Canadian duo shines spotlight on Humboldt tragedy at PGA
Two Canadian members of the PGA Tour will put the Humboldt Bronco bus tragedy in a global spotlight this week in New Orleans.
Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Connors have joined forces in the two-man format at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and have been given the green light from Tour officials to use Tom Cochrane’s Big League song as their walk-up music.
Allowing walk-up music is a first for the PGA Tour this year and is similar to a baseball player walking to the batter’s box and having chosen music to accompany him.
“Like all Canadians, what happened to the Humboldt Broncos and the Sask. community really hit home with us,” Hughes wrote in an email interview.
“When Corey and I discovered that Big League was the adopted tribute song of the tragedy and with the new addition of walk-up music at this week’s team event, we thought it would be a fitting tribute to honour the victims this way.”
Canadians playing professional golf have all rallied behind the tragedy since the tragedy on April 6. Canadian LPGA star Brooke Henderson dedicated her win two weeks ago in Hawaii to Humboldt. Nick Taylor promised $1,000 for an eagle and $500 for a birdie in the event two weeks ago at the RBC Heritage.
Hughes, who is a client of Saskatoon-based SBX Group founded by local businessman David Dube, said Tour players are generally aware of what happened in Canada and have been supportive.
“Definitely. The U.S. media did a good job informing and outlining what happened that night so everyone on Tour was certainly aware, the 27-year-old said.
Like most Canadian youth, Hughes and Conners have hockey in their blood.
“I played hockey from seven to 14 and always loved playing. I was never the biggest kid, so I never played at a crazy high level, but had a lot of fun playing,” Hughes said. “By the time I was 13, 14, golf kind of took over and I dedicated more energy to golf and it’s worked out well to this point.”
Both the 26-year-old Conners and Hughes remain huge NHL fans. Both throw their support behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.