The PODS Championship is losing its title sponsor following this tournament. No more PODS in Tampa Bay. And don't be surprised if there's no more tournament in Tampa Bay, either, at least sometime soon.

I suspect that within the next couple years - by 2011 at the latest - this event will either have been shunted back to the Fall Series, or be gone altogether, replaced by a new tournament. Maybe even both - replaced by a tournament that joins the Fall Series.

I expect to see the Texas Open in this slot on the schedule by 2010, maybe even next season. There are two reasons for this:

1. The Texas Open is moving from its current course in San Antonio to a PGA Tour-owned TPC course now under construction. The Tour wants to show off its new course, after all.
2. The Texas Open is the largest moneymaker for charities on the PGA Tour. Which is pretty remarkable, given that it's stuck in the Fall Series and rarely draws much interest from fans or top players. Yet the past couple years, the Texas Open has raised more money for charity than any other event on Tour.

And as I've noted on my Texas Golf blog, according to multiple reports Tim Finchem has promised the  Texas Open overseers their tournament will move to a Spring date on the PGA Tour schedule "as soon as a slot becomes available."

And here you have the PODS Championship, losing its sponsor (and for the second time in just several years) and floundering about. The Texas Open in March in 2009 or 2010? Works for me.