VERNON, B.C. — As one of only two Fred Couples’ signature courses in the entirety of Canada, The Rise Golf Course, located in Vernon, is one place you won’t want to skip on your next journey to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.

“It’s only one of two courses in Canada that is a Couples’ design. The other is in Quebec,” stated the course’s Director of Golf, Chad Scott. “I think that is important to the older demographic that remembers Freddie, know who he is and all his accomplishments …. those people see the value, the prestige he brings to a golf course. That name carries a lot of weight for our customers, our guests.”

Rising high above the city of Vernon, The Rise has undergone a few changes since its inception and those are making this mountain-side track an even more enjoyable play. Under its new ownership, some changes have been made to improve the 18-hole layout’s playability and enjoyment factor.

The biggest change out there is the second hole, going from a demanding par-4 uphill monster into a somewhat more gentle par-5,, although at least part of the uphill challenge still remains. That takes it from probably being one of the hardest holes in the Okanagan Valley down a notch, but it still offers challenges.

“It was an extremely hard hole, quite severe. We’ve always said of it that if you get a bogey, take it and run! We’ve softened it up quite a bit,” by shaving the fairway down to the level of the tee boxes so your opening shot isn’t impeded by the severe slope of the hill. As well, the trees bordering the left side of the fairway have been thinned, allowing players an easier second shot if they stray a bit on their opening volley. “”You can at least find your ball there, get it out,” explained Scott. “It makes the hole a bit more playable.”

Another major change is coming on the sixth hole, a downhill par-3 that will most likely become the signature hole on this layout. “When the course was built, the original vision was to have a pond (fronting the green) and a waterfall off the rock face,” explained Scott. “It was never completed so in the spring we’ll finish it and I think it will become one of our most memorable holes, that’s for sure.”

Also coming down the line is a new clubhouse on No. 18 which will offer an outstanding view of Okhnangan Lake far below. The hole will change from its present par-4 test into a par-3 but that won’t take anything away from the finish.

“There’s no rule that says you have to end on a par four or par five,” said Scott about the shortened hole. “I think with this par three, when everyone gets up there and stands on that tee box, looking down at the green and the spectacular view of the lake, that’s all they’ll talk about. To finish with that view, that shot, and that look all around, it’s going to erase any criticism,” of the length of the hole which will become “about 180 to 190 yards from the back tee.

In describing the characteristics of this unique layout, where hitting it straight is a good thing, Scott agreed there some blind tee shots that keep you on your toes. Because of that, if you have a moment waiting for the group in front of you to clear, take a drive ahead to see where you want to go if you’re new to this track. And make sure you have your camera ready for some awesome shots, even if perhaps your golf clubs don’t have an abundance of those.

In summation, Scott said, “We’re completely experience driven here. For anyone that walks on the property, it’s an experience of the views, the layout, and how each hole is separated from the others. We’re a thousand feet above the lake and it’s a special spot.”

So as The Rise undergoes changes for the better, the excitement about this Fred Couples’ design will continue to rise. After all, it is in rare company in this province, let alone the rest of the country.

For tee times at The Rise, go to playgolfbc.com and follow the Links.

By Gord Montgomery

Inside Golf Writer

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rory McIlroy made two late birdies amid the wild theatrics of Sunday at THE PLAYERS Championship and closed with a 2-under 70.

McIlroy, a former FedExCup champion, earned 600 FedExCup points, a $2.25 million check and is the proud owner of the redesigned PLAYERS trophy.

McIlroy could not afford to make a mistake over the final hour because of Jim Furyk, 48, nearly pulled off a stunner. Furyk, one of the last players to get in the strongest field in golf, capped off a 67 with a shot so good into the 18th that he started walking when he hit it. It plopped down 3 feet from the hole for a birdie to take the lead.

But not for long.

McIlroy, one of eight players to have at least a share of the lead in the final round, was coming off a bogey on the 14th to fall behind and was in trouble with a tee shot that found a bunker right of the fairway. He responded with his best shot of the day to 15 feet for birdie.

Then, McIlroy hit the longest drive of the round on the par-5 16th, leaving him a 9-iron from a good lie in the rough to set up a two-shot birdie and the lead.

Most important, he found dry land on the par-3 17th, the Island Green that never looks smaller than on Sunday at THE PLAYERS.

He was solid to the end on a chilly, cloudy day and finished at 16-under 272 to win THE PLAYERS on his 10th try.

“This is probably the deepest field of the year, with so much on the line,” McIlroy, 29, said. “I’m thankful it was my turn this week.”

Furyk didn’t know he was in THE PLAYERS until one week ago, and he was on the verge of winning until McIlroy came through in the end. Furyk started the back nine with two birdies to get in the mix and finished strong. His only regret was a 3-foot par putt on the 15th.

Even so, it showed he has plenty of game left. The runner-up finish moves him high enough in the rankings to qualifying for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play in two weeks.

“A shot here, a shot there, maybe could have been a little different,” Furyk said. “But ultimately, left it all out there. It was also nice to get in contention, to get under the heat, to have to hit shots under a lot of pressure, and then to respond well to that and hit some good golf shots. It’ll be a confidence boost going forward.

Some of the most entertaining moments came from everyone else.

Eddie Pepperell of England, in his debut on the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch to briefly share the lead, none bigger than a putt from just inside 50 feet on the 17th.

But it wasn’t the best. One group later, Jhonattan Vegas holed a putt from the bottom left to the top right pin position, just under 70 feet, the longest putt made on the Island Green since the PGA TOUR had lasers to measure them. That gave him a share of the lead, too.

“Magic,” Vegas said. “If I tried it a thousand times I wouldn’t even come close to making it, but I’m pretty happy that it happened today.”

Both shot 66 and tied for third.

Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood lost their way early, and then late.

Rahm, who had a one-shot lead, started with three bogeys in four holes and kept his cool until one curious decision. Tied for the lead, he was in a bunker, 220 yards away, partially blocked by trees on the par-5 11th when he decided to go for the green. It never had a chance, finding the water and leading to a bogey.

Rahm was still in the game until he failed to birdie the 16th, and then put his tee shot in the water on the 17th. He closed with a 76 and tied for 12th.

Fleetwood opened with a three-putt bogey and made all pars until hitting into the water on the 11th for bogey. He made eagle on the 16th to have a fleeting chance until coming up short of the island. He shot 73 and tied for fifth with Brandt Snedeker (69) and Dustin Johnson (69).

McIlroy emerged as the winner, his 15th on the PGA TOUR and 23rd in his career worldwide. In six tournaments this year, McIlroy has not finished worse than sixth.

He has practiced patience the last three months, and he needed it after hitting into the water at No. 4 and making double bogey.

“I almost liked today because it was tough,” McIlroy said. “I knew guys weren’t going to get away from us. I knew there was some chances coming up. I stayed patient. Anytime I looked at a leaderboard, I was pleasantly surprised because I hadn’t fallen two, three, four shots behind.”

Nothing was sweeter than the sight of the leaderboard when he finished.

Bay Hill hosts for the 41st time and the Par-72 has been extended to its longest edition, 7,454 yards, for Rory McIlroy to defend. Adam Scott isn’t in the field this week, but he’s the last man to post 62, the course record, while Matt Every holds the Par-72, post-2009 renovation tournament record at 19-under-par 269.

Need more Course Info? Check Rob Bolton’s Power Rankings, The First Look and Course Preview.

RECENT WINNERS

Rory McIlroy (2018). When the putter cooperates, this is what happens. McIlroy led the field in Strokes-Gained: Putting picking up over 10 shots on the field. He also led the field in proximity and won easily by three shots. His 22 birdies trailed only Justin Rose (24) for the most circles. Tee-to-green leader Bryson DeChambeau cashed solo second.

Notables: McIlroy’s stroke average here is 69.25 including 67.00 on Sunday. Henrik Stenson tried to go wire-to-wire but settled for fourth after 71-71 on the weekend. Stenson (Round 1) and McIlroy (Round 4) posted the low round of the week with 64.

Marc Leishman (2017): The noted wind player made up a three-shot deficit on Sunday to pip 54-hole co-leaders Charley Hoffman and Bermuda expert Kevin Kisner by a shot. McIlroy was a nuisance again has he briefly shared the lead before his only three-putt of the week on the final hole knocked him to T4. McIlroy and Hoffman’s 21 birdies each were the most for the week.

Notables: His 11-under winning total is the highest since Martin Laird posted 280 in 2011. McIlroy again had the co-low round of the week, 65, shared with Rickie Fowler (12th).

Jason Day (2016): The Aussie kicked off the streak of international winners as he went wire-to-wire. The wider fairways and new TifEagle putting surfaces installed after the 2015 edition seemed to fit his eye nicely. The premium short game was the anchor as he led the field in Strokes-Gained: Around-the-Green and was third in converting birdie chances on the greens. Nobody has suggested that hitting it crooked here is the end of the world; make sure it’s deep though!

Notables: He became just the fifth international winner in 38 years. This is his only top-10 finish (eight tries thru 2018).

LEVELS OF CONFIDENCE

Ground Troops — Non-Winner Department

Justin Rose used to live up-the-road at Lake Nona, but returns almost annually to take his shot. Yet to close the deal he’s wound up on the podium in three of his last seven starts including solo third last year.

Local Henrik Stenson has done everything but close the deal. He’s cashed T8 or better in five of the last six but his current form will shake the staunchest of course historians.

Another week and another big-time player with new sticks in the bag as Francesco Molinari will debut his Callaway set this week. The reigning Open champion has never MC or finished worse than T34 in six tries. Half of those checks were in the top 10.

Teeing it up 15 times and cashing in 14 of them, Zach Johnson has been a fixture around Bay Hill. His last top 10 was solo fifth in 2016.

Regulars and New Regulars   

Last year Marc Leishman tried to join the back-to-back club but cashed for T7. He’s 19-under in his last two visits.

I’ll have whatever Ian Poulter is having! His last four starts worldwide are T6 or better and he hasn’t missed in his previous eight tries at Bay Hill.

Rickie Fowler is also coming in hot as he’ll look to add to his string of six of seven made cuts here. Strangely he’s struggled on Sunday here and has only one top-10 paycheck (T3, 2013).

There’s a small list of repeat champions and the only one in the field this week is native Floridian Matt Every (2015, 2016).

Big-hitting Luke List cashed T17 on debut in 2017 and T7 last year.

Englishman Tommy Fleetwood opened with 78 in his first visit in 2017. He posted 12-under in his next three rounds to salvage T10. He returned with T26 in 2018.

Caution

Lake Nona resident Graeme McDowell has a pair of seconds here and a T10 but has also MC four times in 11 tries.

2011 champion Martin Laird has never missed in nine tries but his win is the only top 25 of the bunch.

Kevin Na has battled a broken pinky early this year. If he’s healthy he’s 7 of 10 with five top-25 checks that include a trio of top-10 versions.

Billy Horschel hasn’t missed in the last six years but his only finishes inside the top 40 are T13 and T20.