PGA Tour Expected To Move Akron WGC Event To Memphis In '19

The Bridgestone Invitational likely would move to May in Memphis as part of the new PGA Tour scheduleGETTY IMAGES

A PGA Tour press conference on Thursday in Memphis is "expected to include an announcement" to bring a WGC event to the city beginning in '19, according to Mark Giannotto of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. In November, reports emerged that Memphis "was in line to host a WGC event" in the near future in the wake of a decision to move the PGA Championship to May and move the Players Championship back to March starting next season. The scheduling change would "result in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, coming to Memphis to replace the annual FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind." Getting one of the four WGC tournaments "would be a boon for the city's golf scene and result in more high-profile fields moving forward." Golf writer John Feinstein in November said that FedEx has "pushed behind the scenes for Memphis to host a WGC event" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 4/10).