The 2021 pro golf Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada will be going rock-to-rock, spanning the country, from the Prince Edward Island to Vancouver Island.
The Tour announced its full eight-tournament schedule Thursday. It will begin July 29 to Aug. 1 with the Mackenzie Investments Open in Blainville, Que., and conclude Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 with the previously-announced DCBank Open presented by the Times Colonist at Uplands.
“It’s exciting for us to be the last tournament because the season awards, championship and 2022-season exemptions will be decided at our tournament,” said Keith Dagg, a lead member of the Victoria tournament organizing committee.
“And with the provincial timeline calling for the [full] opening of B.C. on Sept. 7, we envision organizing our event like we always do.”
That includes likely having a live gallery following the golfers around Uplands.
After Blainville, the Tour goes to the Osprey Valley Open at TPC Toronto from Aug. 19-22, Prince Edward Island Open from Aug. 26-29, Brudenell River Classic from Sept. 2-5 in P.E.I., a tournament to be announced from Sept. 9-12, the ATB Financial Classic from Sept. 16-19 in Calgary and GolfBC Championship from Sept. 23-16 at Gallagher’s Canyon in Kelowna.
Because the border situation is unknown at the moment, the 2021 Tour will feature only Canadian golfers. The 2020 season was limited to four tournaments, two at Bear Mountain, due to the pandemic.
“We always knew we would have PGA Tour-affiliated golf in Canada in 2021, so it’s nice to finally make it official,” said Scott Pritchard, executive director of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.
“With the limited amount of competitive golf available over the last year, we know the players are anxious to get started.”
The Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada leads to the Korn Ferry Tour, which is the entry point to the PGA Tour. The former Canadian Tour became the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada in 2013 and its alumni over the past eight years includes 41 PGA Tour players and 232 Korn Ferry Tour players.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
