It was the MTS Classic, the Players Cup, and now, it's the Manitoba Open.
Starting in 1919, the Manitoba Open is one of the oldest golf tournaments in North America. It's a key stop on the PGA Tour Americas, and it starts on Thursday morning at the Breezy Bend Country Club in Winnipeg.
Last year, Johnny Keefer won the event. Keefer advanced to the Korn Ferry Tour this year and has since locked up his PGA Tour card for next season. This week, a stacked field of 156 players from 17 countries embarks on Breezy Bend looking to earn points in the season-long race for the Fortinet Cup. Every player in the top 10 of the Fortinet Cup will compete this week.
Among those in the field this year is Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie. Comrie will play as a sponsor exemption at this week's event. Comrie joins a long list of Jets who have teed it up in the event. Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Morgan Barron, and Dylan Samberg have played in it in the past.
Comrie is entering his 10th year in the NHL and sixth with the Jets.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty nervous. Super excited for the opportunity," said Comrie. "I love golf, I play as much as I can. It's brought Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, and me super close."
Eric will play his first round on Thursday afternoon at 2:40 with Braxton Kuntz and Joseph Lloyd. With the goal of hitting as many fairways and middle of greens as possible, Comrie says he's trending in the right direction heading into this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"I would say it's okay right now, it's a work in progress. It's getting there," offered Comrie. "I've been playing quite a bit. I'm down to a 4.5 handicap. You know how it goes, sometimes you play well, and sometimes not so much."
Comrie learned of the opportunity to play in the Manitoba Open while playing golf recently in Ireland. Executive chairman of the Winnipeg Jets, Mark Chipman, called Eric to see if he would be interested. Initially, he was apprehensive to say yes.
"I thought about it some more, and this is a huge opportunity. If I had said no, I would regret it for the rest of my life," said Comrie. "I love the game of golf. I watch every event. For me, it would have been a huge mistake to say no. I'm so excited to go out there and do the best I can."
The field is playing for a purse of $225,000 this week. The winner nabs $40,500. Single-day tickets are just $11.98. You can get Champions Gate VIP tickets for $107.82 per day. Those aged 16 and under are free.
You can purchase Manitoba Open tickets here. Ryan Horn will be in attendance. He works on the grounds crew at Breezy Bend.
