WGC Accenture Match Play Championship might be moving from Tucson – PGA Tour update
The World Golf Championship that concluded last week at the Ritz Carlton Golf club in Arizona, has left many arguing about the suitability of the venue for the Championship next year. Rumours are in full swing that the event might move to new location soon.
The event left many questions unanswered for the organizers as it was marred by high winds, snow and sleet to such an extent that the Championship schedule had to be altered. The timings of the semi and quarter finals were changed because of the unpredictable
weather and the final match on Sunday came to a standstill because of rain. It had even snowed in the night before the final match. When the weather permitted play, the tournament continued and Luke Donald of England won the Championship by 3 & 2 defeating
Germany’s Martin Kaymer. Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour director, Tim Finchem, played down the rumors and said that the speculations that the Accenture Match Play Championship is moving away from Tucson in 2012 are “inaccurate”.
The championship moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2007. From its start in 1999 to 2006 it was held every year by La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. In 2001, it was moved to the Metropolitan Golf Club in Victoria, Australia. In 2007 the event was
again shifted to The Gallery Golf Club in Marana, Arizona, northwest of Tucson, for two years before finally moving to its current location at the Ritz Carlton’s Blue Monster Golf Club. It is located deep inside the Arizona desert and many of the critics even
call it a “million miles from civilization” and according to media reports, the event suffers much lower audience turn out as compared to Championships that are held in other locations.
The high winds that blow across the course are particularly hazardous as they render tee shots unpredictable, something considered fatal by many experienced golfers. Rumors have been circulating in the media for quite some time about the possible change
in venue by the organizers, since the championship hasn’t been organized outside of the United States for the last five years although it is featured to be held across the globe. The decisive factor that would eventually decide the change of venue is the tour
calendar, which currently allows little space for a change. The championship is already sandwiched between the Dubai Golf Classic and the Honda Classic Championships and The Masters right ahead in April.
The tour is also in negotiations with a new television contract, with the previous one about to expire in 2012. Finchem, talking about a possible change in calendar said, “We’re not uncomfortable here, it’s worked well and we have a good partnership with
the people here. The facilities are great. It’s just that as we get into television later this year, it forces us to look at the overall calendar and make sure the calendar works. As you know, there’s a lot of moving parts to that.” About the location of the
venue on the West Coast Finchem also added, “Then you have the traditional part of it, which is tournaments wanting to move in certain situations, Right now, this tournament is at the end of the West Coast, and that appears to be a strong possibility that
would continue.”
Among other factors that would eventually effect the possible changes in calendar would be whether the National Football League (NFL) expands its schedule and pushes it deep down in to February. Also this year’s President Cup will be held right next to the
South African Open and one of the Championships will surely miss the top South African seeds like Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Ernie Els. Finchem, however, also said that any change in the schedule would be announced three months
prior to the event to give the local organizers enough time to make arrangements.
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