The Canadian golf community is mourning the death of former PGA Tour player Matt McQuillan of Kingston, Ontario, who has died at the age of 45.
The PGA Tour announced McQuillan’s death on Friday, prompting tributes and condolences from golfers, friends and members of the community who remembered both his achievements on the course and his impact on those around him.
McQuillan earned his PGA Tour card in 2010 and competed on the Tour during the 2011 season. One of the highlights of his career came at the 2011 John Deere Classic, where he delivered an impressive performance and finished tied for third.
Before reaching the PGA Tour, McQuillan had already established himself as a talented Canadian golfer. He captured the Telus Edmonton Open in 2005 and later won the Cataraqui Pro-Am in 2008.
After his competitive playing career, McQuillan remained closely connected to the sport. In recent years, he taught golf in his hometown of Kingston, sharing his experience and knowledge with other players.
Garrison Golf Club in Kingston paid tribute to McQuillan on social media, describing him as an accomplished professional golfer whose influence extended well beyond his PGA Tour career. The club said the strong response from friends, fellow golfers and members of the golf community reflected the kind of person he was and the lasting impact he had on those who knew him.
McQuillan was also a familiar Canadian presence at major domestic golf events, including the 2011 Canadian Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.
His death at just 45 has brought an outpouring of sympathy from the golf community and renewed recognition of a career that saw a Kingston golfer reach one of the highest levels of professional golf.
The cause of McQuillan’s death has not been publicly disclosed.