PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced today that Brooks Koepka has been named the 2018 PGA TOUR Player of the Year as voted by the TOUR’s membership for the 2017-18 season.

PGA TOUR members who played in at least 15 FedExCup events during the 2017-18 season were eligible to vote. The balloting process ended on October 1.

Koepka, a 28-year-old native of West Palm Beach, Florida, finished a career-best ninth in the FedExCup following a season that included victories at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. He earned four additional top-10 finishes, including runners-up at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and Charles Schwab Challenge.

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, our congratulations to Brooks Koepka on being voted PGA TOUR Player of the Year by his peers,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Brooks has brought a new brand of athleticism to the PGA TOUR, and we saw the results this year with his historic season at the major championships and a top-10 finish in the FedExCup. These feats were accomplished despite missing significant time due to injury, a testament to his work ethic and perseverance throughout the season.”

Following the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January, Koepka did not compete on TOUR while recovering from a left wrist injury, making his return in late April at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He collected his first top-10 post-injury at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club, a second-place finish to Justin Rose.

With his victory at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, Koepka became the first player since Curtis Strange (1988-89) to win back-to-back U.S. Open titles. Five starts later, Koepka won his third major title in his 100^th PGA TOUR start, capturing the PGA Championship by two strokes over Tiger Woods with a tournament record 16-under 264. At age 28, Koepka became the fifth American since 1945 with three or more major wins before the age of 29 and the fifth player to win the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same season.

Koepka posted season-low rounds of 63 on four occasions in 17 PGA TOUR starts, including the lowest final round ever at THE PLAYERS Championship. He closed the season with 13 of 16 rounds in the 60s over the four FedExCup Playoffs events.

Koepka’s lone blemish came at the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey – an event that represented his only missed cut of the year.

Koepka, who will receive the Jack Nicklaus Trophy for winning PGA TOUR Player of the Year, was selected for the honor over Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose and Justin Thomas.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., – One day prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, teen entrepreneurs myCryptoHippo from Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Ontario won the second annual FedEx Junior Business Challenge program for their business presentation and secured a $75,000 donation from FedEx to further support youth entrepreneurship.

myCryptoHippo, which aims to educate Generation Z about cryptocurrencies and blockchain through the use of their integrated cryptocurrency simulator, presented its business to a panel of judges, including Warrick Dunn (3-time Pro Bowler and Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor member), David Cunningham (president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express), Ryan Lane (owner of Dream Beard and FedEx Small Business Grant Recipient) and Marc Leishman (3-time PGA TOUR tournament winner who is competing for the coveted FedExCup).

Through its PGA TOUR sponsorship, FedEx teed off the second annual FedEx Junior Business Challenge program earlier this year at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship (Austin, Texas) and held three other qualifying events at THE PLAYERS Championship (Jacksonville, Florida), the RBC Canadian Open (Ontario) and Dell Technologies Championship (Boston).  Judging panels comprised of PGA TOUR players, business leaders and local celebrities selected one junior achievement business at each qualifying event to move on to the FedEx Junior Business Challenge finals. myCryptoHippo was the JA champter that moved on from the 2018 RBC Canadian Open held at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

The four student-led companies that qualified for the finals were evaluated on their pitch skills, presentation content, visual aids and connection to innovation, sustainability, job creation or trade industry.  myCryptoHippo came out on top for their integrated cryptocurrency simulator, impressing the judges with their goal to make blockchain technology easy to learn and investing in cryptocurrencies less intimidating by providing a hands-on learning experience.

“It was incredible to see these teenagers from JA chapters across the country showcase their entrepreneurial skills and ambition, in addition to their innovation and intellectual curiosity,” said Warrick Dunn.  “I don’t remember what I was doing at their age, but I wasn’t starting a business.  I’m inspired by these young entrepreneurs and it’s comforting to know the kids from JA will be tomorrow’s business leaders.”

In just two years, the FedEx Junior Business Challenge program has provided more than 30 JA student-led companies the chance to present their businesses at more than ten PGA TOUR tournaments, and awarded $150,000 to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“Every day around the world, businesses are faced with new challenges, and to stay ahead of competition, companies and leaders need to be creative, agile and innovative,” said David Cunningham, president and CEO, FedEx Express.  “Success in small business and entrepreneurship is paramount to FedEx, and the JA students who participated in today’s FedEx Junior Business Challenge finals proved that the future is bright.”

Since 1996, FedEx has donated nearly $14 million to JA Worldwide in support of small businesses and future entrepreneurs.  As a part of FedEx Cares global giving initiative, the FedEx Junior Business Challenge program is part of FedEx’s goal of investing $200 million in more than 200 global communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver solutions for people around the world.  The JA Worldwide network reaches more than 10 million young people in more than 100 countries, making JA a natural partner for FedEx Cares.

With FedEx as the official sponsor of the PGA TOUR since 2002, FedEx and the PGA TOUR have a long-standing relationship.  In 2007, the PGA TOUR introduced the FedExCup as the first season-long competitive and promotional platform, transforming the competitive landscape of professional golf.  The performance-based point structure culminates with the FedExCup Playoffs, a four-tournament playoff at the end of the season to determine the FedExCup Champion.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – With the upcoming 2018-19 PGA TOUR schedule reflecting previously announced, significant structural changes, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan today unveiled further innovations that elevate the entire FedExCup season – from the Regular Season through the FedExCup Playoffs and ultimately, at the Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship. These changes include a simplified scoring system at the TOUR Championship that will determine the FedExCup Champion and a new $10 million program for the FedExCup Regular Season sponsored by Wyndham Rewards: the “Wyndham Rewards Top 10.”

The FedExCup Playoffs – which have been reduced from four to three events beginning next season and will conclude before Labor Day, allowing the TOUR to compete to own the August sports calendar – will feature fields of 125 for THE NORTHERN TRUST, 70 for the BMW Championship and 30 for the TOUR Championship, where the FedExCup Champion will be determined. While the points structure for the first two events will remain the same (awarding quadruple points compared to FedExCup Regular Season events), there will be a significant change to the format for the TOUR Championship.

Instead of a points reset at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, beginning with the 2018-19 event the TOUR is instituting a strokes-based bonus system related to the FedExCup standings through the BMW Championship. The FedExCup points leader after the first two Playoffs events will begin the TOUR Championship at 10-under par. The next four players will start at 8-under through 5-under, respectively. The next five will begin at 4-under, regressing by one stroke per five players until those ranked Nos. 26-30 start at even par.

With the implementation of this change, the player with the lowest total score will be the FedExCup Champion and be credited with an official victory in the TOUR Championship competition.

“This is a significant and exciting change for the PGA TOUR, our players, our partners and – most importantly – our fans,” said Monahan. “As soon as the TOUR Championship begins, any fan – no matter if they’ve followed the PGA TOUR all season or are just tuning in for the final event – can immediately understand what’s going on and what’s at stake for every single player in the field. And, of course, players will know exactly where they stand at all times while in play, which will ratchet up the drama, consequence and volatility of the competition down the stretch.

“Compared to the current system, the beauty here is in the simplicity. Fans are very familiar with golf leaderboards in relation to par, so they will have a clear understanding of the impact every shot makes during the final run for the FedExCup – ultimately leading to a singular champion without conflicting storylines.”

“It has been gratifying to witness the growth, popularity and importance of the FedExCup since its launch in 2007,” said Davis Love III, a current Player Director on the PGA TOUR Policy Board who also served on the Board during the development and launch of the FedExCup. “Several important refinements have been made along the way to help accelerate the FedExCup’s universal acceptance as a tremendous achievement in professional golf.

However, I believe this new strokes-based bonus system for the TOUR Championship might well be the most important of them all, as it will lend absolute clarity to where everyone in the field stands and what exactly they must do to win the FedExCup. It will make for a very exciting and dramatic four days.”

Meanwhile, the new $10 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10 not only will add drama to the Wyndham Championship as the final event before the FedExCup Playoffs but will also put an even greater premium on excelling over the course of the FedExCup Regular Season. The top-10 Regular Season finishers in FedExCup points through the Wyndham Championship – also sponsored by Wyndham Rewards – will reap the benefits of the Wyndham Rewards Top 10. The leader will earn $2 million, followed by $1.5 million for the runner-up with the 10th-place finisher earning $500,000. Additionally, each player in the top 10 will be invited into Wyndham Rewards at its most exclusive Diamond level, unlocking all the travel perks and unique Wyndham benefits that go along with it.

And while the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 will be recognized at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, the impact of the program will be felt throughout the season; a player’s performance every week becomes more critical than ever before, elevating the significance of each tournament on the schedule and producing drama for PGA TOUR fans at every turn.

“We are excited to unveil the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 next year, which will place an even greater premium on excelling over the course of the Regular Season,” said Andy Pazder, Chief Tournament and Competitions Officer for the PGA TOUR. “Season-long success is tantamount to qualifying for and advancing through the FedExCup Playoffs, and this is an exciting way to reward the best of the best and provide an added layer of drama for our fans in each market and around the world.”

In addition to the $10 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10, the existing FedExCup bonus pool will increase by $25 million, to $60 million. The FedExCup Champion will receive $15 million, versus the $10 million prize from previous years.

“Our players and fans have invested in the FedExCup over the past 12 seasons, and with these enhancements, we are reinvesting in the FedExCup in order to raise the stakes, so to speak, for their benefit,” said Monahan. “We are able to grow and diversify our fan base because we have the best athletes on the planet competing on the PGA TOUR. Now is the time to make these changes, and thanks to significant input in the process by our players, partners and fans, I believe we’re making exactly the right moves.

“To that end, these changes wouldn’t have been possible without the full support of the TOUR Championship’s outstanding Proud Partners – Coca-Cola and Southern Company – as well as longtime partner FedEx and an enhanced partnership with Wyndham Rewards,” he added. “They shared our vision for how we can challenge ourselves to raise level of excitement and fan engagement throughout the season up until the moment our FedExCup Champion is determined.”

OAKVILLE, Ont. – (Golf Canada) World No. 1 Dustin Johnson fired a 6-under par 66 Sunday to pull away from the field and win his first RBC Canadian Open at 23-under par.

Johnson, who entered the day in a 4-way tie for the lead with Whee Kim, Byeong Hun An and Kevin Tway, carded seven birdies and a bogey to separate himself from the pack. He started the day with a pair of birdies on his first two holes, but a nearby storm suspended play shortly after Johnson hit his drive on the ninth hole.

After a one hour and 46-minute weather delay, play resumed at 5:12 p.m. Johnson electrified the Canadian crowd with four more birdies on the back nine. The only tarnish on his scorecard was a bogey on the par-3 No. 12.

“It was definitely good to get off to a fast start,” said Johnson. “That’s always good, especially when the leaderboard is so bunched up.”

Johnson, a Team RBC member from Columbia, S.C., felt like he was playing in front of a home crowd thanks to his fiancée Paulina and her father, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

“It was great all week,” Johnson added. “I had a lot of support out there, a lot of fans following me with my ties to Canada. Paulina and her dad being Wayne Gretzky, it definitely helps. I get a lot of fans that pull for Wayne, they pull for me. So, it was a lot of fun out there this week. I thought I had a lot of support. It’s a lot of fun to play out there for a big crowd.”

With the win, Johnson becomes the first player since Tiger Woods (2005-09) with at least three wins in three consecutive seasons. He also earned $1,116,000 (U.S.), the winner’s share of the $6.2 million purse.

Johnson had tied for second in the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in 2013 and 2016.

Hun An and Kim shared second place with matching tournament totals of 20-under par.

Dundas, Ont., native Mackenzie Hughes won his second consecutive Rivermead Cup, awarded to the low Canadian, finishing in a tie for 8^th at 15-under par.

Hughes started strong, gaining four strokes on the pack through his first seven holes before a bogey at the 8^th hole. He recuperated nicely on his back nine with a birdie in Glen Abbey’s valley at No. 13.

“The Rivermead Cup has history here in Canada, and if you’re not going to win the big trophy, the Rivermead Cup is a pretty good consolation prize,” said Hughes. “Twenty-one Canadians here this week and every one of those players are just so talented.

“But, yeah, next year will be additional pressure being so close to home. But, again, it’s only what you make of it, and if you just try to have fun with it, hopefully I’ll have a great weekend next year.”

Hamilton Golf and Country Club will host the 2019 RBC Canadian Open. It is also shifting forward in the PGA TOUR’s schedule, moving to early June in the week before the U.S. Open.

Chris Crisologo, a Team Canada member had a stellar showing in his PGA TOUR debut. The Richmond, B.C., native fired a four under 68 to finish as low amateur in the field at T45 – collecting the Gary Cowan Medal.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Bryan Crawford of Ancaster, Ont. has been named the new Tournament Director of the RBC Canadian Open. The appointment was officially announced by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum during a press conference held on the final Sunday of Canada’s national men’s golf championship.

Crawford served the past three years on the Leadership Team of Canada Basketball in the role of Senior Director, Operations. He led several of the organization’s strategic business functions including overseeing the development, implementation and operations of all Canada Basketball hosting and revenue generating activities. Bryan also developed and drove the long term, multi-event hosting strategy for major FIBA international events including athlete relations, volunteer management, community engagement, government relations, corporate partnerships and event execution.

Prior to that, he honed his executive management skills in the role of Interim Executive Director / Director of Operations with Ontario University Athletics (OUA), leading the operational, commercial and promotional activities as well as strategic planning for the governing body of interuniversity sport in Ontario.

Crawford is a former professional athlete, having spent seven seasons as a member of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club where he served as a Special Teams Captain and CFL Players’ Association Representative. A native of Ancaster, Ont., Bryan holds a B.A. in Political Studies and Development from Queens University where he was a two-sport athlete in football and track and field. He has been selected by the Canadian Olympic Committee as a COC Emerging Leader and has been a community ambassador for the ALS Society of Ontario, Right to Play, Climb for Cancer and the Argonauts’ Huddle Up Against Bullying Program.

Crawford will report directly to Golf Canada Chief Championship Officer Bill Paul. He will work collaboratively with Golf Canada’s sales, partnership, marketing and commercial teams and will be a key contact and central hub of the organization’s relationship with the PGA TOUR.

He began his new role on July 18, spending advance and tournament week getting oriented during the 2018 event in order to hit the ground running to lead the 2019 RBC Canadian Open in its new date, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – World no. 1 Dustin Johnson took Glen Abbey by storm Saturday, rocketing up the leaderboard for a share of top spot at 17-under following a third-round  7-under 65. Also sharing top-position at 17-under are second-round leader Kevin Tway who carded a 4-under 68, as well as the South Korean duo of Byeong Hun An and Whee Kim, who shot 66 and 67 respectively to head into Sunday tied with Johnson atop the leaderboard.

Johnson was off to the races early Saturday, birdying five of the first six holes, before dropping two shots with bogeys at Nos. 10 and 13. He would finish in force with a birdie, birdie, eagle stretch at 14, 15 and 16.

“Yeah, I mean, definitely got off to really nice start and made a couple good par saves in there, too,” said Johnson, an 18-time PGA TOUR winner and member of Team RBC. “I feel like my game is in really good form. There’s a lot of guys that are right around the lead and somebody is going to shoot low. Hopefully it’s me.”

Johnson, who was paired with Canadian Nick Taylor on Saturday, could feel the encouragement of the crowd, crediting the support in part to his personal connection to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

“Well, I can thank Wayne for that,” added Johnson. “There’s a lot of Gretzky fans out there, and so they tend to pull for me, which thanks Wayne, I appreciate that.”

Tway briefly overtook the lead during his round, getting to 18-under before a costly bogey on 18 dropped him back into a share of the lead with Johnson, Hun An and Kim.

“It was a little struggle at the start, maybe (I was) a little nervous,” said Tway, whose father Bob won the RBC Canadian Open in 2003. “I’m just going to relish the opportunity. I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’m going to try to make as many birdies as I can.”

It was moving day at Glen Abbey on Saturday with many golfers vaulting up the leaderboard and into contention. Hudson Swafford shot 67 to climb 10 spots into a share of fifth with Rory Sabatini, while Mexico’s Abraham Ancer shot 65 to climb 37 spots to T7 position. Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. shot 67 to climb into a share of 13^th position at 11-under. Calgary’s Ryan Yip, making his first-ever RBC Canadian Open appearance, carded the low Canadian round of the day, 66, to climb to T21 at 10-under.

OAKVILLE, Ont.  —  Edmond, Okla., product Kevin Tway shot a 7-under 65 at Glen Abbey Golf Club on Friday to move to 13-under-par and take the 36-hole lead at the RBC Canadian Open. 

Tway, who is looking for his first PGA TOUR title, recorded one bogey and eight birdies on Friday to build a one-shot advantage. 

“It’s always nice to make a bunch of birdies,” said Tway, looking for his first career PGA TOUR victory. “Being near the top is what you practice for, so I’ll just keep trying to do the same thing the next two days.”

The 30-year-old is also hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father Bob, who won the 2003 edition of the tournament. A victory here would make for a great historical moment at Canada’s National Open, as no father-son duo has ever won the Canadian Open.

 “He did it in ’03, actually, so that was 15 years ago,” said Tway when asked about his father’s run at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, host of the 2019 and 2013 RBC Canadian Open. “It would be great to match with that.”

Keegan Bradley is also charging into the weekend with a share of second at 12-under. The Woodstock, Vt. came in hot with an eagle on the 2nd hole and finished even stronger, going birdie-eagle-birdie-eagle across his final four holes.

“Yeah that was wild. It turned kind of an average day out here into something really special,” said Bradley. “There’s not many courses you can do that on like you can out here. That’s what makes it such a great event.”

South Korea’s Whee Kim is tied with Bradley after making a similar impressive run with two birdies out the gate on the back-nine at Glen Abbey followed by an eagle and two consecutive birdies across his final three holes.

“You know, you don’t really need to think about missing the cut or just making a bogey or double bogey,” said Kim. “Everything is great. It feels very positive, you know.”

Seven Canadians survived the 36-hole cut at Glen Abbey led by Nick Taylor who carded a 5-under-par 68 to sit T10.

“I hit a lot better today. I drove it way better today too,” said Taylor. “If I play well and I’m the low Canadian, that’s great but I’m trying to win a golf tournament. That could take care of that.”

The Abbotsford, B.C., native heads into the weekend four shots off the lead and will look for his best RBC Canadian Open finish since he placed T53 in 2008.

Ben Silverman made the biggest move at the tournament, catapulting 106 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 15th. The Thornhill, Ont., native poured in nine birdies in his bogey-free second round, coming within one shot of tying the course record.

“Couldn’t have scripted it better really,” said the PGA TOUR rookie when asked about how it felt to play in front of the hometown crowd. “I’ve got the Canadian shoes on, red and white, and got to play 40 minutes from where I grew up, so it was awesome.”

Team Canada Amateur Squad rookie Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. continued to make waves at the tournament, posting a 7-under-par 137 to add his name to the list of Canadians advancing to the weekend.

“You never know what to expect out of these things,” said the 22-year-old amateur. “Obviously it’s my first (RBC) Canadian Open, so really I’m just out here to enjoy the moment and make the most out of this opportunity.”

Roger Sloan (Merritt, B.C.), Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.), Ryan Yip (Calgary, Alta.) and David Hearn (Brantford, Ont.)  round out the Canadians making the cut.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Robert Garrigus carded a scorching 63 to grab the clubhouse lead at 9-under par during the rain-delayed opening round of the RBC Canadian Open.

Play on Thursday was halted at 4:30 p.m. due to high winds and potential lightning strikes that made it unsafe to keep golfing. Play resumed at 6:44 p.m. after a two-hour and 14-minute delay. Fifty-five golfers were unable to finish their first round when play was officially suspended for the day due to a dangerous weather situation at 8:04 p.m.

Garrigus, who finished T5 in 2017, was one shot ahead of fellow American Adam Schenk at 9-under 63 when inclement weather suspended play in the afternoon at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

“Could have been 59 there if a couple putts didn’t lip out,” said Garrigus, who had birdie putts lip out on Nos. 10 and 17. “Got lucky on the par 5, on 13, hit it right in the middle of the water, and it hit a rock and bounced over the thing and I made birdie.

Garrigus shot a 10-under 62 in the third round in last year’s tournament to match the course record.

“I love this place. I’ve always played well in Canada. There’s a lot of good vibes here. And the golf course is absolutely pure,” said Garrigus, who also finished T2 in 2012, the last time Canada’s National Open was played at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, host of both the 2019 and 2023 RBC Canadian Open. “I mean, I was walking on the fairway on No. 8, and it just felt like you were walking on carpet, and you get up on the green, and it’s like grass. The conditions are absolutely perfect.”

Schenk made the most of the conditions closed out his round in the rain with three straight birdies to sit in second place at 8-under.

“If you were in the fairway, it was much easier to attack, but you could still play from the rough, so I did that too often today but was fortunate to get away with it,” said Schenk, a PGA TOUR rookie who is fighting to keep his card with a handful of tournaments left on the schedule. “But if you can get within 20 feet of the hole, you’re going to make some putts, especially in the morning. The greens are very smooth.”

American Chris Stroud was able to complete his round to finish his day in solo-third.

Brantford, Ont, native David Hearn and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. are the leading Canadians sitting T22 after a 4-under-par 68. Teeing off on hole No.10, Hearn started strong on the back nine and stayed consistent throughout the day, recording only a single bogey on hole No.7.

“I feel great today. I hit the ball really, really nicely to green and gave myself lots of chances for birdie,” said Hearn. “Four-under was a good round. I left a few out there today but overall, I feel really positive about the way I played and am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Taylor’s bogey-free round included a birdie from 6 feet on his final hole to grab a share of low Canadian alongside Hearn.

“Being the low Canadian would be nice, but that’s not really my focus,” said Hearn. “It’s nice to have a solid round to start the tournament, and hopefully I can have a good one tomorrow morning.”

Four Canadians – Michael Gligic (Kitchener, Ont.), Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.), amateur Chris Crisologo (Richmond, B.C.) and Roger Sloan (Merritt) – hold a share 41^st position at 3-under.

Crisologo’s Team Canada Amateur Squad teammates Joey Savoie and Hugo Bernard sit at1-under and 1-over, respectively. Bernard will play his final five holes when round one resumes on Friday.

Round-one play resumes at 7:00 a.m. on Friday with second-round tee times set to begin at 7:30 a.m.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – The 109^th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship gets underway Thursday with 156 of the world’s best golfers, including 21 Canadians and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson set to compete for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open trophy and the champion’s share of the $6.2 million (US) purse.

Johnson, an 18-time winner on the PGA TOUR, has had great success at Canada’s National Open Championship, finishing runner-up in both 2013 and 2016.

“It’s always good to come back here. I’ve had some success here and I enjoy coming and playing the Canadian Open, especially being an RBC ambassador,” said Johnson. “I get a lot of fans out here and they’ve been great the past few years.”

The world’s No. 1 golfer had high praise for the work superintendent Andrew Gyba and his team have done to get the course ready for the RBC Canadian Open.

“The course is in really good shape, probably the best shape I’ve seen it since I’ve played here,” added Johnson. “It’s going to be a good week.”

Johnson went on to talk about the recently announced date change for the RBC Canadian Open—moving to June 3 to 9 beginning in 2019—and the impact he anticipates it will have on the tournament.

“I think it’ll be good for the golf tournament. A lot of guys like to play the week before the U.S. Open, so you’ll definitely get some different guys,” said Johnson. “I think the field will definitely improve, even though this year I feel like we have a really good field at the tournament.”

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA – The PGA TOUR announced that Facebook has been added to an already impressive viewing schedule for fans within Canada to watch the RBC Canadian Open July 26-29 at Glenn Abbey Golf Club. Facebook will join Golf Channel, PGA TOUR LIVE, Twitter, Global TV, TSN, RDS (French only) and DAZN to offer a tournament record 235 hours of live coverage available on virtually any device, radio or television in Canada.

“Fans are consuming golf across more platforms than ever,” said Bill Paul, Golf Canada’s Chief Championships Officer. “We’re excited to be taking advantage of new and innovative technologies to help bring the RBC Canadian Open to additional viewers and encapsulate an exciting new, young demographic.”

Facebook will distribute exclusive live coverage of featured groups on Saturday and Sunday morning of the RBC Canadian Open in the U.S. and Canada on a free basis. To access, users can follow the PGA TOUR LIVE Page at www.facebook.com/pgatourlive. The PGA TOUR will uniquely produce this coverage for Facebook’s social video platform, with interactive elements aimed to engage fans.

While PGA TOUR Canadian broadcast partners TSN, RDS, Global TV and Golf Channel will deliver extensive RBC Canadian Open action to television sets across Canada, they will each stream coverage that can be accessed via Golf Channel Live (www.golfchannel.com/livegolf), TSN Go (www.tsn.ca/live), RDS Direct (www.rds.ca/emissions/en-direct) and Global TV (www.globaltv.com/watchlive)

PGA TOUR LIVE, the PGA TOUR’s global, Over-The-Top subscription service is available iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones and tablets, Windows 10, Xbox, as well as PGATOURLIVE.com. PGA TOUR LIVE Featured Groups coverage of the RBC Canadian Open will begin at 7 a.m. ET on Thursday and Friday and will feature Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Canadian star Adam Hadwin. PGA TOUR LIVE Featured Groups coverage is available for $5.99 per month or $39.99 for a year. The PGA TOUR LIVE Featured Groups on Thursday and Friday can also be accessed via the DAZN Over-The-Top sports subscription service at www.DAZN.ca.

Finally, Twitter’s preview window of PGA TOUR LIVE will be available globally to its audience and can be found at www.live.twitter.com/pgatourlive and via @PGATOUR.  The Twitter preview window of PGA TOUR LIVE will begin at 7am ET on both Thursday and Friday, concluding after the Featured Groups finish their second hole.

RBC Canadian Open Coverage Schedule (all times ET):

Thursday, July 26
7-8:30 a.m.                            Preview – Featured Groups             Twitter
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.                       Featured Groups                               PGA TOUR LIVE, TSN and DAZN
3-6 p.m.                                  Featured Holes                                 PGA TOUR LIVE
3-6 p.m.                                  Broadcast                                           TSN, RDS and Golf Channel

Friday, July 27
7-8:30   a.m.                          Preview – Featured Groups             Twitter
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.                       Featured Groups                               PGA TOUR LIVE, TSN and DAZN
3-6 p.m.                                  Featured Holes                                  PGA TOUR LIVE
3-6 p.m.                                  Broadcast                                           TSN, RDS and Golf Channel

Saturday, July 28
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.              Featured Groups                                   Facebook (U.S. and Canada)
1-6 p.m.                                 Featured Holes                                    Facebook and PGA TOUR LIVE
1-2:45 p.m.                           Broadcast                                               Golf Channel
3-6:00 p.m.                           Broadcast                                              Global TV and RDS

Sunday, July 29
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.              Featured Groups                                   Facebook (U.S. and Canada)
1-6 p.m.                                 Featured Holes                                     Facebook and PGA TOUR LIVE
1-2:45 p.m.                           Broadcast                                               Golf Channel
3-6:00 p.m.                          Broadcast                                               Global TV and RDS

Fans can also listen to the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel on SiriusXM radios (Sirius channel 208, XM channel 92). For more information, visit www.SiriusXM.com/SiriusXMPGATOURRadio.