Golf: Canadian Women's Open back on track with new sponsor

The Royal Canadian Golf Association saved the Canadian Women's Open from dropping off the U.S. LPGA Tour schedule, agreeing to a three-year sponsorship deal with Canadian National Railway on Wednesday.

CN Rail also has an option for an additional two years under the deal that includes the Canadian Women's Tour and the Future Links developmental program. CN Rail replaces Bank of Montreal, which left the event's future in serious doubt when it ended its five-year deal after the July tournament in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rick Desrochers, chief operating officer for the RCGA, said the tournament would have survived, but would not have been an LPGA Tour event without a title sponsor. The 2006 tournament will be played on Aug. 10-13 at the Hunt Club in London, Ontario. The 2007 event is set for the Mayfair Club in Edmonton, Alberta, AP reported.

A.M.