Scott Simmons and Jim Little
Two individuals connected to the sport of golf have made it onto the Globe and Mail's Power 50 list for 2012.
Scott Simmons, the executive director for Golf Canada, and Jim Little, the chief brand and communications officer at Royal Bank of Canada, ranked 20th and 30th, respectively, on this year's list.
"[Simmons]leads an organization in change. Along with RBC Canadian Open tournament director Bill Paul and sponsor Royal Bank of Canada, he's played a key role in restoring the national championship's image," says the Globe article. "He's also working to rebuild the sport at the ground level in Canada, by encouraging youngsters through school programs to take up and stay in the game."
A year ago, Simmons was ranked 23rd on the list.
Little makes his first appearance on the list and is credited as being "the driving force behind the bank's heavy involvement in golf and other sports".
"Little's taken the bank into all levels from grassroots to the elite." explains the Globe selectors. "RBC sponsors the Canadian Open and revived the national championship. It will add title sponsorship of another PGA Tour event this year, the RBC Heritage Classic. Sponsor of individual players, including world No. 1 Luke Donald and veteran Jim Furyk. Also sponsors amateur golf, including the national amateur team, and the PGA of America."
Little replaces RBC president and chief executive Gordon Nixon, who is one of four individuals connected to golf who is not on the list from a year ago.
Swing coach Sean Foley (41), who counts Tiger Woods and Stephen Ames among his clients; agent Chris Armstrong (42), who left IMG a year ago to head the Canadian operation of Wasserman Media Group; and golfer Mike Weir (43), who begins his 2012 comeback this week at Pebble Beach after undergoing elbow surgery last fall did not make the Power 50 in 2012.