PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR and its tournaments generated more than $180 million for charitable causes in 2017, surpassing last year’s record amount by approximately $14 million. This total includes donations made by tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR-China.

The announcement brings the all-time total generated for charity by the PGA TOUR to $2.65 billion. The TOUR surpassed $1 billion in 2005 and $2 billion at the beginning of 2014.

“The entire PGA TOUR family takes tremendous pride in the positive impact that we continue to make each year through the millions of dollars that are raised for very deserving charitable organizations,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “As we often note, beyond the sheer dollar amount, the real story is in the hundreds of thousands of lives that benefit from these contributions every year. Thank you to all of the tournaments, players, sponsors, volunteers and fans who make all of this possible.”

In 2017, five PGA TOUR events raised more than $10 million for charity – the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Valero Texas Open, DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, the John Deere Classic and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. In addition to those tournaments, the biennial Presidents Cup announced a record donation of more than $10.7 million as a result of the 2017 event held at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The PGA TOUR’s flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship, generated $8.7 million in 2017, a large portion of which benefits local children’s charities as part of the tournament’s commitment to generate $50 million for youth-related charities over 10 years. Since that commitment was made in April of 2011, $45 million has been raised toward that goal.

Six PGA TOUR Champions events generated more than $1 million to charity in 2017, with the Shaw Charity Classic leading the way at more than $6 million. Three Web.com Tour events generated more than $1 million, led by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational at more than $2.1 million.

Since coming on board as title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open in 2008, RBC along with Golf Canada have raised $8.78 million for charitable organizations across Canada. Throughout its history, Canada’s National Open Championship has generated more than $50 million in charitable proceeds for important causes.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada has been the official charity of the RBC Canadian Open since 2013. The 15 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada provide a place for out-of-town families to stay while their sick child is being treated at a nearby hospital.

Ronald McDonald Houses provide families of sick children with a home to stay at while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital. As well, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms provide a comfortable place for families to rest and recharge, right inside hospitals. And through Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, they help to bring basic medical care to vulnerable communities. So families can stay together and kids can heal better.

Unlike other professional sports organizations, the PGA TOUR relies on more than 100,000 volunteers annually to run its tournaments, and the vast majority of its tournaments are structured as non-profit organizations designed to donate 100 percent of net proceeds to charity. Community beneficiaries include a broad range of organizations such as hospitals and shelters; youth development programs; food banks; groups that support the military and their families; organizations that support senior citizens; those that help abused women and children, and growth-of-the-game initiatives.

The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 25 countries (84 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 226 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2017, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $180 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.65 billion.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR has announced that ZTE Mobile Devices, a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation in China, has signed a three-year marketing agreement to become the TOUR’s first-ever Official Smartphone.

The deal, which includes global rights through 2020, was officially signed today by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and ZTE Mobile Devices CEO Lixin Cheng. The signing ceremony took place at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California, where the Safeway Open begins the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season.

“The PGA TOUR is delighted to introduce ZTE Mobile Devices as a new marketing partner as we enter the smartphone category for the first time,” said Brian Oliver, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, Sponsorship & Partnership. “Mobile devices have become such a critical means by which fans watch and get updates on our competition, find information about their favorite players and share PGA TOUR-related content.  In ZTE, we are partnering with a global leader in the telecommunications industry.”

ZTE already has a presence on the TOUR. As a hospitality partner at this year’s Farmers Insurance Open, ZTE brought its interactive “ZTE Experience Tour” on-site, where fans could test a variety of its products. ZTE also recently became the Official Smartphone of the RBC Canadian Open and partners with Danny Lee, a PGA TOUR member, as its ZTE Axon global brand ambassador.

“Becoming the first Official Smartphone of the PGA TOUR is a historic moment for ZTE,” Cheng said. “The TOUR, with its prestigious brand and global fan base, brings a tremendous opportunity for ZTE to connect directly with golf fans around the world and demonstrate our prowess in mobile technology with our premium line of Axon smartphones.”

Beyond having an on-site presence at select tournaments, ZTE will promote and activate around the new relationship in a variety of ways. In addition to utilizing the PGA TOUR’s online digital assets, select ZTE smartphones will be pre-loaded with PGA TOUR LIVE, the TOUR’s Over-The-Top subscription service that features exclusive early-round coverage of featured groups. ZTE customers will receive a free 30-day trial for the service.

Following Sunday’s conclusion of the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup Playoffs, nominees for PGA TOUR Player of the Year and PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year were finalized by the PGA TOUR Player Directors and members of the Player Advisory Council (PAC).

The nominees for the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA TOUR Player of the Year are (alphabetically) Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. The nominees for PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year are Wesley Bryan, Patrick Cantlay, Mackenzie Hughes, Grayson Murray and Xander Schauffele.

The Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards are determined by a member vote, with PGA TOUR members who played in at least 15 official money events during the 2016-17 season eligible to vote. The voting will close on Monday, October 2, with the winners to be announced that week.

Five nominated for PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year:

Wesley Bryan, 27
Augusta, Georgia (University of South Carolina)

• Entered 28 events with one victory at the RBC Heritage.
  Finished 41st in the FedExCup.
  Finished 113th in Adjusted Scoring Average (71.062).
  Recorded a total of five top-10 finishes with 19 made cuts.
  2016 graduate of the Web.com Tour.

Patrick Cantlay, 25
Jupiter, Florida (UCLA)

• Entered 13 events with a season-best runner-up finish at the Valspar Championship.
  Finished 29th in the FedExCup.
  One of two rookies to qualify for the season-ending TOUR Championship in 2017.
  Finished 15th in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.971).
  Recorded a total of four top-10 finishes with 13 made cuts.

Mackenzie Hughes, 26
Dundas, Ont. (Kent State University)

• Entered 31 events with one victory at The RSM Classic.
  Finished 36th in the FedExCup.
  Finished T109th in Adjusted Scoring Average (71.044).
  Recorded a total of two top-10 finishes among 22 made cuts.
  2016 graduate of the Web.com Tour.

Grayson Murray, 23
Raleigh, North Carolina (Arizona State University)

• Entered 30 events with one victory at the Barbacoa Championship.
  Finished 66th in the FedExCup.
  Finished 114th in Adjusted Scoring Average (71.064).
  Recorded a total of two top-10 finishes among 18 made cuts.
  2016 graduate of the Web.com Tour.

Xander Schauffele, 23
San Diego, California (San Diego State University)

• Entered 28 events with wins (2) at The Greenbrier Classic and TOUR Championship; first-ever rookie to win the TOUR Championship.
  Finished third in the FedExCup.
  One of two rookies to qualify for the season-ending TOUR Championship in 2017.
  Finished 27th in Adjusted Scoring Average (70.163).
  Recorded a total of four top-10 finishes among 20 made cuts.
  2016 graduate of the Web.com Tour.

Player of the Year nominees

Dustin Johnson, 33
Jupiter, Florida (Coastal Carolina University)

• Entered 20 events with victories (4) at the Genesis Open, World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and THE NORTHERN TRUST.
  Finished fourth in the FedExCup.
  Finished seventh in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.549).
  Finished the season with eight top-10 finishes among 17 made cuts.

Hideki Matsuyama, 25
Sendai, Japan (Tohoku Fukushi University)

• Entered 22 events with victories (3) at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, Waste Management Phoenix Open and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
  Finished eighth in the FedExCup.
  Finished 10th in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.624).
  Recorded a total of seven top-10 finishes among 20 made cuts.

Jordan Spieth, 24
Dallas, Texas (University of Texas)

• Entered 23 events with victories (3) at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Travelers Championship and The Open Championship.
  Finished second in the FedExCup.
  Finished first in Adjusted Scoring Average (68.846) to earn the Byron Nelson Award.
  Recorded 12 top-10 finishes (tied with Justin Thomas for most this season) among 20 made cuts.
  Top-10 finishes in all four FedExCup Playoffs events in 2017: THE NORTHERN TRUST (P2), Dell Technologies Championship (2), BMW Championship (T7), TOUR Championship (T7).

Justin Thomas, 24
Jupiter, Florida (University of Alabama)

• Entered 25 events with victories (5) at the CIMB Classic, Sentry Tournament of Champions, Sony Open in Hawaii, PGA Championship and Dell Technologies Championship.
  Winner of the 2017 FedExCup.
  Finished first on Official Money List to earn the Arnold Palmer Award with $9,921,560.
  Finished third in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.359).
  Recorded 12 top-10 finishes (tied with Jordan Spieth for most this season) among 19 made cuts.
  Became just the fourth player since 1960 to capture five wins, including a major, in a season before the age of 25 (Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth).

Corey Conners of Litowell, Ont., got off to a quick start during the Web.com Tour’s Regular Season with back-to-back top-10s in challenging conditions in the Bahamas, but eventually finished 49th on the money list.

But, with just one week left in the Web.com Tour Finals, he sits at 11th on The Finals 25 and has made enough money to all but secure his first PGA TOUR card for the 2017-18 season.

“It feels good,” said Conners of his chance to make it to the TOUR. “Still got some work to do, try to have another good week next week and see what happens. But it’s a nice feeling to have a good chance.”

Conners graduated from Kent State with Mackenzie Hughes, who, after winning on the Web.com Tour a year ago and finishing in The 25, won on the PGA TOUR last fall and is in the conversation for Rookie of the Year on TOUR.

Conners said it would be ‘awesome’ to get on TOUR with his close friend Hughes.

“Really good friends with Mackenzie and I’m sure he’s following along and cheering me on,” said Conners.

The pair are also alum of Golf Canada’s Natinal Amateur Team program.

Congrats on earning your card, Corey. We look forward to welcoming you to Glen Abbey in 2018 as a member of the PGA TOUR.

Jhonattan Vegas a remporté dimanche l’Omnium canadien RBC une deuxième année de suite en éliminant Charley Hoffman en prolongation sur le parcours du Glen Abbey Golf Club d’Oakville, en Ontario.

Le Vénézuélien a arraché la victoire, sa troisième sur le PGA TOUR, grâce à un oiselet au premier trou de la prolongation, le 18e, une normale 5, décrochant le gros lot de la dotation de 6 M $ US, soit 1 080 000 $.

Vegas est le septième golfeur de l’histoire de l’Omnium canadien à réussir le doublé, exploit aussi accompli par J. Douglas Edgar (1919-1920), Leo Diegel (1924-1925, 1928-1929), Sam Snead (1940-1941), Jim Ferrier (1950-1951) et Jim Furyk (2006-2007). Vegas a rendu une dernière carte de 65, moins 7, pour totaliser 267, moins 21.

« Il est sûr que ce doublé me donnera confiance en mes moyens, de dire Vegas, d’autant plus que j’avais été victime du couperet à mes cinq derniers départs. Cela dit, je n’ai pas si mal joué. Je me suis dit qu’il fallait que je reste calme et je suis content du résultat. »

Hoffman, un Californien de Rancho Santa Fe, avait provoqué la prolongation en inscrivant un oiselet au 72e trou, signant ainsi une carte de 68, mais il a été éliminé sur ce même trou quelques minutes plus tard en prolongation. Il était en tête, à moins 17, après 54 trous, mais pour la cinquième fois de sa carrière, il n’a pas su convertir son avance en une victoire.

L’Anglais Ian Poulter, à sa première participation à l’Omnium canadien RBC, a remis une carte de 64, la meilleure de la journée, pour gagner 13 places et terminer seul au 3e rang avec un cumulatif de 268 (moins 20).

Après un début de saison tumultueux, où il a failli perdre sa carte du PGA TOUR, Poulter revendique maintenant deux top 5 en 2017.

« J’ai été solide aujourd’hui et je me suis donné plusieurs chances d’oiselets. J’ai passé un été agréable en Europe avec la famille et les enfants. La vie est belle. »

L’Américain Gary Woodland s’est classé 4e à moins 19, un coup de mieux que ses compatriotes Brandon Hagy, Tony Finau et Robert Garrigus, ex æquo en 5e place.

Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, ON) a été le meilleur Canadien, terminant à égalité au 32e rang après avoir totalisé 278 (67-69-74-68), moins 10. Il s’est vu remettre à ce titre le trophée Rivermead, lui qui participait à son premier Omnium canadien RBC à titre de professionnel. Graham DeLaet (Weyburn, SK), seul autre des 17 Canadiens en lice à s’être qualifié pour le week-end, s’est classé ex æquo en 48e place, à 280, moins 8.

« Dans l’ensemble, ce fut une semaine agréable, a indiqué Hughes. J’ai eu de nombreux supporteurs de Dundas et de tout le Canada. Je remercie les fans canadiens de leur soutien. »

Cliquez ici pour les résultats complets de l’Omnium canadien RBC 2017

Jhonattan Vegas won the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, defending his 2016 title by defeating Charley Hoffman in a playoff to claim his third career PGA TOUR victory.

The Venezuelan made a birdie on the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, to become the seventh RBC Canadian Open winner to successfully defend his title.

Douglas Edgar (1919-20), Leo Diegel (1924-25, 1928-29), Sam Snead (1940-1941), Jim Ferrier (1950-1951), and Jim Furyk (2006-07) have all accomplished the feat.

“Obviously repeating is a big thing for the confidence,” said Vegas. “Obviously I want to win more and bigger tournaments, and this is a great step forward.”

Vegas recorded his lowest round of the championship, firing a 7-under-par 65 in Sunday’s final round with just one bogey on the par-3 15th.

Coming into the week, Vegas had missed five consecutive cuts.

“Obviously after coming after five missed cuts is never positive,” said Vegas. But I’ve been playing good golf the whole year; that I just had to stay cool and hopefully things will turn around, and I’m glad they did.”

Hoffman, from Ranch Santa Fe, Calif., was the 54-hole leader at 17 under par. He carded a 4-under-par 68 in Sunday’s final round.

This is the fifth time Hoffman has failed to convert a 54-hole lead into a victory.

“Yeah, it’s always tough after you don’t close the deal after having the lead but obviously got some big tournaments coming up,” said Hoffman. “The playoffs, a major championship, and obviously got some good momentum going into those.”

Hoffman’s previous best finish at the RBC Canadian Open was a T4 at St. Georges Golf and Country Club in 2010.

Englishman Ian Poulter charged up the leaderboard Sunday, carding an 8-under-par 64 to finish third at 20 under par in his first RBC Canadian Open appearance.

After a tumultuous start to his season in which he nearly lost his PGA TOUR card, Poulter now has two top-5 finishes in 2017.

“I’ve done everything I needed to do today. I played very solid. I gave myself lots of opportunities,” said Poulter after his round. “I’ve had a nice summer in Europe with the family and kids. Life’s all good.”

Gary Woodland of Topeka, Kans., finished fourth at 19 under par – his fifth top-10 of the season and best-ever finish at the RBC Canadian Open.

Dundas, Ont., native Mackenzie Hughes won the Rivermead Trophy as the low Canadian, finishing in a tie for 32nd at 10 under par in his first RBC Canadian Open as a professional.

Hughes finished strong with a 4-under-par 68 on Sunday to climb 23 spots after struggling with a 2 over par 74 in the third round.

“The week as a whole was a lot of fun,” said Hughes. “So many people out supporting me from Dundas and all over Canada. I could feel that support all the way around. All the Canadian fans
listening, thank you for the support.”

Graham DeLaet from Weyburn, Sask., finished T48 at 8 under par, closing with a 1-under-par 71 on Sunday.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson tried to make a charge after starting the day five shots back of Hoffman at 12 under par. He finished with a 5-under-par 67, ending tied for fifth with Tony Finau (Lehi, Utah) and Robert Garrigus (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

“The golf game is moving in the right direction,” said Johnson. “I felt like I played really good every day this week. I hit really good putts. They just weren’t going in the hole.”

Click here to view the full leaderboard for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open.

A look at the best photos from Sunday’s final round of the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Images via: Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault.

Charley Hoffman of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is the 54-hole leader at the RBC Canadian Open after carding a 7-under-par 65 in Saturday’s third round at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Hoffman recorded eight birdies and just one bogey on the day, building a one-shot lead over fellow American Kevin Chappell.

“You know the birdies are out there,” said Hoffman. “A perfect day here to make some birdies and have some fun in front of the fans.”

A four-time winner on the PGA TOUR, Hoffman’s last victory came at the 2016 Valero Texas Open.

Starting the day in a tie for fourth, Chappell, from in Fresno, Calif., posted a 6-under-par 66 in round three to enter the final grouping with Hoffman.

“We are good friends. Our caddies are staying together,” said Chappell. “We’ll have some laughs and it will be a comfortable pairing, that’s for sure.”

Chappell has three top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this season, including a win at the Valero Texas Open. He came to Glen Abbey ranked 32nd in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Robert Garrigus, from Scottsdale Ariz., tied the Glen Abbey course record with a 10-under-par 62 in the morning wave, moving him to 15 under par for the tournament—a 43 spot climb up the leaderboard into a tie for third place with Gary Woodland.

It’s a great confidence builder,” said Garrigus. “I know it’s hard to follow up a good round with a really good one but I’ve done it before, so hopefully I can do it again.”

Woodland, from Topeka, Kans., had seven birdies on Saturday but carded a 4-under-par 68 due to a double-bogey on the par-4 third. He is searching for his third career PGA TOUR victory.

Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas is part of a group of six players tied for fifth at 14 under par. Vegas carded a 5-under-par 67 in round three and knows he’ll have to go low again tomorrow to defend his title.

“You have to stay super aggressive. There’s nothing else you have to be thinking of,” said Vegas. “There’s a lot of birdies out here. We have to find a way to make a few more birdies than everyone tomorrow and see what happens.”

World. No. 1 Dustin Johnson was 5-under-par on the front nine Saturday but a double-bogey on No. 11 derailed his round, and he posted a 4-under-par 68 in round three to finish at 12 under par.

Johnson is seeking his PGA TOUR leading fourth win of 2017.

After 54 holes, Graham DeLaet is the top Canadian at 7 under par in a share of 41st place.

The Weyburn, Sask., native made the turn at 1 under par and went on to post a 1-over-par 73.

“I turned it under par which is solid play without making any putts and I just hit four bad tee shots in a row on 11, 12, 13, 14,” said DeLaet. “All of as sudden I’m a couple over par and 50th place or whatever it was.”

Mackenzie Hughes – the other Canadian playing the weekend at Glen Abbey – posted a 2-over-par 74 in round three to sit T55.

Tee times for the final round can be found here.

A look at the best photos from Saturday’s third round of the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Images via: Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault.

A look at the best photos from Friday’s second round of the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Images via: Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault