Jocktalk – Big Summer for Golf in Southern Alberta!

Jocktalk – Big Summer for Golf in Southern Alberta!

If you love golf, you are going to have a summer to remember.

Not only because our local courses are in fantastic shape after a mild winter, but because we are going to get to watch some of the biggest names in the sport.

What a score last month for the Shaw Charity Classic! 66 year old golf legend Tom Watson has confirmed he will tee it up in Calgary at the 4th annual event over the September long weekend.

The 8 time major champion recently played his last competitive round at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. He almost made the cut, proving he still has the game. So why does a player with 71 professional wins on his resume want to tee it up in Calgary on the Champions Tour?

“Simply, I am a golfer,” he smiles. “I enjoy playing competitive golf and when I’m competitive and have a chance to win, that fills me up and that’s why I do it.”

You have to love the drive, passion and desire and you can also understand why the best player on the planet in the late 70ies has a degree in psychology from Stanford University.

The 5 time Open champion is also excited to play the Canyon Meadows layout.

“I have heard nothing but good things." says Watson. "Especially the fan support! We love to play in front of a lot of people and that is what happens there. The players really like the golf course, Freddie Couples has had nothing but good things to say. They have had 3 great champions, so it proves itself. The best players seem to win there.”

Another incentive for Watson is his passion for the west.

“The one thing I’ve missed out on my bucket list, and my wife’s bucket list, is the Calgary Stampede,” he said. “We’re both into horses and rodeo and we understand it’s a can’t-miss event and one of these years we’ll make it up there.”

Unfortunately for Watson, the Shaw Charity Classic doesn't line up with the Calgary Stampede. This year's event goes back to its original date, falling on the Labour Day weekend.

In three short years, the Shaw Charity Classic has established itself as one of the premier stops on the 36 year old Champions Tour. Last year setting a record raising almost 4 million dollars for children's charities.

It will be tough to match those numbers in a down economy, but the addition of the former Ryder Cup captain has given organizers a huge lift.

The Charity Classic will likely get another boost as fan favourite John Daly, who celebrated his 50th birthday last month. Organizers are hoping he will also put YYC on his calendar.

"I think everybody will recognize a lot of these names that are coming up," said tournament director Sean Van Kesteren. "I think our field this year will probably be the strongest we've had yet. Based on what we know now and some early commitments, I think everybody is going to be pretty excited to see some new faces but also some familiar faces that seem to be here every year."

The week before the champions arrive in Calgary, the current stars of the LPGA tour will be in Southern Alberta. The 2016 Canadian Pacific Women's Open will be held at Priddis Greens from August 22 - 28. Priddis last hosted this event in 2009.

18 year old Canadian Brooke Henderson will be the star of the show. Henderson has been a model of consistency in her first full season with 7 top ten finishes. She has already jumped to 7th in the world rankings and the teen phenom doesn't turn 19 until September.

"We had 96 of the top 100 players in the world last year and we're expecting the same this year," said CP tournament director Brent McLauglin.

"I've talked to all these top players who are going to be competing for their countries in Rio and every single conversation I've had is that this is a no-brainer. This is a huge event on their schedule."

Yes golf fans, let's not forget golf returns to the Olympics this summer. A 72 hole stroke play tournament will be contested in Brazil. In the event of a tie for any of the top three positions, a three hole playoff will take place to determine the medal winners. It has been 112 years since golf was part of the Olympic format.

While the Olympics are being contested in Rio, the future stars of the game will be teeing it up in Calgary for the ATB Financial Golf Classic on the McKenzie Tour (formerly the PGA Tour Canada).

A field of 156 players from nearly 20 countries will be on the Talons course at Country Hills for the $175,000 tournament with the hopes of gaining position on the season-long Order of Merit, where the season-ending money leader will earn exempt status on the Web.com Tour, part of the path to the PGA TOUR, for 2017.

2016 marks the tenth year of the ATB Financial Classic, and year three of an agreement between ATB Financial and The Mackenzie Tour that will keep in the tournament in Calgary through 2017.

While the McKenzie Tour may not get the crowds or the exposure of the Champions Tour or the LPGA, it is (in my opinion) the best spectator opportunity as you get up close and personal with some of the best young players in the game.

Enjoy the golf season as it will be a summer to remember!

About Jock Wilson:

Jock has been involved in the Calgary sport media scene for over 30 years. He hosts the Calgary Stampeder football broadcasts on Newstalk 770 and is the co-host of Sportstalk with Mark Stephen from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Email: jock@am770chqr.com

Twitter: @sportson770