Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the trophy after winning the RBC Canadian Open at St. George's Golf and Country Club on June 12, 2022 in Etobicoke, Ontario.

Looking Back At The Top Golf Headlines From 2022

It was a busy year in golf—on and off the course—to say the least. This year saw many storylines unfold, like Golf Town Ambassador Brooke Henderson’s second-career major win at the Amundi Evian Championship and the introduction of the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

We take a look at some of the stories in golf that made headlines this past year.

Rory Defends RBC Canadian Open Title

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the trophy after winning the RBC Canadian Open at St. George's Golf and Country Club on June 12, 2022 in Etobicoke, Ontario.
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

After a two-year hiatus, the RBC Canadian Open returned to the PGA TOUR schedule, where the world’s No. 1 golfer Rory McIlory defended his championship from 2019. This year’s event at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto didn’t disappoint, with McIlory outdueling Tony Finau and Justin Thomas on the championship’s final day.

Brooke Wins Second Major

Brooke Henderson of Canada poses trophy after winning the The Amundi Evian Championship
(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Golf Town Ambassador Brooke Henderson won her second-career LPGA Tour major championship, claiming the Amundi Evian Championship. The 24-year-old’s four-round total of 17-under par was one shot better than Sophia Shubert. Henderson’s first career major championship win came in 2016 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club—the site of the 2024 event.

The Presidents Cup

Taylor Pendrith of Canada and the International Team and Corey Conners of Canada and the International Team look on from the 17th tee during Friday four-ball matches on day two of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

For the first time in Presidents Cup history, the biannual event featured two Canadians. Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith represented the International Team at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina. Unfortunately for the Canadians, the Americans won the event 17.5-12.5.

Pair of Canadians win on PGA TOUR

Adam Svensson of Canada poses with the trophy after putting in to win RSM Classic
(Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

It was a good fall for Canadians on the PGA TOUR, with both Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson winning PGA TOUR titles.

Mackenzie Hughes of Canada poses with the trophy after putting in to win on the second playoff hole against Sepp Straka of Austria on the 18th green during the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Hughes’ win—the second of his career—came in October at the Sanderson Farms Championship, while Svensson’s first career PGA TOUR victory came a month later at the RSM Classic.

Captain Canada

Golf Town Ambassador Mike Weir was recently named as 2024 International Team Presidents Cup Captain. The 52-year-old will be the first Canadian captain when the Presidents Cup returns to Royal Montreal Golf Club for the first time since 2007.

Weir, who appeared in five Presidents Cups (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) and has served as captain’s assistant in three consecutive playings, said the opportunity to lead the International Team will be a career-defining moment.

CP Womens Open Earns Honour

Photo: Gary Yee (Golf Canada)

The 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt Golf and Country Club was named Tournament of the Year by the Tournament Partners of the LPGA. After a two-year hiatus, thousands of fans turned out to support not only Golf Town Ambassador Brooke Henderson (the Brooke Brigade) but also everyone else who teed it up in Canada’s lone LPGA Tour event.

Phils Unauthorized Bio

The Alan Shipnuck-authored “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar” dropped two days before the start of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills (where Phil had been expected to play as defending winner). A New York Times Best Seller, the book details much of Mickelson’s life on (and off) the course over the past 30 years.

LIV Golf is Big News

According to a recent Sports Business Journal reader survey, the inaugural season of LIV Golf Invitational Series is the biggest sports story of 2022. While the LIV season led the way at 27%, 19% of reader respondents said the influence of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) on college sports was a bigger story, while 12% said the rising impact of streaming platforms was the biggest.

Team Woods at PNC Championship

Tiger Woods of the United States and son Charlie Woods celebrate on the seventh green during the first round of the PNC Championship
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

It wasn’t the result they wanted, but the team of Tiger and Charlie Woods still impressed at the recent PNC Championship. Finishing in a tie for eighth place at 20-under-par (six shots back of winners Vijay and his son, Qass) at the 36-hole scramble event, both the older and younger Woods thrilled onlookers with bombed drivers, holed putts and an abundance of smiles.

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