Matt McQuillan, a former PGA Tour player, has died at the age of 45. The Canadian golfer, originally from Kingston, Ontario, passed away on August 5, surrounded by his family.
McQuillan played in 32 PGA Tour events after turning professional in 2003. He made the cut in nine of those starts, with his best finish being a tie for third place at the 2011 John Deere Classic. That performance included an impressive final-round 64, placing him alongside two-time major champion Zach Johnson.
<![CDATA[Matt McQuillan of Canada in action during the third round of the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island's Seaside Course on October 15, 2011 in Sea Island, Georgia.]]></media> He earned nearly $604,000 during his PGA Tour career. McQuillan's most recent appearance in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event was on the PGA Tour Canada circuit in September 2016.
After his playing career, McQuillan remained connected to golf as a teaching professional in his hometown of Kingston. He was noted for introducing the game to younger players across Canada.
<![CDATA[Matt McQuillan of Canada hits his third shot on the sixth hole during the second round of The Greenbrier Classic at The Old White TPC on July 29, 2011 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.]]></media> An obituary in the Kingston Whig-Standard described McQuillan as "a respected golfer, devoted son, hilarious brother, and friend." It highlighted his passion for the game, which began when his father taught him to swing at age ten. The obituary also mentioned that he developed lifelong friendships within the sport and mentored many aspiring golfers.
A celebration of life is planned to be announced by the family at a later date.