Matthew Anderson always knew he was capable of playing at the highest levels of golf.
Anderson is third in the PGA Tour Americas standings heading into this week's Fortinet Cup Championship, the season finale of the third-tier tour. Regardless of how the native of Mississauga, Ont., does at TPC Toronto, it's been a career-defining year for the 24-year-old Anderson.
"I knew at the beginning of the season that this would be a possibility," said Anderson after returning to the Greater Toronto Area following the CRMC Championship in Minnesota. "It just takes consistency with your work ethic, just showing up and trying to get better every day.
"That's really what I was focusing on and compared to this time last year. I just feel like I'm a totally different player. Not different, but just kind of better in every aspect, especially the short game."
Anderson was atop the standings after the Latin American swing of the Americas season, thanks to a win at the 69th ECP Brazil Open on April 21 and two ties for third in the southern leg of the schedule.
Although Anderson missed the first two cuts of the Canadian swing of the tour, he recovered by seeing the weekend seven times. That includes three top 10s: a tie for seventh at the Explore NB Open on July 14, a tie for second at the BioSteel Championship on Aug. 4 and a tie for fifth at the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open on Aug. 25.
"I wouldn't say I've slowed down, I've been playing some decent golf, just haven't gotten too many top results in the Canada swing, " he said. "I'm playing decent, but just got caught by other guys winning a couple of events and getting hot.
"Obviously, I want to win this week, but I'm in a good spot, just have to focus on what I can do and everything will take care of itself."
American John Keefer is atop the Fortinet Cup rankings with 1,862 points heading into play at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ont., on Thursday morning. Denmark's Frederik Kjettrup is second with 1,692 and Anderson is third with 1,430.
All three have mathematically secured themselves spots in the PGA Tour's top 10, meaning they will have cards on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour next season.
"It's another step in the process of making it to the PGA Tour and trying to become one of the best golfers in the world," said Anderson. "I'm very excited for it.
"I feel that I'm plenty ready. I'm plenty ready to contend and try and finish at the top next year and get my PGA Tour card."
Edmonton's Wil Bateman was the last Canadian to win on the then-PGA Tour Canada, accomplishing the feat in 2022. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., finished second on the circuit in 2019 and finished this season as the top-ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour.
"It's a really good proving ground. You've got to be able to compete out there each week," Pendrith said, noting he's following that tour's finale closely. "It's a short season, so you have to play really solid golf for the whole summer out there to move up to the Korn Ferry Tour.
"I think Matt's in a good spot. He's playing very good, very solid golf, and hopefully he keeps it up."
DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is the lone Canadian in the field at this week's Omega European Masters. He's 46th on the Race to Dubai standings, the points list for the European-based tour, headed into play at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
BROOKE HENDERSON — Superstar Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., has struck a deal with her hometown Ottawa Senators. Henderson’s water bottles and golf towels will feature the Senators logo for the next few LPGA Tour seasons.
EPSON TOUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is the top-ranked Canadian in this week's Guardian Championship. She's No. 114 on the second-tier tour's points list. Thibault also got her third-ever hole-in-one on Monday while practising at Capitol Hill Golf Club with Vancouver's Leah John. Maddie Szeryk (117th) of London, Ont., John (120th), and amateur Jillian Friyia of London are also in the field in Prattville, Ala.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2024.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
