Canadian golf stars Hadwin, Hearn and DeLaet represent Shaw in 2016

For the next seven months golf stars Graham DeLaet, Adam Hadwin and David Hearn will compete to be part of the Canadian team when golf returns to the Olympics for the first time in more than a century.

But right now the golfers all are part of the Shaw Communications team, with the announcement today that Hearn, the top-ranked Canadian, has inked a deal to represent the Calgary company, which is also the parent of Global News. Hearn, from Brantford, Ont., said signing with Shaw is another example of the company’s commitment to the game in this country.

“If you look at what Shaw has done in golf over the past few years, from signing Graham and Adam to becoming involved in the Shaw Charity Classic, to their involvement with the RBC Canadian Open, it is really phenomenal,” said Hearn, 35, who is currently ranked 119 in the world. “They’ve done a tremendous amount for the sport and I’m really excited and proud to be involved with them.”

Shaw also announced that Hadwin, 28, from Abbotsford, BC, will continue to represent the company, while DeLaet, 33, from Weyburn, Sask., will also wear the Shaw brand on his hat.

“It is a great company to be partnered with,” says Hadwin, who is currently in his second full season on the PGA Tour. “When you work with a company you get to understand what they are about and you get to know the people involved. It is really great that Shaw has decided to help support me, and also help support the game in Canada.”

DeLaet, who became the father of twins late last year, is looking forward to a year of being healthy. Nagging injuries hindered him in 2015, but he has significant expectations as he starts his season this week in Hawaii, alongside Hearn and Hadwin.

“The downtime was really good for my physical health,” he says. “I was able to get healthy. Right now I feel as good as I have in more than a year.”
Currently the three all have a strong shot at becoming the team of two that will represent Canada at the Olympics in Brazil. Canada is the defending individual medalist in the Olympics, though the last time golf was part of the Olympics was 1904 when George S. Lyon took home the top honour.

Unless they finish among the Top 10 golfers in the world who automatically make the Olympics, Canada will have two players on the men’s team. Currently that would be Hearn and DeLaet, but a hot start by Hadwin could change that.

“It would be really cool to be part of it, to be in the athletes’ village and meet the other athletes from other sports,” says Hadwin.

Hearn also understands what it means to be the focus of a country. Last year he narrowly missed becoming the first Canadian to win the country’s national golf tournament, when he finished a narrow third behind eventual winner Jason Day. The Olympics is a focus for Hearn this year.

“It has been a goal of mine to represent Canada,” he says. “But I know I have to play well to make that happen.”

The golf team will be picked in July, in the meantime, all three players said in the meantime they were happy to be part of the Shaw team.

“Shaw is a leader in the golf space in Canada,” says Hearn. “I’m really excited about being involved with the company.”