Calgary's Wes Martin was photographed on the 16th green at the Rogers Charity Classic at the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club in Calgary on Friday, August 15, 2025. Brent Calver/Postmedia Photo by Brent Calver/Postmedia /Brent Calver/Postmedia

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So what does Wes Martin do for an encore after his beau-of-the-ball performance last summer at the Rogers Charity Classic?

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The local golfer who captured the hearts of Calgarians would be lying if he said he wasn’t thinking about that …

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Over and over and over again.

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“My encore? Honestly, I have no idea,” said the 53-year-old Calgary talent, just days ahead of making his second straight appearance at the PGA Tour Champions stop at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club.

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“I’m in my head a little bit, to be honest with you,” continued Martin. “It’s not the best place to be, but I have a few days here to relax and get out there.”

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And get at it for what he hopes is another surprise performance in front of friends, family and supporters who cheered him out last summer at The Rogers.

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But, yes, it is a different feeling from a year ago for Martin.

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Last August, Martin was the feel-good story of the Rogers Charity Classic — a Calgary pipefitter who had spent 12 years playing the Canadian Tour and suddenly found himself in the middle of the fun of a PGA TOUR Champions event.

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He earned his spot the hard way, firing a bogey-free nine-under 62 at Highwood Golf in the final qualifier. Martin made an eagle and seven birdies to win by three shots, earning one of three available spots from a field of 23.

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Then he went to Canyon Meadows and made the most of it.

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Martin opened with a 67, followed with a 68 and closed with a 71 to finish tied for 38th at 4-under 206.

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He was the top Canadian in the field, while Australia’s Richard Green won the tournament at 18-under.

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This year, there was no qualifying adventure.

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Martin received one of two Rogers sponsor exemptions for the 2026 tournament, with Warren Pineo receiving the other.

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And that has given him something he didn’t have last year.
Time.

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Maybe too much time.

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“Well … honestly, it’s two totally different situations,” Martin said. “Last year, I played a lot more tournaments going into it, and basically three days before the tournament, I had one of my best rounds.

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So I felt like I was close to the top of my game, and it happened literally so fast. I qualified last year, and bang, bang! You’re playing in the pro-am, and I didn’t really have time to think. And even though I was praying to get the exemption this year, two weeks out is a long time to start thinking about what might happen, and I just haven’t been tournament mode.”

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So the nerves have crept in.

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Martin admits he’s always been a nervous golfer. It doesn’t matter whether he’s playing a club event or standing on the first tee in front of a gallery at Canyon Meadows.

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But expectations can make those nerves louder.

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“I think all golfers are probably their worst critics,” he said. “But you know, I always seem to be … I’m a bit of a nervous guy.”