PGA Tour Reboots Sked To Enhance Fan Engagement, Avoid Sack By Football
NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
July 10, 2018: In what was called a move to enhance overall fan engagement while avoiding the spotlight and competition of college and pro football, the PGA Tour has revamped its tournament schedule beginning with the 2019 season.
The most significant move is reducing the FedExCup Playoffs from four to three tournaments, concluding the weekend of Aug. 24-25.
The FedEx Cup this year runs until Sept. 23.
The NFL season typically begins on the first Thursday of September (Sept. 6 this year, Sept. 5 next year).
College football begins the last weekend of August.
The PGA Tour said the new schedule would also provide “an exciting change for players and fans as they are able to engage in — and better follow — a cadence of events highlighted by significant championships every month.”
“We are extremely pleased with the way the schedule has come together, particularly with the number of changes that were involved and the strength of the partnerships required to achieve this new look,” Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, said in a statement.
“It’s been our stated objective for several years to create better sequencing of our tournaments that golf fans around the world can engage in from start to finish.
Monahan said that by concluding at the end of August, the FedExCup Playoffs will “no longer have the challenge of sharing the stage with college and professional football. This will enhance the visibility of the FedExCup Playoffs and overall fan engagement with the PGA Tour and the game as a whole.”
Monahan credited FedEx, umbrella sponsor of the FedExCup, title sponsors and host organizations for their crucial role with the revamped schedule.
The 2019 46-tournament schedule begins with the Safeway Open Oct. 1 and concludes with the FedExCup playoffs in August: The Northern Trust (Aug. 5-11), BMW Championship (Aug. 12-18) and Tour Championship (Aug. 19-25).
The PGA Tour said that TPC Boston would continue as a playoff site every other year, rotating with the New York City area as host of The Northern Trust, beginning in 2020.
Among other highlights of the 2019 season, the Puerto Rico Open returns to the schedule following its cancellation this year due to the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Puerto Rico is scheduled for Feb. 18-24, 2019, the same week as the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship.
The Players Championship moves from May to March (11-17) and the PGA Championship moves from August to May (13-19).
The final World Golf Championships event of the season, previously played in Akron, Ohio, will be held at TPC Southwind in Memphis (July 22-28) as the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational (replacing the FedEx St. Jude Classic).
"The FedExCup Playoffs will no longer have the challenge of sharing the stage with college and professional football."
The RBC Canadian Open is moving from its traditional spot in late July to June 3-9, leading into the U.S. Open. Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario, will host the event for the first time since 2012.
The Houston Open and A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier are moving to the fall and will be played next as part of the 2019-20 schedule.
Two tournaments have been added: The Rocket Mortgage Classic (June 24-30), the first PGA Tour tournament to be held in the city of Detroit; and the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities (July 1-7), which becomes the first PGA Tour Champions tournament to transition to the PGA Tour.
The PGA Championship makes its debut at Bethpage Black, Long Island, New York (May 13-19).
The Open Championship will be held at Royal Portrush (July 15-21), marking its return to Northern Ireland after nearly 70 years.
The U.S. Open (June 10-16), last held at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2010, returns next year when the club celebrates its 100th anniversary.
“Beginning with our ten-year extension with FedEx last May and continuing with many recent, long-term title sponsor commitments, as well as new sponsors and host organizations joining the PGA Tour, our key constituents have validated our vision and the direction for our future,” said Monahan.
“Our thanks to these tremendous partners for their flexibility and support during this process. We feel strongly that together, we have created a schedule that will heighten interest in all tournaments while further elevating the FedExCup Playoffs.”
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