Barron excited to tee it up at PGA Tour Canada event

WINNIPEG - There isn't much that makes Morgan Barron nervous, not even his first National Hockey League game - which came on May 1, 2021 as a member of the New York Rangers against the rival Islanders - got the butterflies going too much.

But hitting the opening tee shot of his first round at a PGA Tour Canada event? Well, that's entirely different.

"This is a whole different beast," he said on Tuesday morning with a grin on his face. "I can take solace in the fact that in hockey if things aren't going well I can just go and work hard. I can't really do much to just work hard on the golf course. If I try to, I don't think it's going to help. It's a completely different animal. I'm really excited for it and the mental game, trying to dial everything in and be committed to every shot."

The 24-year-old will face those nerves head on when Thursday rolls around, as he becomes the third member of the Winnipeg Jets to participate in the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open on a sponsor's exemption, following in the footsteps of Mark Scheifele (2018 and 2022) and Kyle Connor (2019).

"They all just want me to do well," Barron said. "They've done everything they can to help me. I'm just playing to enjoy it and having fun. I know getting stressed out there isn't going to help my game at all."

The score to beat - among Jets players from previous years - is Scheifele's two-day total of 162, which was set in 2022. Barron, who played the host course (Southwood Golf and Country Club) for the first time on Monday, will have a member from the club as his caddy.

"I came in yesterday and felt really good with my driver, short game I was pretty happy with - I've worked on that a lot - and I wasn't striking my irons well," Barron said. "I went out and played and couldn't hit my driver and I was striking my irons great. That's how it goes."

The product of Halifax, NS feels the quick greens at Southwood fit his game, but he's not putting any expectations on himself. He joins a growing list of NHL players participating in PGA Tour Canada events as well, according to executive director Scott Pritchard.

"I think it's inspired a number of our events across Canada," he said. "We had Cole Sillinger play earlier this year in Saskatchewan. We had Claude Giroux play in Ottawa, and we have Matt Boldy playing next week in Minnesota.

"We may have to bring in a low NHLer award moving forward."

The True North Youth Foundation is the charitable partner of the Manitoba Open once again this season, as the event looks to repeat as the 2022 PGA Tour Canada Tournament of the Year.

It all adds up to what should be a great week in Winnipeg, and Barron - who landed in the city just a couple days ago - is thrilled to be part of it.

"Anytime I fly through (Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport) it always feels like a major life moment," Barron said. "Whether I'm getting traded, called up, sent down, or moved back for the season. Coming through I was just really excited. Obviously I'm excited for this event and as soon as it's over, it's right back to hockey."