Relaxation in peace, World Golf Championship.
Golf Week I knew this is able to be the final yr of the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play in Austin. Its spot on the 2024 schedule, which is normally late March on the again finish of the Florida Swing, is predicted to be stuffed by the Cadence Financial institution Houston Open, until it prefers a late April/early Might date as a substitute as a part of the occasion shuffle.
Efforts to succeed in Dell Match Play event director Jordan Uppleger had been unsuccessful. A PGA Tour spokesperson despatched a press release: “Whereas we navigate the numerous shifting elements associated to structural adjustments to the 2024 PGA Tour schedule, discussions are ongoing concerning the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play past this yr. We stay targeted on staging the 2023 WGC-Dell Applied sciences occasion.” Match Play has been extremely profitable for our followers and we anticipate to announce particulars about the way forward for the occasion when they’re out there.”
The Austin Nation Membership has been the host venue for Match Play since 2016 when Dell turned the title sponsor. On the time, the World Golf Championship was thought-about the highest-ranked event in golf after the 4 Grand Slams and the Gamers Championship, the principle occasion on the tour.
WGCs portfolios, beginning in 1999, had been raised, fields had been largely restricted to high-ranked gamers, and there have been no particular occasions. (Tiger Woods has gained 18 water sports activities with Dustin Johnson ending second with 5.)
In 2021, the variety of WGC occasions was lowered by two with the WGC-Mexico Open being lowered to a daily PGA Tour occasion and the conversion of the WGC-FedEx St. Louis Cardinals. Jude superior to the primary spherical of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Scotty Scheffler holds the Walter Hagen Trophy after defeating Kevin Kisner within the ultimate of the 2022 World Golf Championship – Dell Applied sciences Match Play at Austin Nation Membership. (Photograph: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports activities)
The demise of WGC Match Play technically leaves the WGC-HSBC Champions as the most recent WGC event however the event, which is being contested in China, has not been performed since 2019 on account of COVID-19. There is no such thing as a indication that the event may very well be held this yr both, and the LPGA has simply canceled a event on Hainan Island in China that was scheduled to happen in March on account of “ongoing issues associated to COVID-19”.
The Match Play, which Scotty Scheffler beat to succeed in world primary final spring, is without doubt one of the new occasions set for the Tour this season. It will likely be contested in March for a record-breaking $20 million championship purse, however that is additionally the identical quantity as 10 high-profile championships, which has depressed WGC’s model worth. (Having the vast majority of occasions staged in the USA additionally made the title a misnomer.)
The PGA Tour Participant’s Advisory Board met final Tuesday on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open and the 2024 Tour schedule was a subject of dialog. PAC member Kevin Strellman confirmed {that a} future matchup was on the agenda.
[the_huddle]
“They talked about it just a little bit,” Strelman stated. “I hope they will save him. It is a care subject.”
“It is quite common data,” he added, however famous, “Completely no choice has been made but.”
Nevertheless, a number of sources stated Golf Week {that a} choice had been made and {that a} high-ranking govt overseeing the event administration division for the tour had instructed the employees in Austin to “begin smoothing issues out”.
Merchandise from WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play on the Austin Nation Membership. (Tim Schmidt/Golfweek)
The tour Austin Nation Membership despatched out a proposal greater than 4 months in the past, and the ACC pressed exhausting, dealing with exorbitant will increase in web site charges and ticket requests for its members. The tour declined, and there was no contact between the 2 events for a number of months. It did not assist that membership was divided with a big camp that believed the occasion had run its course there. In keeping with one supply, the ICC got here to its senses and tried to re-engage, however the tour was “silent by radio” for 4 months. Two weeks in the past, the ACC despatched the Tour an unsolicited proposal to conform to the Tour’s unique phrases and prolong the deal for a further two years.
“I heard it did not go effectively,” stated the PGA Tour event director for an additional occasion, who spoke on situation of anonymity due to his relationship with each events. “They’re on the market.”
Usually, the tour will withdraw its stakes and depart city until the sponsor flees and doing so is a final resort. However a supply says that in August, the spherical turned down Intel, which Dell needed as a associate, to be the presentation sponsor. The chipmaker was poised to signal the dotted line to a five-year contract for between $5 million to $8 million yearly. However the Tour, maybe understanding that its schedule should evolve to counter the onslaught of LIV Golf, the upstart league, will solely commit to 1 yr. No settlement was reached.
like beforehand talked about earlier than Golf WeekJim Crane, billionaire proprietor of the Houston Astros, has been taking part in hardball hoping to get Houston again within the majors schedule, ideally with a spring date. The CJ Cup, which originated in South Korea in 2017 however has been performed within the US for the reason that pandemic and was most just lately held in South Carolina in October, can also be trying to improve its dates from its fall schedule. The Tour has but to launch its schedule for subsequent season, however a Match Play loss might imply at the very least a much less devoted occasion in 2024, or its substitute may very well be moved up within the schedule.
“A spherical will not go removed from taking part in a match,” stated the event director. “I would not be stunned to see it pop up some other place.”
However proper now, Match Play appears to be damaged and working out of holes.