Canadian Tour Announces Record Purse Increases

As reported on GNN a week ago, the Canadian Tour officially announced on Monday some record purse increases for its 2010 schedule.

Events in Victoria, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, home of the Players Cup, will see purse increases and the Canadian Tour Championship will be played for $325,000, nearly double what it was in 2006.

“The highlight of the 2010 schedule is purse increases at major events in Canada. These are the most significant increases that the Tour has seen in its history,” said commissioner Richard Janes.

“There are still a number of gaps in the schedule that are yet to be filled, but we can confirm that at least five of our major events in Canada will be announcing purses of at least $250,000,” said Janes.

“The Players Cup in Winnipeg will have a purse of $300,000 and the Canadian Tour Championship will reach $325,000,” he said, adding there was a merger of Alberta events with Telus moving away from what was the Edmonton Open and joining with the ATB Financial Classic, which was held last year in Calgary.

This year, the ATB Financial Classic presented by Telus will be played in late June at the Edmonton Country Club. As part of the four-year agreement, the event is expect to alternate between Calgary and Edmonton,

Two new Canadian events are also tentatively scheduled for Fort McMurray, Alta., and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia in 2010.

The 2010 season will begin with a series of tournaments in Mexico starting with the Mexican PGA Championship in Mazatlan the week of April 12.

Yet to be finalized are events in partnership with the European Challenge Tour and Tour de Las Americas in Columbia, Chile and Costa Rica in late February and early March.

“Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Tour and this is where we are applying most of our attention. At the same time, Latin America and Mexico provide us with opportunities to extend our season into those months when we cannot play in Canada,” said Janes.

“These events also provide our players with valuable international experience and expose top players to the Canadian Tour.”

For the entire first draft of the tour schedule, see the website, www.cantour.com under Tournaments.

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