Some of the best golfers from across the world will be in Elk Ridge this week as PGA Tour Americas makes a stop for the 2024 Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open.
The tournament is being held later this year as it was hosted at the end of June in 2023.
One returning member from last year is 28-year-old Jimmy Jones. Last year, Jones finished in 21st place behind the winner John Pak who finished the week 21-under par.
He says playing at Elk Ridge reminds him of his home course in Florida.
“It’s just a beautiful spot, it’s always in great shape and it’s a little different golf than what we play on this tour most of the time. It’s a little tighter, you feel a little claustrophobic out there and it’s actually kind of like where I grew up back in Tampa, the course I play. It reminds me a lot of home and just is a place I feel comfortable at.”
It is the third time Jones has made the trip to Elk Ridge. In the rained out 2022 edition of the tournament, Jones says there were plenty of memories made regardless of what the
“I travel around with my Xbox, so we played probably about 190 holes of Tiger Woods (PGA Tour) Golf throughout the week, playing our own tournaments, and then I’m a Lightning fan being from Tampa, so luckily it was Lightning vs Avalanche at the time (in the Stanley Cup Final). It didn’t turn out well enough, but at least we had something to do.”
With the tall trees lining the fairways at Elk Ridge, Jones says keeping the ball in play off the tee will be a key focus for the field this week.
“Golf nowadays is see how far I can hit it and then see how close I can get it. It’s not as much strategic golf nowadays, but this week you’re going to have four or five drivers off the tee. If you’re going to hit them, you have to hit them in play. The guy who wins this week is going to be the guy who’s in the best position off the tee.”
“Come Sunday, you’re going to hear someone say that I was in a good position off the tee all week long and kind of kept it out of the crap. That’s where the bugs are too, so fairways are good.”
Anderson looking to retain top spot in points standings
With the chase for the Fortinet Cup in full force, Matthew Anderson is hoping to retain his spot on top of the points standings.
At season’s end, the top 10 players on the points list will earn membership on the Korn Ferry Tour and a share of a $100,000 prize pool.
Anderson has competed in one PGA Tour event this season, missing the cut at the RBC Canadian Open. In his previous four PGA Tour Americas events, Anderson has not missed a cut and has finished top 20 in all four starts. He finished as the runner-up at the BioSteel Championship at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ontario earlier this month.
“My game is in a pretty good place, I’ve played pretty well the past four events.” Anderson says. “Just building kind of swing and technique stuff I was working on with my coach. It was kind of starting to take shape so I feel like it’s in a pretty good spot.”
2024 marks the first season of PGA Tour Americas after PGA Tour Latinoamerica and PGA Tour Canada merged to form one tour. At season’s end, 10 players will receive exempt Korn Ferry Tour cards for the 2025 season.
Anderson, who played on PGA Tour Canada last year, says the quality of competition has definitely improved since the merger.
“It’s definitely deeper. I’ve noticed that. I played on PGA Tour Canada last year, so I do have a little bit of a reference. Just because of the fact that there’s like less spots essentially at this level, just makes the fields a bit deeper. Compared the cuts from last year to this year, are maybe one or two shots better.”
sports@paherald.sk.ca
