Golf

Canadian rookies John and Yellamaraju making memories on LPGA and PGA Tours

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

It only took two rounds of golf for Vancouver's Leah John to have her "welcome to the LPGA Tour" moment.

John had just finished playing in Blue Bay LPGA, the first tournament of her rookie season on the top-flight women's golf circuit, when she got approached for an autograph. And another. And another.

Although John had missed the cut on March 6 at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Hainan Island, China, there was a crowd waiting to meet her and get her signature. There were so many people that security actually had to move the large group to one side so as to not block other golfers from getting to the clubhouse.

"I had this mob of people wanting my signature, which was so much fun, like it was so nice to feel like I could have an impact on people and just make them happy," said John. "I am very much living my dream.

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Cameron Young is clutch on the island green and rallies to win The Players Championship

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Cameron Young is clutch on the island green and rallies to win The Players Championship

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Cameron Young delivered the biggest birdie of his career on the most notorious hole on the TPC Sawgrass, a sand wedge to 10 feet to tie for the lead in The Players Championship. And then he was even better on a shot equally daunting.

Young finally won a big title to go with his major talent on an electric stage with pressure at every turn. He produced the goods on the final two holes — the birdie on the wind-blown island-green 17th, and a 375-yard drive down the 18th that set up a one-shot victory Sunday.

“It’s so loud on 17. You just know kind of all eyes are right there on you so there’s nowhere to hide,” Young said. “And I feel like I stepped up really well and hit a bunch of good shots those last couple holes, so I’m very proud of that.”

Most impressive was the previous day on the 18th hole, his drive ended with a splash and a double bogey. There was no margin for error this time, tied for the lead with Matt Fitzpatrick. Young picked out his line and had one final thought: “I’m going to hit the best shot of my life right here."

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Cameron Young holds the The Players Championship Trophy after winning the final round of The Players Championship golf tournament, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Cameron Young holds the The Players Championship Trophy after winning the final round of The Players Championship golf tournament, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Ludvig Aberg builds a 3-shot lead in The Players Championship

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Ludvig Aberg builds a 3-shot lead in The Players Championship

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The biggest challenge for Ludvig Aberg was finding satisfaction in a three-shot lead Saturday at The Players Championship instead of wondering how much larger it could have been.

Aberg had only two bogeys on his card all week and was four shots ahead of Michael Thorbjornsen when he stood in the fairway on the par-5 16th hole, 193 yards away with a 7-iron in his hand. He had an 8-foot birdie putt on the island-green 17th hole. He smashed his drive on the daunting 18th that set up a 25-foot birdie attempt.

Par. Par. Bogey.

Aberg still managed a 1-under 71 thanks largely to his third eagle of the week with an 18-foot putt on the par-5 11th. He was three shots clear of Michael Thorbjornsen, a rival in college and now a neighbor in the Ponte Vedra Beach area.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Ludvig Aberg of Sweden reacts after a birdie on the ninth green during the third round of The Players Championship golf tournament Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Ludvig Aberg of Sweden reacts after a birdie on the ninth green during the third round of The Players Championship golf tournament Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Ludvig Aberg aces Sawgrass with 63 to take 2-shot lead at Players as Scheffler narrowly makes cut

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Ludvig Aberg aces Sawgrass with 63 to take 2-shot lead at Players as Scheffler narrowly makes cut

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Ludvig Aberg had a dream start that carried him to a 9-under 63 and a two-shot lead Friday in The Players Championship. Scottie Scheffler had a clutch finish, but only to avoid missing the cut.

Aberg was 5 under through his opening four holes and motored his way around the TPC Sawgrass with one amazing shot after another. He chipped in twice, for birdie on No. 4 and for eagle on the par-5 ninth for a 29 to tie the front-nine record on the Stadium Course. 

Even on the one chip he muffed, he limited the damage by holing an 8-foot putt for bogey.

A final birdie — the Swede made it look so easy — gave him a two-shot margin over Xander Schauffele, who hit all 14 fairways in his round of 65. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., was four shots off the lead.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Ludvig Aberg of Sweden acknowledges applause from the gallery after sinking his putt on the 11th green during the second round of The Players Championship golf tournament Friday, March 13, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Ludvig Aberg of Sweden acknowledges applause from the gallery after sinking his putt on the 11th green during the second round of The Players Championship golf tournament Friday, March 13, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Young Canadian Epson Tour golfers learning in every tournament round

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Young Canadian Epson Tour golfers learning in every tournament round

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

The golf course continues to be a classroom for Brigitte Thibault and Brooke Rivers, two of Canada's up-and-coming players.

Thibault and Rivers were two of the 20 players named to Golf Canada's men's and women's teams last week. Both of them are growing on the second-tier Epson Tour and will play in this week's IOA Golf Classic. 

The 27-year-old Thibault, who turned pro in 2022, said that if she could give her younger self advice, it would be to trust her own judgement.

"This game is really about knowing yourself and being comfortable with yourself because you get tossed into a pool of competition, which is fine, because it drives the game, but it's also just a game," said Thibault on Wednesday. "If you can really dial in who you are, how you want to go about it, and really kind of protect that I would have told myself, maybe to invest more in the relationship with myself first, instead of pleasing a lot of people around me.

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Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

Brigitte Kim Thibault, of Canada, hits her tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round at the LPGA CPKC Canadian Women's Open golf tournament, in Vancouver, on Friday, August 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Brigitte Kim Thibault, of Canada, hits her tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round at the LPGA CPKC Canadian Women's Open golf tournament, in Vancouver, on Friday, August 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Hyo Joo Kim holes out for eagle and a 63 to lead Founders Cup at Sharon Heights

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Hyo Joo Kim holes out for eagle and a 63 to lead Founders Cup at Sharon Heights

The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 9:29 PM CDT

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Hyo Joo Kim capped off a flawless round at Sharon Heights by holing out for eagle on the par-5 18th hole for a 9-under 63 that gave her a two-shot lead in the Fortinet Founders Cup.

The best scoring came in the morning at the course hosting an LPGA event for the first time, before the greens began to get firm and fast and made it difficult to get shots close.

Kim was more impressed with keeping bogeys off her card on the tree-lined course than she was with the eagle on the final hole.

“I am just so satisfied I had no bogeys,” Kim said. “I had some mistakes in the beginning, but I was able to save them. I ended with an eagle, so I ended pretty happily.”

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Yesterday at 9:29 PM CDT

Hyo Joo Kim, of South Korea, hits toward the 10th fairway during the first round of the LPGA Fortinet Founders Cup golf tournament, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Hyo Joo Kim, of South Korea, hits toward the 10th fairway during the first round of the LPGA Fortinet Founders Cup golf tournament, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Sungjae Im gets dialed in and shoots 64 to lead the Valspar Championship

The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 7:16 PM CDT

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Sungjae Im, who missed two straight cuts upon his return from a wrist injury, found his form Thursday in the Valspar Championship with two eagles that offset a few late mistakes in his round of 7-under 64 for a one-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker.

The Copperhead course at Innisbrook was the third straight stop on the Florida swing where the conditions were firm and the greens already getting that yellow sheen. Im was up to the task by giving himself ample birdie chances and converting six of them.

He also holed eagle putts of 18 feet on the par-5 11th and 35 feet on the par-5 first after making the turn. Only a pair of bogeys over the last four holes slowed him.

The surprise was the 45-year-old Snedeker, the U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup, who received a sponsor exemption. He had a bogey-free round at Innisbrook for the first time in 14 years, running off three straight birdies to start the back nine in his round of 65.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp headlines 2026 inductee class for Canadian Golf Hall of Fame

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp headlines 2026 inductee class for Canadian Golf Hall of Fame

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

Alena Sharp figured she'd be in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame some day, she just didn't think it would be this fast.

Sharp, from Hamilton, headlined the class of inductees named to the Hall on Tuesday. She was joined by longtime global industry executive Peter Broome of Montreal as well as former professional golfers Pat Bradley and Lee Trevino. 

"I wasn't expecting to be inducted so early on, I figured it would be a few years down the road," said Sharp in a video conference, adding that she was ecstatic when selection committee chair Harry Brotchie called her. "This is obviously huge for me, ranking right up there with being a three-time Olympian. 

"It's just an amazing honour to be going into the Hall with all these amazing other golfers"

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Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

Canada's Alena Sharp watches her putt during a practice round for the women's golf event at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Aug. 6, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Canada's Alena Sharp watches her putt during a practice round for the women's golf event at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Aug. 6, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Mi Hyang Lee makes final hole birdie to clinch Blue Bay LPGA

The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026

HAINAN ISLAND, China (AP) — Mi Hyang Lee threw away her lead with two double bogeys on the front nine, and then delivered a winner on the final hole Sunday with a lob wedge that hit the pin and set up a tap-in birdie to win the Blue Bay LPGA by one shot.

Lee closed with a 1-over 73 for a one-shot victory over Zhang Weiwei, who shot 69 at Jian Lake Blue Bay but lost the lead with a bogey on the 17th. It was Lee's third LPGA title, and her first in more than eight years.

“Almost give up, but my caddie just kept telling me, ‘Keep fighting, fighting.’ So I really fought, just didn't give up, and then I just got to make a lot of birdies,” said Lee, who responded to a 40 on the front nine with three birdies coming in. “Feels amazing.”

The South Korean finished at 11-under 277 for her first win since the 2017 Women's Scottish Open.

Akshay Bhatia rallies from five down to win Bay Hill in a playoff

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Akshay Bhatia rallies from five down to win Bay Hill in a playoff

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Arnold Palmer was famous for saying, "You must play boldly to win,” and Akshay Bhatia followed that script Sunday to a stunning comeback and playoff victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Bhatia started his back-nine charge with four straight birdies. He nearly holed his 6-iron that went right at the flag on the par-5 16th to set up eagle. And he outlasted Daniel Berger with a par on the first extra hole to win at Bay Hill.

“You just never know what can happen in this game,” Bhatia said after he closed with a 3-under 69 and won his third PGA Tour title, all of them in playoffs.

This was the biggest, a $20 million signature event that moves the 24-year-old into the top 20 in the world at the start of a big stretch in golf that concludes with the Masters next month.

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Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026

Akshay Bhatia, right, reacts after winning his playoff against Daniel Berger at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Akshay Bhatia, right, reacts after winning his playoff against Daniel Berger at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Berger keeps the lead as enough rain takes teeth out of Bay Hill

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Berger keeps the lead as enough rain takes teeth out of Bay Hill

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 7, 2026

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Berger stopped making as many birdies even after a rain delay took some of the bite out of Bay Hill on Saturday. He still had a two-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational when darkness kept the third round from finishing.

Berger was to return Sunday morning to face a 35-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th. After watching Akshay Bhatia get up-and-down from a bunker for birdie to close within two, Berger handed the putter to his caddie and decided to wait 13 hours before his next putt.

Regardless of how the third round concludes, Bay Hill had that feeling of being a tournament again instead of the one-man show Berger had made it going into the weekend with a five-shot lead.

That won't be the case for Rory McIlroy, who felt muscle spasms in his back and decided to withdraw about 30 minutes before his tee time. It was his first time withdrawing from a tournament in 13 years, though it was not likely to keep him from The Players Championship.

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Saturday, Mar. 7, 2026

Daniel Berger hits out of a bunker on the second hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Daniel Berger hits out of a bunker on the second hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Berger handles the ‘U.S. Open in spring’ by building 5-shot lead at Bay Hill

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Berger handles the ‘U.S. Open in spring’ by building 5-shot lead at Bay Hill

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 6, 2026

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Berger loves playing in Florida in March. For most everyone else Friday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill made it feel like a spring preview of the U.S. Open.

Berger was on his game again in the most demanding conditions, leaning on a steady diet of fairways and greens and feeling just as good about his lag putts as he did the five birdies he made in a round of 4-under 68 that gave him a five-shot lead.

“You've just got to stay patient and take what the course gives you,” Berger said. “And when you have an opportunity, you've got to take advantage because there's not many of them out there.”

Berger was at 13-under 131.

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Friday, Mar. 6, 2026

Daniel Berger walks up the 18th fairway during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Friday, March 6, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Daniel Berger walks up the 18th fairway during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Friday, March 6, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Daniel Berger shoots a 63 and builds a 3-shot lead at Bay Hill

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Daniel Berger shoots a 63 and builds a 3-shot lead at Bay Hill

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Berger has enough history at Bay Hill to know what kind of test to expect. He made nine birdies, all but one of them inside 10 feet, for a 9-under 63 and a round no one was expecting Thursday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Berger posted his bogey-free round in the morning and by the end of the day, he had a three-shot lead and a score that was nearly nine shots better than the average of the 72-man field.

Collin Morikawa had a finish he could have used last year when he was runner-up. He was middle of the pack until closing eagle-birdie-birdie for a 66. He was tied with Ludvig Aberg, whose round should be considered as impressive as what Berger did.

Aberg played in the afternoon when the greens looked more yellow, the wind began to gust and swirl and storm clouds gathered without really threatening. He hit 5-iron to 25 feet for eagle on the par-5 12th and shot 66, three shots better than anyone who played late.

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Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026

Daniel Berger hits from the 18th fairway during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Daniel Berger hits from the 18th fairway during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Australian Hannah Green wins HSBC Women’s World Championship by a stroke

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Australian Hannah Green wins HSBC Women’s World Championship by a stroke

The Associated Press 2 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Australian Hannah Green has won the HSBC Women’s World Championship for a second time, holding off a fast-finishing American Auston Kim to claim a one-stroke victory on Sunday.

Green, the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner, closed with a 69, after an erratic back-nine with three birdies and three bogeys nearly opened the door for Kim.

Green tapped in for bogey at the last and a 14-under four-round total of 274 at the par-72 Sentosa Golf Club and give her another title in Singapore after also winning here in 2024.

Kim had the equal-best round of the day with a 67 on the back off six birdies and an eagle, but bogeys at the second and especially at the par-3 15th ended her charge at 13-under 275, and one shot behind a faltering Green.

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Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

Hannah Green of Australia reacts on the green during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Hannah Green of Australia reacts on the green during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Nico Echavarria wins Cognizant Classic after Shane Lowry melts down late

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Nico Echavarria wins Cognizant Classic after Shane Lowry melts down late

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Nico Echavarria didn't make a bogey all weekend. Shane Lowry was on his way to doing the same, until the very end.

And that's what decided the Cognizant Classic.

Echavarria — who was three shots back with three holes left — shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday to win at PGA National, finishing at 17-under 267 and beating Lowry (69), Austin Smotherman (69) and Taylor Moore (68) by two shots.

“It was a blessing today,” Echavarria said. “I didn’t have my best off the tee, but I was able to manage. I had some good breaks. To win out here, sometimes you have to have good breaks if you’re not Scottie Scheffler that hits it every time in the perfect place. So, I’m happy with how it went.”

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Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

Nico Echavarria of Colombia holds the Cognizant Classic Trophy at the end of the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Nico Echavarria of Colombia holds the Cognizant Classic Trophy at the end of the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Shane Lowry and Austin Smotherman tied for the Cognizant Classic lead at 13 under

The Associated Press 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Shane Lowry has yet another chance to win at PGA National.

The native of Ireland who now calls South Florida home had a bogey-free round of 8-under 63 on Saturday, moving to 13 under and finishing with a share of the lead following three rounds of the Cognizant Classic. 

He's tied with Austin Smotherman, who battled his way to a 69. Lowry said his goal going into Saturday — which had tee times moved up because of anticipated bad weather — was just to get into one of the final two groups for Sunday, then did a little better than that.

“You want to be near the leaders, keep an eye on them and see what they’re doing,” Lowry said. “If the conditions are like this tomorrow, there (are) low scores out there, so someone could come from the pack. It’s not necessarily easy to lead around this golf course. There’s a lot of very difficult shots. But I’m up there where I want to be. I’ve had a few chances to win this tournament, and hopefully I can convert it tomorrow.”

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