Stuart Macdonald rides wave on PGA TOUR Americas in Canada’s golden year of golf

Is 2024 shaping up to be the year of Canadian golfers?

Last year, Nick Taylor captivated fans with his 72-foot eagle putt to win the RBC Canadian Open, and he followed it up with a thrilling playoff victory at this year’s WM Phoenix Open. Canadian golfers continue to make waves, frequently appearing at the top of leaderboards as they vie for spots at this year’s Presidents Cup, led by International Team Captain Mike Weir. Six Canadians are ranked inside the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking: Taylor, Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson. (Taylor and Conners will represent Canada at the Paris Olympics.)

In May, Weir boldly predicted that “two, three, maybe four … maybe five” Canadians could make it to the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal – Canada’s first time hosting the event since 2007. The rise of Canadian golfers and their success has been building for some time, extending beyond the PGA TOUR.

PGA TOUR Americas, continuing its trek through the Great White North for its North America Swing, sees Vancouver native Stuart Macdonald aiming to make Canadian golf history of his own.

Macdonald, a winner at this year’s Diners Club Peru Open and currently ranked No. 10 in the Fortinet Cup Standings, is looking to defend his title at this week’s Commissionaires Ottawa Open. The top 10 players on the final 2024 Fortinet Cup Standings (comprising both the Latin America Swing and North America Swing) will earn exempt Korn Ferry Tour membership for the 2025 season. Macdonald, who has made four PGA TOUR starts, including this year’s RBC Canadian Open and Mexico Open at Vidanta, where he finished T24, is poised to continue the wave of Canadian success in professional golf.

“Golf in Canada seems to be in a great place,” Macdonald said as he prepares to defend his title in his home country. “Every year, there are more players earning their TOUR cards and more Canadians winning on the PGA TOUR. I’m hoping to follow in their footsteps.”

A Scottsdale, Arizona, resident, Macdonald enjoys spending time with fellow Canadian golfers Taylor and Hadwin, as well as visiting Pendrith and Conners, who live in Florida.

“They're all great role models,” Macdonald said. “It's just nice to have them on our team.

“My game stacks up pretty good against theirs,” he continued “It feels like, you know, why shouldn't I be out there, too? It's motivating to keep pecking away and aim to play some practice rounds with them."

As Macdonald continues to peck away and forge his path, he builds his own legacy for Team Canada. Six events remain in the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas season, with Macdonald eyeing that all-important top-10 spot on the Fortinet Cup to cement a return to the Korn Ferry Tour, on which he has made 77 career starts. He believes in his talent and has seen the results to back it up; the 29-year-old new father is just waiting for it all to come together.

With Canadian golf in a modern golden age, there’s no time like the present.