Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/130253
iG1304--rev 5/10/13 3:48 PM Page 1 "It became very evident... the potential this Tour has and just how passionate the country is about golf." IMAGE CREDIT/COURTESY: PGA TOUR CANADA 70 Last year after a season-long evaluation of the Canadian Professional Golf Tour in 2012, the PGA TOUR made the decision to assume operational control of the 42-year old circuit. One of their first moves was to appoint longtime PGA TOUR executive Jeff Monday as the President of what now will be known as the PGA TOUR Canada. A veteran of 24 years with the TOUR, Monday has an extensive background in all facets of PGA TOUR marketing, sponsorship and tournament operations. This includes prior leadership roles as Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations for the Champions Tour; Senior Vice President of Tournament Development; Vice President of Tournament Business Affairs for the Champions Tour and Web.com Tour; and Vice President, Retail Marketing. Inside Golf interviewed Monday in midApril on topics ranging from the 2013 tournament schedule to the number and type of qualification exemptions that top money earners can expect to the web.com Tour. Inside Golf: Let's start with your overall thoughts about the PGA Tour coming to Canada and your role as its President. Jeff Monday: I am very excited to have this opportunity to help direct the strategic direction and growth of PGA TOUR Canada. It became very evident during my visits with tournaments, sponsors, volunteers and players, the potential this Tour has and just how passionate the country is about golf. We have a lot of work to do, but all of the elements for success are there. We already have a strong foundation of existing tournaments and there is definitely the interest and resources to establish solid new tournaments. iG: There was talk that you may have an event in Montreal this year. What is the status of that? JM: We are still working on something in Quebec and would love to have an event there. If that could be this year, that'd be fantastic. But certainly, in the future, we have every intention of having a PGA TOUR Canada event in Quebec. From a timing perspective, we know it would be a challenge for this year because we didn't make the decision to move forward until late in the fall and you know, once people have set their budgets, it's hard to have serious discussions in that regard. Once the holiday season hits, then getting in front of people and making sure they can take full advantage of the value of it, for this year, is something we'll continue to work on and so hopefully we'll be able to make it happen for this year. But if not for this year, certainly, I have every expectation that we'll be able to do so beginning 2014. iG: With respect to the Times-Colonist / Island Savings Open, your season opening event, will local players be given priority for sponsor exemptions? For instance, B.C. players such as Nick Taylor or James Lepp, whom you may be familiar with? JM: The eligibility for this year is fundamentally the same eligibility that existed before. We'll be taking a look at that for 2014, but the tournament still has sponsor exemptions and for the most part, they tend to give those to players with local ties. So that would be a decision to be made by their committee. We don't put any restrictions on who they give those to other than they have to meet the handicap requirement. So if you‚ are looking for one, I don't know how your game is, Bryan. iG: Close, but not quite, let's put it that way. JM: Keep working at it then, alright? iG: I appreciate the thought, yes, I will, actually. JM: It's always good. Last year, Cory [Renfrew] was right there in the hunt, right?(Victoria native Renfrew finished in a T2nd - ed). Until Andrew (Roque) reeled off, I don't know how many birdies in a row,(he closed with 7 straight birdies for the win, actually - ed)I forget. But pretty impressive. It's always great when you have local people in the tournament. It brings the gallery out and creates that much more