From the PGA Tour
The PGA Tour will have a larger 2019-20 season that will see a much-changed opening section and several late-season adjustments to accommodate the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, it was announced on Monday.
In all, three tournaments will be added to the existing number and 11 of the 46 regular season events will be held in the opening part of the schedule between September and November.
This period will see two of the three new tournaments being played – the Zozo Championship in Japan and the Bermuda Championship. Events in Greenbrier and Houston will also make a comeback after transiting from their 2018 mid-season dates.
Olympic break
Later, the Tour has an open week during the Olympic competition (July 27 to August 2) before resuming with the Wyndham Championship and three FedExCup Playoffs events.
Changes also have been made leading up to the Olympics, including the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit moving to late May; and the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and Barracuda Championship shifting from late July to the first week in a swap of dates with the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota, the PGA said.
“After a very successful first year with our new schedule, we are thrilled to expand the number of events to 49 while maintaining a great flow from start-to-finish, allowing our fans to better engage and follow the Tour throughout the season,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
“For the second year, we’re excited about kicking off the Season of Championships with The Players in March, bookended by the FedExCup Playoffs in August, and the return of the Olympics in that window.
“As for the early-season portion of the schedule, our players grasp the importance of a strong start in the Race for the FedExCup and this has translated into growth and momentum for the events played in the fall.”
Asia Swing
For Asia, there is a three-event swing between mid-October and early November starting with the October 14-20 with The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges at Jeju Island, Korea from Octover 14 to 20.
Next up is the debut Zozo Cchampionship at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba from October 21 to-27, followed by the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, between October 28 and November 3.
The Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Club in Southampton will also make its debut in this time-frame.
As the season is now scheduled to end in August at the Tour Championship, the 2019-20 season opens with the Military Tribute at the Greenbrier from September 9 to 15.
The Sanderson Farms Championship follows with its first-ever standalone date (September 16 to 22), before the Safeway Open, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and Houston Open.
Following a week off, the 2019 segment continues at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (November 11 to 17) before concluding with the RSM Classic which
marks the end of FedExCup competition until the first week of January 2020.
The 13th Presidents Cup then returns to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia from December 9 to 15.
Wind-down
Following the Olympic Games, the regular season wraps up at the Wyndham Championship (August 3 to 9, 2020), where not only the FedExCup Playoffs field will be finalised, but also the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 will be determined.
Introduced this season, the $10 million competition rewards the 10 leaders in FedExCup points, with $2 million going to the winner. Brooks Koepka has already sealed this year’s bonus pool with his weekend win at the St Jude Invitational.
Several new or familiar venues are included during this stretch, beginning with the PGA Championship visiting TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, the US Open returning to Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, and The Open Championship going to Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England.
(This PGA Tour press statement has been edited to fit requirements).
Also read: Atwal ends 3M Open campaign T23, lands JD Classic invite
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