His favorite golf memory was his dad breaking 70. His dream foursome? Dad, Fred Couples, and David Feherty. The biggest thrill in his life was playing Augusta National, and the bucket list course was St. Andrews. That gives you some idea about former PGA Tour pro Matt McQuillan.

The Canadian golfer was residing in Ontario. He was 45, had moved away from professional golf and was settled into a cozy life as a teaching professional in his hometown of Kingston. On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Matt McQuillan unexpectedly passed away at 45. But the news reached the golf world on August 8, when Golf Canada offered its condolences via a tweet.

“Golf Canada joins the Canadian golf community in mourning the passing of Matt McQuillan, a former @PGATOUR member and longtime teaching professional. He was 45.” McQuillan passed away at Kingston General Hospital (KGH), surrounded by family. As of publication, the cause of his death is not known. But the words of his colleagues and family members portray the picture of a man who was loved and remembered for his warmth, candor, and kindness.

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“Friends who shared rounds with him remember his enthusiasm, positive attitude, and appreciation for every moment spent on the course. He celebrated the successes of others as readily as his own and was always willing to encourage fellow golfers, regardless of their skill level,” The Whig Standard quoted his family as saying.

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And when you think about it, that’s what defined McQuillan when he was a professional golfer. His life and career were a lesson in perseverance. Think of the fact that he was a standout amateur golfer, but the struggle after college led him to work as a beer-server and then at a restaurant to make ends meet.

McQuillan picked up golf clubs at the age of 10. His father raised and coached him for a few years—that makes you realize why his fondest memory was his dad breaking 70. Matt was a child prodigy. He became the youngest-ever winner of the Men’s Open and Men’s Club Championship at Garrison Golf and Curling Club at just 15.

Soon, McQuillan made a name for himself as one of the most promising young Canadian golfers in the late ’90s. He secured the No. 1 national junior ranking in 1999. His highlights include winning the Ontario Junior Championship and the AJGA Tucker Anthony Championship.

Although he earned a golf scholarship to Oklahoma State University in 2000, he later transferred to the University of Georgia. He was part of the 2001 Four Nations’ Cup-winning Canada team. He left college before completing his degree and turned pro. Then came the struggles.

Soon after leaving college, he struggled to make ends meet. To survive, McQuillan started serving beer in restaurants. Even after turning pro in 2003, he couldn’t live off his earnings from the Canadian Tour. He won the 2005 TELUS Edmonton Open in what is now known as PGA Tour Americas. But even after multiple attempts, McQuillan didn’t get consistent results. Frustrated, he said goodbye to golf and returned to working in a restaurant in 2006.

But then, McQuillan had a change of heart.

He went back to play mini-tour events. His perseverance was rewarded: He advanced through the PGA Tour Q-School and earned his PGA Tour card for the next season. His most memorable performance came at the John Deere Classic the same year. He closed the tournament with a bogey-free 64 and finished tied for third, his best result in 32 PGA Tour starts.

That same year he also made his debut at the RBC Canadian Open, where he finished tied for 31st. Next year, he teed off again but managed a T75. He later returned to Canada and played his last PGA Tour Canada event at the Cape Breton Open in 2016. Lately, he has been a teaching professional.

Matt McQuillan’s death has left a deep mark on fans’ hearts

McQuillan’s sudden demise has left everyone in shock. In the words of his friend, Scott MacLeod:

Firstly, my heart aches for his family, particularly his father Mark, and sister, Cortney. It has been a short time since the passing of Donna, the family matriarch, and to now suffer this loss is hard to fathom. Family and friends were everything to Matt and they meant more to him than any golf achievement, or public adulation, which he was never comfortable with.”

Doug Roxburgh, who captained McQuillan in the Four Nations’ Cup, said,
“I was lucky enough to captain Matt and the others in the Four Nations Cup in 2001 at Lambton GC. Matt was a fierce competitor and contributed an incredibly hard-fought win the final day against a strong Aussie player. Very sad and heartfelt condolences to family and friends.”

According to the Whig Standard, a representative for the Garrison Golf and Country Club, wrote: “Matt was an accomplished professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour, but the tremendous outpouring of support and memories shared by friends, fellow golfers, and members of the golf community speaks to something even greater and to the kind of person he was and the impact he had on those around him.”

One fan took a moment to highlight McQuillan’s best-remembered moments as they commented.

“RIP Matt McQuillan, Canadian Pro Golfer, PGA Tour, PGA Tour Canada, Canadian Tour (2003-2019), Winner of the Telus Edmonton Open (2005), Oklahoma State University, University of Georgia. In Memoriam #RIP”

Another fan commented, “RiP Matt…hope you are at peace now.”

“Very sad to hear that Matt McQuillan has passed away. He was a very, very good amateur, underrated pro who had his moments but never caught a lot of breaks. I really enjoyed chatting with him a few times over the years. Rest in peace. ❤️,” wrote journalist Peter Robinson.

We express our deepest condolences to Matt’s family. According to the obituary in the James Reid Funeral Home, Cremation, and Reception Center, a celebration of life will be held at the ANAF, the date of which will be announced later.