The PGA Tour’s annual Tiger Woods-hosted stop has "terminated its contract with Congressional Country Club, which was scheduled to host the event" in '18 and '20, and currently has "no title sponsor," according to Rex Hoggard of GOLFCHANNEL.com. The termination of the contract was "announced to members at Congressional via a letter" yesterday. Quicken Loans "took over as title sponsor of the event" in '14, and its four-year deal "ended after this year’s tournament." The event began in '07 and has been played "seven times at Congressional, although this year’s tournament was held at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farms." The Tiger Woods Foundation "currently manages the DC stop, the 18-man Hero World Challenge played in December, and took over the Genesis Open" in L.A. this season (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 9/18). Reps for both Woods and his foundation said that they are "actively pursuing a sponsor for the tournament." Neither Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent, nor Tiger Woods Foundation President & CEO Rick Singer, "ruled out establishing a new deal with Congressional should they land a sponsor." In DC, Barry Svrluga notes the tourney "could return to TPC Potomac" if a sponsor is found. Singer said that he "hopes to have a deal done in four to six weeks" with a sponsor. Singer and Steinberg both indicated that they "remain in talks with Quicken Loans, which replaced AT&T as the sponsor" in '14. However, Quicken Loans Founder & Chair Dan Gilbert has been "rumored to want a PGA Tour event near Detroit," where the company is headquartered (WASHINGTON POST, 9/19). The official '17-18 schedule was released this morning, and the event was "listed as 'The National' at host course TBD" (TWITTER.com, 9/19).
BYE TO THE BELTWAY? Author John Feinstein noted PGA Tour golf is “probably gone from Washington for a long time.” He said, “Congressional does not want another PGA Tour event. They want a U.S. Open.” He said if an event is held in the DC area next year, it likely "will be some kind of exhibition that would involve Tiger if he’s healthy.” Meanwhile, Feinstein said, "I don’t think corporations are lining up to make a deal with Tiger Woods right now. He’s damaged goods, literally and metaphorically” (“PGA Tour Radio,” SiriusXM, 9/18).
