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
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
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
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
It was a good fall for Canadians on the PGA TOUR, with both Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson winning PGA TOUR titles.
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 Women’s Open Earns Honour
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.
Phil’s 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
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.