PGA Tour Could Take Over Canadian, Mexican Tours; Funnel Players To Nationwide Tour

The PGA Tour “appears to be on the verge of announcing they will take over control of the Canadian Tour,” according to Curtis Stock of the EDMONTON JOURNAL. It is “expected the new Tour would be called the PGA Tour of Canada.” A source said, “This could very well be the last year of Canadian Tour events as we know it. It’s definitely in the works.” The PGA Tour would also “take over the Tour De Las Americas (the Mexican Golf Tour), which would then be known as the PGA Tour of Mexico.” The top players on each of those two new Tours “would then move directly to the Nationwide Tour.” The plan “calls for 10 tournaments in Canada and 10 more in Mexico.” ATB Financial Classic Exec Dir Tim Garbutt confirmed that an “executive of the PGA will be at the ATB Financial Classic as well as at the Syncrude Boreal Open, presented by Aecon, in Fort McMurray the following week.” Garbutt said, “He will be here to review operations as well as to talk to sponsors” (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 6/14). Meanwhile, the Nationwide Tour announced its Colombia Championship “has secured a three-year extension of its sponsorship with Pacific Rubiales Energy and SportLink” (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/12).

ON THE LINKS: GOLFWEEK.com’s Gene Yasuda noted TaylorMade-adidas Golf President & CEO Mark King hopes the company’s recent acquisition of Adams Golf “really will produce dividends as the industry's push to grow the game influences the evolution of the equipment marketplace.” King said, "I really believe somewhere in the next 3 to 10 years, I think you're going to see a big opportunity for all golf equipment companies to make products for non-traditional golfers -- for new people who are now playing 6-hole golf courses with 15-inch cups or things like that.” He added, "I don't think the rules of golf will bifurcate" (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/12).