Genesis Open status elevated; Woods-hosted event joins Nicklaus, Palmer in special category

Pacific Palisades, Calif: The PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced that the Genesis Open will receive elevated status on TOUR with the implementation of several significant enhancements, beginning in 2020. He made the announcement on the eve of the 2019 edition, which was won by JB Holmes last week at the Riviera.

Joined by tournament host Tiger Woods and Euisun Chung, Manfred Fitzgerald and Erwin Raphael of title sponsor Genesis at The Riviera Country Club, Monahan highlighted several important changes for the tournament moving forward:

The Genesis Open will move to invitational qualifying status and reduce its field from 144 players to 120; The champion will receive a three-year PGA TOUR exemption, an increase by one year over the standard winner’s exemption on TOUR; The purse will grow to $9.3 million, among the largest on TOUR and an increase of $1.9 million over the 2019 purse. The winner’s share will be $1.674 million;

In collaboration with the tournament’s broadcast partners, recognition of Woods’ vast accomplishments as a player and his philanthropic work through the TGR Foundation will be amplified through the telecasts and promotion of the tournament.

These elements will put the Genesis Open in select company on TOUR alongside the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament began awarding a three-year exemption and elevated purse in 2016 and Palmer’s tournament did so the following year.

“In recognition of Tiger’s place alongside Jack and Arnold as a modern-day golf icon who hosts a home-based PGA TOUR tournament, plus the common thread of doing exceptional philanthropic work through his TGR Foundation, elevating the Genesis Open is an important and deserved step toward further cementing Tiger’s legacy in our sport,” Monahan said. “This announcement comes at a particularly relevant time as Tiger continues to chase history and Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA TOUR victories.

“Tiger is fully committed to continuing the growth of all aspects of the tournament, a vision shared by Genesis as the title sponsor,” Monahan added. “We look forward to working with Tiger, TGR Foundation and the team at Genesis to fulfill our common goal.”

TGR Live became the tournament host organization with TGR Foundation the primary beneficiary in 2017, the same year Genesis took over as title sponsor.

“I’m honored and grateful that the Genesis Open will receive elevated status and join Arnold’s and Jack’s tournaments,” Woods said. “To be included with two of the greatest golfers of all-time, in my hometown and at an event that benefits my TGR Foundation is something I could never have imagined when I first visited Riviera with my Pop. I would like to personally thank Genesis, the PGA TOUR and all those that made this dream happen.”

About the Genesis Open

The Genesis Open, L.A’s PGA TOUR event, is one of the most historic and longest-running events on the PGA TOUR, the tournament celebrated its 93rd playing in 2019.

With TGR Live serving as the event management company for the Genesis Open, the TGR Foundation is the primary benefiting charity, with proceeds from the event supporting the foundation’s college-access programs in Southern California. The tournament’s title sponsor is Genesis, a global luxury car brand that delivers the highest standards of performance, design and innovation in its vehicles.

Vinkmag ad

Read Previous

Glover ends 10-year drought with win at John Deere

Read Next

Tata Steel comes in as Tour sponsor for PGTI

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *