Williams Excited To Begin Season 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.

The start to his 2014 season didn’t takeoff like his finish did though. In last year’s PC Financial Open, Williams missed the cut with opening rounds of 73-70.

This year, Williams hopes to rebound. “I’ve been out there [at Point Grey G&CC] quite a bit over the last couple of months,” Williams said. “I’m comfortable that I’m playing a golf course that I now know quite well.”

Another year worth of experience served as a learning experience, Williams said, adding that he considers himself a veteran in the field now.

“I think when you want something so bad you look at making the cut as a big success,” he said. “I’m not really thinking about that, I’m thinking about trying to win golf tournaments now.”

Williams, a native of Surrey, B.C., turned pro in 2007 and has finished in the top three at four events in the last four PGA TOUR Canada seasons.

In 2014, he missed five cuts by just one shot and he acknowledged it impacted his mindset. “I think you learn a few things that I did in the Thursday or Friday rounds that led to missed cuts, putting too much pressure on myself,” he said.

The preparation to make sure this year’s PC Financial Open is a success is complete, according to Williams.

“The work is already done,” he said. “I don’t think the course is going to be playing tremendously different to how it is playing now.”

“If we had to tee it up tomorrow, I think I’d be fine, it’s just about fine tuning some things,” he said, noting that simple things like rest and eliminating distractions are what are important now.

Williams doesn’t want to let playing at home add any pressure. He insists he won’t change his routine.

“I know there’s going to be a lot of stuff written about me and a few other local guys about just being here at home and how we’re supposed to be favourites but at the end of the day it’s still just golf and anybody can win out there,” he said. “We all know how competitive and good the tour is.”

The PC Financial Open kicks off the 2015 PGA TOUR Canada season on May 28.

Williams expects the course to play faster and firmer than it did at last year’s tournament. “It has been warm everyday out here,” Williams said. “The course should be awesome.”

Part of him just wants to get started. “There’s a lot of anticipation because it’s the first event of the year,” he said. “I think it’s been a long wait, everyone’s pretty amped up and excited.”

The field will compete for a $175,000 purse with a winning share of $31,500 before leaving Vancouver, B.C., and Point Grey G&CC behind for Uplands GC in Victoria, B.C.

The season’s 12 tournaments will wrap up in London, Ont., with Williams defending his title at the newly-renamed Freedom 55 Financial Championship, which now carries the TOUR’s largest purse at $200,000.

Williams is confident he can remain focused and make the 2015 season a special one.

“I just have to remember that it’s a four day tournament and not a two day tournament and it’s not just about making the cut,” he said. “I have to put a game plan together where it’s based on a four day plan, not a two day plan.”