PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — A.J. Ewart and Sudarshan Yellamaraju, two rising stars in Canadian golf, are set to share a tee-time at the Players Championship this week at TPC Sawgrass. The pair, who once lived together during their development with Golf Canada, are now making their mark as PGA Tour rookies in 2026.
From Roommates to Rivals on the PGA Tour
Ewart and Yellamaraju are grouped with American Zach Bauchou and scheduled to begin their tournament at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, weather permitting. Their journey from sharing a house in Phoenix, Arizona, while in Golf Canada's development program to competing together at one of golf's premier events highlights their rapid ascent in professional golf.
A.J. Ewart: The Coquitlam Prodigy
The 26-year-old rookie from Coquitlam, British Columbia, has enjoyed a strong start to his PGA Tour career in 2026, making five cuts in six events. His only miss came at the season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii. Ewart's best performance was a tie for 13th at the Cognizant Classic at PGA National two weeks ago.
Currently ranked 70th in the FedEx Cup standings, Ewart has already accumulated US$322,101 in earnings this season. He played four seasons at Barry University in Florida, a Division II school also attended by fellow Canadian PGA Tour player Adam Svensson. During his college career, Ewart won 14 tournaments, tying Svensson's single-season school record with seven wins as a junior.
In 2022, Ewart received the Division II Jack Nicklaus Award, an honor previously won by Svensson. He secured his PGA Tour card by earning medalist honors at the final stage of the 2025 PGA Tour Q-School, held at Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju: The Self-Taught Sensation
Yellamaraju, 24, has matched Ewart's impressive start, making five cuts in six PGA Tour events in 2026. His best finishes include a tie for 13th at the Sony Open and a tie for 17th at the Cognizant Classic. He entered the Players Championship ranked 67th in the FedEx Cup standings with $366,201 in earnings.
Born in India, Yellamaraju moved to Winnipeg with his family at age four. He began playing golf by hitting balls at an indoor golf dome with rental clubs and studying YouTube videos of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. When his family relocated to Mississauga when he was 11, his golf career accelerated.
At just 16 years old, Yellamaraju won the 2017 Ontario Men's Amateur Championship at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, shooting 11-under par over four rounds and breaking 70 in every round. Unlike Ewart, Yellamaraju did not attend college, turning professional at 19. He earned his PGA Tour card by finishing 19th on the Korn Ferry Tour's order of merit in 2025, highlighted by a breakthrough win at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club.
Representing Canada's Golf Future
Both Ewart and Yellamaraju exemplify the next generation of Canadian professional golfers, showcasing diverse paths to the PGA Tour through college success and early professional dedication. Their reunion at the Players Championship not only marks a personal milestone but also signals Canada's growing presence in international golf.
As they tee off together at TPC Sawgrass, their shared history and current achievements underscore the promising future of Canadian golf on the world stage.
