The legends are headed back to Canada.
Fan favourite Fred Couples is among a host of well known players already confirmed to play in Montreal.
Following an eight-year hiatus, the Champions Tour returns north of the border for this summer’s $1.8 million USD Montreal Championship, showcasing the most distinguished names to ever play the game. Club de golf Le Fontainebleau in Blainville, Que. will play host to the inaugural championship June 28-July 4.
“The closing three holes at Club de golf Le Fontainebleau wrap around a large lake and will surely make for an exhilarating finish to our inaugural championship,” says Tournament Director David Skitt.
Montreal-based Synchro Sports, who ran the Canadian Tour’s highly successful Montreal Open from 2004 through 2009, will promote and manage the championship. Skitt, the longtime Tournament Director for the Canadian Tour event, assumes the same role for the new Champions Tour tournament while Ronald Corey, former President of the Montreal Canadiens, serves as Honorary Chairman.
“It is amazing to see the passion and devotion of our staff that are working day and night to ensure that each and every aspect of the Montreal Championship is an unconditional success,” adds Skitt. “The priceless experience that our team has gained over the last six years on the Canadian Tour will surely prove to be invaluable.”
Among the Champions Tour stars already committed to the event is fan favourite Fred Couples, already a three-time winner in 2010, 13-time PGA Tour champion Mark Calcavecchia, three-time U.S. Open champion and 45-time Champions Tour winner Hale Irwin, Loren Roberts, Tom Kite and Craig Stadler. Jim Rutledge of Victoria BC has accepted a sponsor’s exemption into the tournament and another Canadian will earn a berth in a qualifier for Quebec PGA pros aged 50 and over.
An open pre-qualifier will also be staged on Fri., June 25 with the top five finishers advancing to the final Montreal Championship qualifier on Tues., June 29.
The Birdies for Charity initiative will also benefit the Montreal community during tournament week.
“The Champions Tour is all about giving back to charity and leaving each community better off than it was prior to hosting an event,” says Skitt. “We are delighted to launch our Birdies for Charity initiative that is projected to raise over $1,000,000 over the next three years for both the Ste-Justine Children’s Hospital and Golf Quebec junior golf initiatives.”
Skitt says the Montreal business sector has rallied around the Montreal Championship, selling out all five pro ams, clubhouse seating and skyboxes around the 16th and 18th greens, adding all tournament partners are focused on ensuring the championship is a rousing success.
“The support we have received both from the PGA Tour as well as ClubLink has been a tremendous,” Skitt says. “Everyone is on board and share in a common goal of showcasing our wonderful city and province to the world.”
Tickets are selling at a brisk pace and organizers are prepared for a large walk-up crowd during tournament week. Montreal Championship tickets can be purchased through the Admission Network or by phone at 514-790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595.
