his game on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. In 12 starts, the Kent State University product recorded two wins, six top-10s and eight top-25s. He went on to finish second on the Order of Merit. Last December, Pendrith finished T30 at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament earning him guaranteed starts for the 2020 season.

“To get two wins was a breakthrough year,” he said. “I’ve been close in the past up there losing in a bunch of playoffs. It gives me a lot of momentum and confidence coming up here knowing that I know how to win on the Mackenzie Tour. Hopefully I can chase a win down out here.”

Pendrith grew up in Ontario, Canada and remains close with PGA TOUR player Michael Gligic. Last season, Gligic earned his first Korn Ferry Tour title at the Panamá Championship and went on to secure his PGA TOUR card.

“Me and him (Gligic) are good buddies,” Pendrith said. “Obviously, he’s the champion here from last year. We have some good Canadian vibes here. I play golf with Gligic all the time and it’d be cool to go back-to-back Canadian wins here.”

.@TaylorPendrith on the prowl ??‍♂️

The #TeamCanada Young Pro Squad member shot a 7-under 63 to take the early @KornFerryTour lead ?

Read ➡️ https://t.co/FYmhx2Fltp pic.twitter.com/nByViil9X4

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) January 31, 2020

Greyson Sigg sits alone in second after carding a 6-under 64 on Thursday. Beginning the day on the front nine, Sigg recorded pars on each of his first three holes. He erupted with an eagle on the par-5 fourth and added birdies on Nos. 6 and 9. Despite a bogey on No. 10, Sigg rebounded with birdies on Nos. 12, 14 and 15. The 24-year-old played his remaining three holes at even-par to post 6-under for the round.

“I got off to a pretty good start,” Sigg said. “I shot 4-under on the front nine and bogeyed No. 10 but kind of brought it back with a couple birdies there. All in all, it was a pretty solid day.”

The University of Georgia product is making his first start at the Panamá Championship. The Club de Golf de Panamá typically ranks as one of the hardest courses on the Korn Ferry Tour and was the most difficult last season. However, the par-70 layout played significantly softer on Thursday providing players with ideal scoring conditions.

“I played with a couple guys in the practice rounds and they were saying how different it is,” he said. “It’s almost a good thing I haven’t seen the golf course and how different it’s playing.”

Grant Hirschman tallied seven birdies against two bogeys during Thursday’s opening round to post 5-under 65. The 24-year-old credited a hot putter as the key to his successful debut at the Club de Golf de Panamá.

Hirschman made 13 cuts in 18 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour last season. During the final stretch of the 2019 Regular Season, the University of Oklahoma product recorded four top-20s in his final five starts to finish 67th on the points list and retain status for 2020.

“I like to think I’m carrying momentum from last year into this season,” he said. “I ended on quite a string of top-25s and a couple top-10s and had a top-10 last week. I’m kind of trying to keep it rolling.”

Ryan Ruffels, making the third start of his Korn Ferry Tour career, carded a bogey-free 5-under 65 on Thursday. The 21-year-old tallied birdies on Nos. 6, 7 and 8 en route to a front nine 32. He added birdies on Nos. 12 and 17 to earn a share of third.

Ruffels is no stranger to golf in Latin America having made 43 starts on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. The Australian earned guaranteed starts for the 2020 season after finishing T21 at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament last December.

“I played in Latin America the last two years so I’m comfortable down here,” Ruffels said. “I’ve played a lot of golf down in South America. Q-School was about as much pressure as you could get. I was able to get through all of those challenges pretty well.”

Taylor Pendrith‘s return to the Korn Ferry Tour hasn’t exactly gone to plan so far.

After earning an exemption on the second-tier circuit thanks to two victories on the Mackenzie Tour last year, the Richmond Hill, Ont., native was rearing to go. But at the season-opening Great Exuma Classic, the Team Canada Young Pro Squad member came down with the flu – having to play in the Bahamian heat with a fever. That became bronchitis as he played in the Great Abaco Classic last week, with caddy Mitch Theoret also sick.

“It was definitely not enjoyable,” said Pendrith on Wednesday. “Played nine holes in the first three days of the practice rounds and basically laid in bed, had the chills. It was bad. But I wanted to play and my game was good coming into the first round, just sort of an unlucky thing to happen.”

It wasn’t just Pendrith’s health that was at issue, with high winds at Sandals Emerald Bay and Baha Mar wrecking havoc on scores for the entire field. He tied for 58th at the Great Exuma Classic and then tied for 66th at the Great Abaco Classic. This week’s Panama Championship at the Club de Golf de Panama – which Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., won last year – is better suited to Pendrith’s big driving style.

“I remember in previous years here having to hit 2 irons off the tee to try and keep it short of the run up but I practised yesterday and hit a lot of drivers,” said Pendrith. “It definitely sets up well for me. The ball kind of just lands on the fairway and doesn’t roll very far so I can hit a lot of drivers and use my shorter clubs to get on to the greens. I’m looking forward to it.”

This is not Pendrith’s first go-round on the Korn Ferry Tour. He also played on it in 2016 when it was called the Web.com Tour but ongoing wrist issues, a partially torn tendon in his arm, and a torn muscle in his palm, disrupted that and the 2017 seasons.

Now that he’s back, Pendrith feels he’s better prepared to play his brand of golf.

“I feel like when I was out here in 2016 I was searching for the right thing to do and following people, being on the range for three, four hours. That didn’t work for me,” said Pendrith. “I’m just doing my own thing. On a Monday maybe I’ll just go to the putting green for an hour and leave. Or maybe just play nine holes on Monday instead of 18 and two hours on the range.

“It’s all about managing that and having fun again, which is great. I’ve got a really good mindset.”

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., are the other Canadians in the field in Panama City this week.

NEWBURGH, Indiana — David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., rallied in the final round at the Korn Ferry Tour’s season-ending championship with a 6-under 66 to secure status for the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR season. He finished the championship in a tie for fourth at 13 under par, helping boost his ranking over the three-event final series to No. 13.

Fellow Canadian Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., fell just short, finishing outside the top 25. The 23-year-old relinquishes his current PGA TOUR status and will compete on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019-2020.

The Korn Ferry Tour awarded the first set of 25 PGA TOUR cards for the 2019-20 season at the conclusion of the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz in August, with a second set awarded this week after the conclusion of the Finals.

Tom Lewis carded a final-round 65 to win by five strokes. Lewis joined 24 other players in earning 2019-20 membership through the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.

University of Texas alum Scottie Scheffler earned the top spot on both The Finals 25 and the combined points list after a T7 finish on Monday, in addition to his win and T11 finish over his previous two starts. The 23-year-old earns fully exempt status on the PGA TOUR during the 2019-20 season as well as an exemption into the 2020 PLAYERS Championship. Scheffler becomes the first player to top both lists since Chesson Hadley in 2017.

Never give up. Never stop trying to get better. @PGATOUR 2020 here we come!

— David Hearn (@HearnDavid) September 2, 2019

“It’s great to be able to play in THE PLAYERS next year,” said Scheffler, who finished with 10 top-10s and two wins in 20 starts this year. “I have some family close by in Jacksonville so it will be nice to have them come out to the event. It’s awesome to be able to compete against one of the best fields in golf, and becoming fully exempt, to be able to set my schedule, that’s huge.”

Lewis lapped the field after two separate strings of three birdies in a row during the final round. After collecting birdies at the third and fifth, countered by a bogey at the sixth, Lewis tacked on six more from Nos. 8-10 and 15-17. His 29 birdies this week was five more than anyone else in the field.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play on the PGA TOUR,” said Lewis, who finished T11 in the 2019 Open Championship. “Obviously I’ve achieved some good things on the European Tour and hopefully I can achieve better things on the PGA TOUR. I’m looking forward to the year I’ve got ahead, just to see what the future brings.”

While Lewis wrapped up a dominant performance, several other players provided dramatic finishes coming down to the final putt. Local legend Chris Baker, who grew up in Brownstown, Indiana, saved par on the 72^nd hole to earn his first PGA TOUR card after more than a decade as a professional. The par save came after a double bogey at the penultimate hole to put his status in doubt. Doug Ghim, the low amateur at the 2018 Masters Tournament, got up and down out of a greenside bunker to claim his first PGA TOUR card.

D.J. Trahan and Richy Werenski tied for the 24^th spot, securing the final available cards with 186 points in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Justin Harding finished 26^th in The Finals 25, just 0.125 points behind Trahan and Werenski.

Four of the 25 players who secured their PGA TOUR cards solely through the Korn Ferry Tour Finals will be rookies during the 2019-20 season. The top 25 are:

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — Annually one of the most pressure-packed days in golf, the final round of the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz didn’t disappoint with Bo Hoag shooting a final-round 65 to take home his first title. With the win, Hoag earns a spot in The 25, joining 24 other graduates on Sunday evening in securing 2019-20 PGA TOUR membership.

Hoag was one of two players to move into The 25 this week, joining local favourite Scott Harrington who finished in solo-second place. Hoag moved from 31^st to seventh in the points standings, while Harrington rose from 38^th to 19^th.

“Life-changer; You know what’s at stake on a day like today and your mind drifts to it a little bit,” said Hoag, who set the tournament record at 22-under. “You picture what you’re going to be doing after your round….either back here getting a card on this green or packing your car up to go home. I just told myself I wasn’t going to leave here this evening without getting a card on this green. Great day.”

Hoag, a 31-year-old Ohio State University alum, carded a bogey-free round on Sunday to clinch the victory. While as many as five players were tied for the lead on the back nine, Hoag birdied three of his last five to claim the two-stroke win. The former Buckeye has competed on the Korn Ferry Tour each of the past three years and was a member of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada from 2013-15. The veteran tied for the lead in bogey avoidance, tallying only three over 72 holes. He had a dramatic escape at the par-3 12^th when his ball came to rest about a foot outside the pond.

The Columbus, Ohio, native is especially looking forward to advancing to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals with his TOUR card already in hand. The first event, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, is next week in Columbus. Fellow Ohio State alum Jack Nicklaus called Hoag to congratulate him following the win.

“For me, going to the Memorial Tournament in Columbus [next year] will be special,” said Hoag. “I’ve got some roots there. That’s what got me started thinking this was what I wanted to do. It wasn’t going to be easy, but I was inspired by all that going on out there with my grandpa and dad and watching. Next week will almost be like a victory lap.”

Canadian Michael Gligic (Burlington, Ont.) secured his card in July after his strongest season as a professional, highlighted by a win at the Panama Championship in February.

“It’s been pretty crazy. This might be, like, year 11 now, so it’s been a lot of time on the mini tours, a lot of time practicing with the goal of getting there,” said Gligic. “For it to happen has been pretty special. You dream about making it to the PGA TOUR, or at least it’s always in the back of your mind. It’s golf, so if anyone tells you they haven’t thought about quitting out here, they’re lying to you.”

Harrington, the 54-hole leader, entered the day needing at least a solo-third finish to earn his first PGA TOUR card. A closing birdie at the 18^th allowed the hometown hero to secure solo-second and ascension to the TOUR. The win in a familiar place was even more for Harrington with his wife, Jenn, in attendance. Jenn has twice battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is now cancer-free. She flew in on Saturday night and watched Harrington earn his card.

“A lot of focus gets put on us, and what we’ve been through, but what she’s been through has been hell,” said Harrington. “It was rough for me, but it pales in comparison to what she’s actually had to go through. To see her so happy on 18, it’s just everything. Family is everything, family trumps golf. To be able to do it for her and have her in attendance makes it that much more meaningful.”

Vincent Whaley, a rookie from Atlanta, earned the 25^th and final PGA TOUR card despite missing the weekend. The Georgia Tech alum waited for 48 hours to see if his 761 points would ultimately be enough.

“Honestly, I probably had the worst two days of my life trying to figure it out, doing the math and being a complete psychopath,” said Whaley. “It was a horrible two days, but it worked out…I’m just really happy right now. This is a dream since I started playing golf, to make it onto the PGA TOUR.”

Chris Baker, who also missed the cut this week, finished as the odd man out at 26^th in the points standings. Baker, along with the rest of the top 75 players in the standings, will advance to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals where he will attempt to earn one of 25 additional TOUR cards. Two out of the past three players to finish 26^th in the standings have gone on to earn their cards in the Finals. Those players (Keith Mitchell and Xander Schauffele) have already combined for five PGA TOUR victories.

China’s Xinjun Zhang, who finished T43 this week, retained the top spot in The 25, though Robby Shelton, No. 2 in the standings, gained ground with a T11 finish. The top points-earner after the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance will earn fully exempt status and an exemption into the 2020 PLAYERS Championship.

Most golfers on the Web.com Tour don’t get to play Augusta National on their weeks off.

Mike Weir is the exception, however.

The 2003 Masters champion is planning on playing a full schedule on the PGA Tour’s feeder circuit thanks to a special exemption category for golfers aged 48-49 – which should mark the first time he’s played more than 20 events since 2014.

The 48-year-old native of Brights Grove, Ont. played three weeks in a row on the Web.com Tour in February – with his best result a tie for 35th at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, after being tied for the lead early in the week in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Before returning home to Utah for a rest, though, Weir took a trip to Augusta to check out the new par-4 fifth hole (it has been lengthened for 2019) and enjoy two days of golf with friends. He’ll tee it up again at the Masters in April.

“It’s always great to get back there,” said Weir, the lone Canadian to win a green jacket.

The last five years have seen Weir fall from being a PGA Tour regular to cobbling together an inconsistent schedule.

He’s battled a myriad of injuries but told The Canadian Press he feels “great” for the first time in recent memory. He says he’s more motivated than ever to get back to the top tour.

Weir said it was hard to get into a rhythm the last few years not knowing where he was going to play next, but now that he’s got a confirmed schedule, he’s eager to keep the competitive juice flowing.

“That’s the benefit of playing week to week. You get to figure things out on the golf course, not the driving range at home,” he said. “You figure those things out when you’re playing, so that’s been nice.”

Weir said he’s focused on trying to finish inside the top 25 in the Web.com Tour standings to earn a PGA Tour card for next year.

“I want to get back out there,” said Weir, who is two years away from playing PGA Tour Champions (for golfers aged 50-plus).

Weir said he’d play the whole season on the Web.com Tour while leaving for the Masters – he has a lifetime exemption thanks to his 2003 triumph – and the RBC Canadian Open. He said he might play a few more PGA Tour events if possible.

He was exempt into last week’s Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour, but decided to head home after playing three weeks in a row.

Weir has got a good look at the future of Canadian golf on the Web.com Tour. He played a practice round with Michael Gligic the week before the fellow Canadian won the Panama Championship.

“There are lots of guys playing well and hopefully there will be more and more,” said Weir.

Mike Weir of Canada hits his third shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club on February 15, 2019 in Lakewood Ranch, Florida

One of the golfers Weir mentioned is David Hearn, who tied for 25th at the Puerto Rico Open. Hearn was paired with Weir at the Desert Classic earlier this year on the PGA Tour and said he was impressed at how much better Weir was playing.

Returning to play a full schedule on the Web.com Tour, Hearn said, really characterizes who Weir is.

“For some people it might be a surprising but if you know Mike and you know how committed and how hard he’s worked at the game in his lifetime, it’s no surprise to a lot of guys out here,” Hearn said.

Off the course, Weir was recently involved with a legal matter with the owner of his former winery. The Canadian Press reported the corporation Mike Weir Wine Inc. owes the golfer about $2.2 million.

Weir believes all will be resolved soon.

“It’ll be behind me, which is all I have to say about that,” said Weir.

As for golf, Weir said it’s been “refreshing” playing on the Web.com Tour, despite the small crowds and trips to places like Panama and Colombia.

He said he’s felt inspired playing with and competing against the next generation of PGA Tour stars.

“I’m competing and wanting to win and wanting to beat them, but I want them to play well and do well on the tour and get out there on the PGA Tour, because that’s their dream,” he said. “I was there a long time ago and it’s really been fun for me to be back out there.”