PGA Tour Canada to add Dakota Dunes Casino Open to 2013 tour schedule
Jeff Monday, Senior Vice-president of the PGA Tour, announced on Wednesday that the Dakota Dunes Casino Open is now officially part of the 2013 PGA Tour Canada schedule.
DDCO Tournament Director Hugh Vassos was, needless to say, overjoyed at the news. “Santa Claus has arrived a little early for Saskatoon. Great news for us. It really puts us in the big league”.
He announced in a press release later that the PGA Tour had already taken charge of operations at the Casino Open. A thorough process of evaluation had begun on the 1st of November this year.
The formerly named Canadian Tour had been struggling for attention before the PGA Tour decided to chip in and make it an American event, renaming it the PGA Tour of Canada.
The Canadian Tour had produced stars like Steve Stricker, Mike Weir, and Stuart Appleby, before going bankrupt with a deficit in operating costs exceeding $700,000.
This caused its American cousin to come to its rescue with a bailout loan and assistance in finding sponsorship and tournaments.
Jeff Monday has reportedly travelled the PGA Tour Canada circuit to have a look for himself, impressed with some of the tournaments he visited, offering advice to the others.
“As a membership organization,” stated Monday, during his trip to Canadian Tour Championship and Country Club in Toronto, “our whole objective is to provide opportunities to the membership. That’s what they are all looking for, to get to that next level”.
Monday is hoping this move will be beneficial for the players already on the PGA Tour circuit.
The takeover will make possible for newer faces to enter the game. Moreover, it will allow the existing players other venues and opportunities as they pursue newer routes in advancing their professional careers.
Golfers who have played at the tournament welcomed the decision. Their comments regarding the takeover were largely positive and optimistic.
Cory Renfrew from Victoria does not think “anything bad can come of it.” He is this year’s no. 2 on the money list.
Roger Sloan, who played on the third-tour, was of the opinion that “the deeper talent pool could choke some out some of the Canadian ‘journeymen’”. Otherwise, he said he felt it to be an improvement, overall.
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