PGA Tour Moves Reno-Tahoe Open Opposite Local Celebrity Tourney

RTO To Be Held Same Week As American Century Championship

The PGA Tour Reno-Tahoe Open (RTO) "has been moved" from its traditional August weekend to mid-July beginning next year, meaning it will be held the same weekend in '10 as the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship (ACC), which is held in Lake Tahoe, according to a front-page piece by Dan Hinxman of the RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL. RTO officials had requested that the Tour shift the event to an "earlier date because this year for the first time it was held the same week" as the Hot August Nights car show in Reno, "which left few hotel rooms for RTO sponsors, players and VIPs." But RTO Foundation Chair John Sande III said that the week of July 12-18, which is opposite the British Open, was the "only date available." The RTO this season was held opposite the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, and Sande said, "There are three things we think we have done. One, it was difficult to get room nights for our sponsors; two, you're opposite the British Open, so you're going to have a better field; and, three, the TV is better. The British Open is over mid-morning. There's no PGA conflict." He added, "It's all positive. I know the celebrity (tournament) is the same week, but I think we can work with them to make both tournaments successful and attract more visitors to the region." A spokesperson for the ACC said that NBC Sports, which owns the event, has "no plans to move" that tournament. The ACC, with attendance generally between 30,000-35,000, has "out-drawn the RTO in recent years" (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 11/4).

NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS: Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Exec Dir Carol Chaplin, whose organization hosts the ACC, in a statement said, "We’re disappointed with their decision to move the event from its August date opposite the American Century Championship’s traditional mid-July date. We understand they had numerous options, but this is a disservice to golf fans in the region that have had two annual tournaments. The American Century Championship has 21 years of continuity, great partners from title through associate sponsors, loyal community support, annual growth and has contributed over $3(M) to local and national charities. Plus, it’s Lake Tahoe. To us, it seems short-sighted but it will play out in the public market where we’re happy to compete on the basis of the entertainment value" (THE DAILY).

TAKING A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE: The PGA Tour yesterday released the entire FedEx Cup portion of its '10 schedule, which includes the same number of events as the last two seasons (41) and one more than in '07. The U.S. Bank Championship in Wisconsin, which disbanded after it could not find a new title sponsor, was previously played during the British Open. The Turning Stone Resort Championship, a Fall Series event, moves into the August date formerly held by the RTO. The PGA Tour will announce the Fall Series at a later date, but the number of total fall events is expected to drop from a high of seven in '07 to four in '10 if a title sponsor cannot be found for a proposed event in Sea Island, Georgia. The Tour historically announces prize money with the schedule but did not include tournament purses with yesterday's release. A PGA Tour official said the league was waiting for “final confirmation on a couple of purses and expects to make them available within the next couple of weeks" (Jon Show, SportsBusiness Journal). ESPN.com's Jason Sobel wrote the schedule on the whole "looks eerily similar to this year's lineup that is just now being concluded," and that "should be considered a good thing." ESPN's Bob Harig noted with "all the negativity in the sports sponsorship world, to have a full schedule of events is a welcome relief" for the PGA Tour. While this is "not to say that the tour won't face some issues as a slew of tournaments see their contracts ending" after next season, "all in all, PGA Tour players are fortunate" (ESPN.com, 11/3).

Turning Stone's Calendar Move Could Hurt Field

EVERY SEASON TURN, TURN, TURN: In New York, John Pitarresi notes Turning Stone's move from the Fall Series to August "could have a negative impact on the field" because the event now is opposite the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but tournament officials and fans "see it as a big positive." The event has faced "challenging weather the last two years in late September and early October." Tournament Dir Ann Spencer said, "The positives far outweigh the negatives. ... Hopefully, it will affect it in a positive way, moving to the summer season, moving out from the school year and hopefully into some better weather" (UTICA OBSERVER-DISPATCH, 11/4). Also in New York, Bob Weiner wrote, "Smart move by the PGA Tour. Turning Stone is a classy place with a phenomenal set of courses. It's one of the few places in earshot of our area that could host the best players in the world" (DAILYGAZETTE.com, 11/3).

THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM: The AP's Doug Ferguson reported the PGA Tour for next season appears to be "leaving the FedEx Cup just as it is with the playoff schedule and points system." PGA Tour Exec VP & COO Rick George said that "any adjustment to the points system was not on the agenda and not discussed at a policy board meeting earlier this week." George: "We don't anticipate it changing." Ferguson noted it would be the first time "since the FedEx Cup began in 2006 that the points system was left alone" (AP, 11/3).

RIGHTING THE SHIP: GOLF WORLD's Dave Shedloski reported the 132 golfers scheduled to participate in last week's PGA Tour Viking Classic "received a $4,000 stipend" after the tournament was canceled. The cash, which came out of the event's $3.6M purse, is "not considered official earnings." The tournament distributed a total of $528,000 to players, and "what becomes of the remaining prize money" has yet to be determined. Tournament Dir Randy Watkins said that Century Club Charities and the "five sponsors that kick in money to the event should have most of those funds returned, minus expenses" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 11/3).