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Tim Finchem likes Calgary.

The PGA Tour commissioner made that very clear when he delivered Wednesday’s keynote address in a Calgary Chamber luncheon during the 68-year-old’s first visit to the city.

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He also made it very clear that he has faith in the Shaw Charity Classic Champions Tour event — which will be, again, held at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club from Aug. 5 to 9 with Shaw Communications as the title sponsor for another two more years.

So, it was easy to buy into the commissioner’s optimism when he fielded several questions on whether or not Calgary is ready for a PGA Tour event.

“I think it should get a real hard look, absolutely,” Finchem said. “From a PGA Tour standpoint, you look at how engaged the community is … but the Shaw Charity event has already demonstrated those things in big numbers. We’d have to look positively at those factors if we were seriously looking at playing here.”

Calgary’s altitude (1,048-metres above sea level) is a perceived disadvantage, but the PGA Tour boss said he didn’t think it was a barrier.

Finchem compared the situation to Washington, which is the site of this weekend’s 115th US Open at Chambers Bay.

“Calgary has already established itself a strong sports community … but we were talking about the situation in Seattle,” Finchem was saying as he answered the questions of the gathered business-minded group on Wednesday. “Seattle went out and built this golf course and spent two or three years convincing people they can have a good tournament. We have a very successful Champions Tour event there. There’s a history of supporting golf tournaments in that community. That’s an important first step. Obviously we’re quite interested in golf in Canada.”