by Alfie Lau

When no players withdrew from the U.S. Open field at Chambers Bay on Thursday, dashing the hopes of alternate Mackenzie Hughes of Ontario, the red-and-white Canadian colours were left to be carried high by two other golfers with Ontario links.

The low Canadian was Edmonton’s Brad Fritsch, who now calls North Carolina home.

by Alfie Lau

Never has the U.S. Open come all the way north and west to Washington State, but now that Chambers Bay looks set to host one of the most unforgettable tournaments in recent history, here’s 10 things you might have missed, but we at BC Golf have on our radar.

With all his poor play of late it only stood to reason that former World Number One Tiger Woods would face some questions about the state of his game when he sat in front of the media at Chambers Bay for the press conference prior to the 2015 U.S. Open.

And he did...

The Men's World Number One ranked golfer, Rory McIlroy, answered questions from the media before heading out for a late afternoon practice round at Chambers Bay ahead of the 2015 U.S. Open.

Here is a selection of those questions and answers:

Brown Is The New Green As Evidenced By This View Of The Chambers Bay Layout For The 2015 U.S. Open - Image Credit Kris Jonasson

by Kris Jonasson, Executive Director - British Columbia Golf

Tuesday I attended, along with my friend Dana Prince, my first golf event in many years strictly as a spectator.

Here is what I learned and what you should know before heading down to the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf and intrepid BCG reporter

Never has the U.S. Open been closer to home for British Columbians, but that only intensifies the pressure for us media types covering the event.

Having covered six U.S. Opens for Inside Golf, the 2015 version, at Chambers Bay, presented a variety of unique challenges.

While the course was a manageable 4-hour drive away from Vancouver, securing suitable accommodation close to Tacoma proved quite challenging.

The Richmond Olympic Oval Will Be The Site Of International Olympic Day Celebrations On Monday, June 15th And Golf Is Playing A Major Role - Image Courtesy Richmond Olympic Oval

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Monday, June 15 looks like any other Monday, the beginning of another work week and the last spring Monday of 2015.

But look a little deeper and you may discover it’s the biggest day in British Columbia golf.

Let’s start with an event that’s not just about golf, but is important nevertheless. Golf will return to the Olympics in Rio in 2016 and International Olympic Day will be celebrated from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richmond Olympic Oval, with British Columbia Golf and CN Future Links playing a big part in this event.

Albin Choi Picked Up His First Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Win Claiming The Bayview Place Island Savings Open Presented By Times Colonist - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

by Brian Decker, Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada

(June 7, 2015 – Victoria, B.C.) – With a final round 4-under 66, Surrey, B.C's Albin Choi captured his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory on Sunday at Uplands Golf Club, claiming the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist.

The 23-year old came out of the gate hot on Sunday, making birdies on four of his first five holes to separate himself from the field, then held on down the stretch to win by three over North Vancouver's Eugene Wong, fellow Surrey native Adam Svensson and Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Jason Millard.

Former Teammates On The UBC Thunderbirds Golf Squad, Kyla Inaba (L) And Eileen Kelly Have Reunited To Compete On The New Golf Reality Series Altered Course - Image Courtesy Golf Channel

Golf Channel recently announced a new reality competition series, Altered Course, that combines golf, speed, fitness, teamwork and decision-making as teams navigate re-imagined and extreme golf holes in excess of 700 yards, traversing the natural obstacles and challenging terrain as fast as possible.

Altered Course’s inaugural season will take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Of particular interest to Canadians, and British Columbians specifically, is the team of Eileen Kelly and Kyla Inaba, calling themselves the #Canadian Ninjas.

Surrey's Adam Svensson Was Oh, So Close To Recording His Fourth Consecutive Win As A Professional, Losing In A Playoff In The PC Financial At Point Grey In The Season-Opening Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Event - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

For all four days of the PC Financial Open at Point Grey Golf & Country Club, Canadian flags were at the top of the leaderboard.

From first round leader Thomas Hay of Langley to second-round leader Bryn Parry of North Vancouver, the weekend action saw the rise of Langley’s Adam Cornelson and Vancouver’s Ryan Williams on Saturday and on Sunday, Surrey’s Adam Svensson, Victoria’s Riley Wheeldon and Richmond Hill, ON’s Taylor Pendrith all moved up the leaderboard and were part of the five-golfer playoff that also featured Americans Drew Weaver and Ross Beal.

While Weaver would take the $31,500 first-place cheque and the PC Financial Open title, it was the young British Columbians and Canadians who made the biggest news.

Drew Weaver Had Good Reason To Smile After Surviving The Five-Man Playoff To Win The PC Financial Open At Point Grey GC - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

American Drew Weaver spoiled the party for the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada’s 2015 opening event at Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

After Weaver finished regulation in a five-way tie at (-12) with fellow American Ross Beal and a trio of Canadians, Surrey’s Adam Svensson, Victoria’s Riley Wheeldon and Richmond Hill, ON’s Taylor Pendrith, Weaver won the PC Financial Open on the third playoff hole.

PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday, PGA TOUR Winner Nick Taylor And Mackenzie Investments Vice President, Sponsorship Court Elliott Pose Next To New Signage For The Mackenzie Tour - Image Courtesy PGA TOUR Canada

via press release

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and TORONTO (May 27, 2015) – The PGA TOUR and Mackenzie Investments announced today a six-year agreement making the investment management firm the umbrella sponsor of PGA TOUR Canada.

The Tour is being renamed the Mackenzie Tour–PGA TOUR Canada, effective immediately with this week’s season-opening event in Vancouver.

 by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf - The present and future of Canadian golf converged on Wednesday afternoon at Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

It Remains To Be Seen Whether There Will Be Any Canadian Flags Flying At Chambers Bay For The 2015 U.S. Open

Currently, there are no Canadians scheduled to be amongst the 156 players who will tee it up at Chambers Bay starting June 18.

But come June 8, in what is termed the Longest Day in Golf, at least 22 Canadians will try to overcome their final obstacle, a 36-hole qualifier being played at 10 sites all across America, to get one of the final spots in the U.S. Open.

Nick Sherwood Smiles As He Receives His Ticket From Susan White Of British Columbia Golf To Play In The PC Financial Open At Point Grey After Monday Qualifying At Swaneset Bay Resort - image credit alfie lau

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

For Albany, OR’s Nick Sherwood, it was the longest afternoon of his golf career.

After shooting a morning round of (-3) 69 at Swaneset Bay’s Resort Course during the Monday qualifier for the PC Financial Open, Sherwood had to wait hours to see how the rest of the other 129 players who had forked out $250 to play for one of 10 spots into the first PGA TOUR Canada stop at Point Grey would do.

Just before 7 p.m., Sherwood got the word he was looking for from British Columbia Golf’s Susan White, who was happy to give Sherwood one of 10 pieces of paper telling him his next steps, which included what awaited him at Point Grey.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Scott Wheeler/PGATOUR.COM) — Ryan Williams, PGA TOUR Canada’s highest Canadian finisher on the 2014 Order of Merit, is poised to take on his local course as the 2015 season kicks off with the PC Financial Open.

Williams, who plays out of Point Grey Golf and Country Club, host to this year’s season-opening tournament, finished sixth on the Order of Merit in 2014, completing the season with a win at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship.

Maple Ridge, B.C.'s Justin Shin Holds The Trophy After His Victory In The Wuhan Open In China

WUHAN, China — Justin Shin,from Maple Ridge, B.C. shot a 3-under 69 in the final round of the United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open to win his first professional title, finishing at 12-under and three shots ahead of fellow Canadian, North Vancouver’s Eugene Wong.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Adam Svensson of Surrey, BC picked up his 3rd Swingthought.com Tour win in as many tries this past weekend  at the Milton Martin Honda Classic in Gainesville, Ga.

Svensson shot rounds of 66, 66, 67 and 67 to finish at 22-under par on the Chattahoochee Golf Club course to win by five shots, pocketing $20,000 US.

Beautiful Crown Isle Resort Will Be The Site Of The Final PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tourney For 2015

COURTENAY, British Columbia (Brian Decker/Golf Canada) — PGA TOUR Canada qualifying resumes this week with the final of three Qualifying Tournaments taking place at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay, B.C. for the second straight year.

Once again, PGA TOUR Canada players will aim to take the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR in 2015.

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

For anybody else, winning the PGA Tour Canada stop in Ottawa, The Forces & Families Open, finishing 13th on the Order of Merit and coming second in the Canada Cup would be a good golf year, but for Summerland’s Greg Machtaler, it was only the tip of the iceberg.

“My back was in rough shape and I really only played half the season with a close-to-healthy back,” said the 31-year-old who now calls Kelowna home. “One of the reasons why I’m looking so forward to 2015 is I’m feeling good, my back is getting close to 100 per cent and I know that if I play like I did at the end of last year, I’ll have a good chance of finishing top-5 here and getting my Web.com card for next year.”