Sens’ Giroux playing Eagle Creek’s PGA Tour Canada event July

DUNROBIN — The Commissionaires Ottawa Open, an official PGA Tour Canada Fortinet Cup event coming to Dunrobin’s Eagle Creek July 17 to 23, is giving a sponsor’s exemption to Ottawa Senators’ forward Claude Giroux, who will also act as the tournament’s honorary chair.

“It’s a special opportunity and I am honoured to have been asked to be a part of this tournament,” Giroux said following the announcement. “Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about both golf and hockey. On top of my role as honorary chair, I’m very excited to play in the tournament among some amazing talent.”

Active NHL players have competed with PGA Tour Canada professionals in the past, including Winnipeg Jets’ players Mark Scheifele in 2018 and 2022, Kyle Conner in 2019, and Blake Wheeler who will play in August in the CentrePort Canada Railpark Manitoba Open.

At age 35, Giroux continues his stellar hockey career after signing with the Ottawa Senators where he reached several milestones, including his 1,000th NHL point and a personal regular season record of 35 goals.

The Hearst, ON, native has strong local roots going back to 2004 playing for the Cumberland Grads, Gatineau Olympiques and then the Philadelphia Flyers from 2007-2022, followed by a playoff run with the Florida Panthers in 2021-2022.

Giroux lives in Kanata with his wife, Ryanne, and two sons, Gavin and Palmer.

“We’re excited Claude has accepted the invitation to not only compete in the tournament, but to play the role of honorary chair, where I know he’ll be an inspiration to golfers and fans alike,” PGA Tour Canada executive director Scott Pritchard said.

The Commissionaires Ottawa Open, set for July 17 to 23 at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Dunrobin, marks the PGA TOUR Canada’s return to Ottawa after a several year hiatus and will feature more than 150 professionals from around the world, supported by more than 250 volunteers and generating an estimated $2 to $4 million in local economic activity.

The week begins on Monday, July 17 with a media event, the Commissionaires Pro-Am and player practice rounds, followed on Tuesday with a junior clinic and the Postmedia Pro-Am on Wednesday — and then four days of tournament play ending on Sunday.

“The Commissionaires Ottawa Open will be a tremendous event for the city,” tournament director and ClubEG vice president Andy Rajhathy said. “It will attract the some of the best young players in the world and give golf fans an opportunity to see them in action at Eagle Creek, which is without doubt one of the best golf courses in our region.”

Members of the public are encouraged to get involved as a spectator, volunteer, sponsor or player in the Postmedia Pro-Am, all of which is designed to benefit Soldier On, a program of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) which contributes to the recovery of ill and injured CAF members and veterans by providing opportunities and resources through sports, recreational, and creative activities.

PGA Tour Canada is a series of tournaments played primarily in Canada each summer, where tomorrow’s stars begin the path to the PGA Tour. The leading points earners at the end of each season earn status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the following season. PGA Tour Canada’s mission is to deliver a PGA Tour experience for our members, fans, volunteers and its partners in order to develop the future stars of professional golf and enrich the communities the tour visits.