PGA Tour Discontinues Atlanta Tournament
by Mulligan Stu
on Jun 9, 2008 2:59 PM EDT
The PGA Tour announced today that its Atlanta tournament - most recently known as the AT&T Classic - has gone kaput. It won't be played again. The Tour hopes to keep raising money for the event's designated charity, however, through the addition of a Champions Tour event in Atlanta.
Here's the news release:
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – June 9, 2008--The PGA TOUR today announced it has informed the Atlanta Classic Foundation that the tournament it operates no longer will be part of the PGA TOUR schedule after 2008. The decision to discontinue the tournament comes after extensive efforts to identify a title sponsor proved unsuccessful.
“We regret having to notify the Atlanta Classic Foundation of this decision, but the absence of a title sponsor at this point has necessitated the move in order to solidify the schedule for the future,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said. “The Atlanta Classic Foundation has been a valuable partner of the TOUR since 1967 and has generated millions of dollars for local charities, primarily the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We sincerely thank Atlanta Classic Foundation President Tom Coco and his board, Tournament Director Dave Kaplan and the thousands of volunteers who have given so much of their time and energy to the betterment of the tournament and community.”
“We could not have been successful all these years without the hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm of more then 1,600 volunteers. They are the cornerstone of the tournament's success,” Coco said. “While we are disappointed to lose our date on the PGA TOUR, the Foundation will explore its options for the future in the coming weeks.”
Both the PGA TOUR and AT&T, which previously sponsored the TOUR event in Atlanta, are focused on maintaining the historical charitable impact the tournament has had on Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. AT&T has committed a substantial donation to the hospital for the next two years.
Finchem said the PGA TOUR is planning to continue the charitable commitment to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta through a new Champions Tour event. He said the TOUR is completing the final details with a U.S.-based global company that will become a title sponsor of a Champions Tour tournament in 2009 at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, host venue for the PGA TOUR event since 1997.
“We are committed to maintain the charitable impact to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and we’re delighted with AT&T’s commitment,” Finchem said. “Indeed, with the strength of this new tournament title sponsor, we are excited that the history of tournament golf at TPC Sugarloaf will continue with what will be a premier Champions Tour event. A formal announcement is forthcoming.”
The TOUR will be talking to the Atlanta Classic Foundation about its possible involvement with this new Champions Tour event moving forward.
“With regard to the PGA TOUR, this development will create an adjustment in the 2009 schedule,” Finchem said. “We are working through the process of filling the date. There will be a number of changes in the schedule for 2009 that will be announced in the next couple of weeks after our Policy Board meeting.”
The final Classic was held the week of May 12-18 this year and was captured by first-time winner Ryuji Imada in a playoff over Kenny Perry. Prior to moving to TPC Sugarloaf, the tournament was held at Atlanta Country Club.
The Atlanta area remains an important part of the schedule as the THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the fourth and final event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, is played annually at East Lake Golf Club.
FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com and its editor, Ryan Ballengee. The Waggle Room member whose byline appears with the FanPost is solely responsible for its content.
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we'll be back...
everything runs in cycles, and right now, we (Atlanta) are in a bit of a downturn—but we lost our tournament date to San Antonio ???? Four tournaments in the state of Texas. San Antonio is one of my favorite towns in Texas – but how the heck did Atlanta lose out to a town that size ?
the only good thing I can think of in this is that TPC Sugarloaf is out of the picture. nobody liked the 8 mile trip around the course. there are some decent holes, but it was pretty clear from the outset that Norman was handcuffed with the leftover land in a big subdivision.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Jun 9, 2008 10:59 PM EDT 0 recs
"a town that size"
Hey bub! Watch it! :) San Antonio is the 7th largest city in America—bigger than little ol’ Atlanta. But I know what you’re saying. The Atlanta metro area is a much bigger media market than San Antonio, because SA is pretty much just … SA. Only a handful of “bedroom communities,” whereas Atlanta is a bazillion square miles of sprawl with approximately 92 cities of size all around the area.
Just looked up metro population, and in that ranking Atlanta is No. 9 and SA is 28th.
by bogeymcduff on
Jun 10, 2008 11:00 AM EDT
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7th ?
Is that population in the city limits proper ? Does the army base population count ?
Atlanta is a pretty miserable place to live inside the city limits. You tend to live either in an overpriced condo/loft/ or a discount crack area. (slight exaggeration for dramatic effect) The population in the city floats somewhere around 300,000 and 500,000, give or take.
The metro Atlanta area, like you said, is a big sprawl (28 counties) – and sits in the #9 spot (just under 5.5 million at last count) in metro population. SA is 28th, right around 2 million.
By the way – I do like San Antonio – good city – lots of good people. Just build a better course than Sugarloaf (which shouldn’t be too difficult) and the players will rave about it.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Jun 10, 2008 1:24 PM EDT 0 recs
the city proper
is 7th in population. Someday, San Antonio and Austin are going to grow together, and then they’ll be a powerhouse media market. But that’s probably 30-40 years off. For now, I think we’re only about the 35th largest media market.
The Tour Championship is played in Atlanta. Trivia question: Where was the frist Tour Championship played? San Antonio. The Nabisco, as it was called then, at a Tillinghast course, Oak Hills (where the old guys play the AT&T Championship now), a great little (emphasis on little) parkland course, tiny greens, deep bunkers, tree-lined fairways. And there’s Pecan Valley, site of the 1968 PGA Championship and the Publinx in 2001.
But other than than … the locals really overrate the golf courses here. Maybe the new TPC courses will add some truly top-level layouts to the area.
I spent a few great days in Atlanta several years ago, doing the tourist stuff—botanical gardens (where our hubcaps were stolen!), zoo, that Civil War spinning diorama thingy, CNN (where a friend worked for what was then CNNSI.com), the underground shopping, all around downtown, out to the suburbs where I experienced my first Krispy Kreme, up on the Civil War mountain whose name I forget but where, on this day, we were able to climb above the cloud level … fun trip.
by bogeymcduff on
Jun 10, 2008 3:11 PM EDT
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San Austonio ?
San Antaustin ? Hmmm – but if they grow together – where are the cows going to cross ? :-)
I just hope your TPC is better than ours. Sugarloaf is an 8 mile trek up some pretty miserable hills. The holes themselves aren’t bad on the whole, but Norman was handcuffed by the leftover land he was handed to shape.
Let’s see – you’re lucky it was just your hubcaps that got stolen – that area has a reputation – guys don’t go by themselves, and preferably they take a woman along for protection. (hint hint)
LOVE the Krispy Kreme – hope you got them when they were warm.
Civil War spinnign thingy – the Cyclorama – FANTASTIC ! It’s a unique piece of Civil War history – maybe for any war.
Civil War mountain ? Stone Mountain ? With the carving on the face and the only Robert Trent Jones Sr course in the state ? or Kennesaw Mountain ? Just a big mountain but what a great climb.
SInce you obviously know about Tillinghast – got a book you might enjoy – “TILLINGHAST: Creator of golf courses” by Phillip Young.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Jun 10, 2008 11:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Texas Open
The AT&T did not “lose” to San Antonio, per se. The Texas Open has been on the schedule forever; they may just be moving up into the AT&T’s spot on the schedule.
by hawkeyedc on Jun 11, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs
check your schedule
it’s only one year – but with the FedEx Cup, 7 tournaments were move to “post season” status, including The Valero Texas Open. Still good tournaments, but reduced to second tier where the big boys might show up to fill in a schedule, or lower ranked players to move up the money list without the top players. There are no FedEx Cup points available – it’s just good tournament golf for a paycheck.
Atlanta is losing a “regular season” status tournament spot after 40 years. In its place, we get a Champions Tour event….Whheeeeeeee.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Jun 12, 2008 9:41 AM EDT
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opportunity for LPGA?
That southern swing in September sure has room to expand….
by The Constructivist on Jun 13, 2008 5:07 AM EDT 0 recs
good point
You make a great point re: the “regular season” versus the fall schedule. Although if they keep the schedule as Wachovia, Players, Valero, Colonial, Memorial, I bet most of us can guess which tournament the players will be skipping…especially considering the Valero has never had a great field, even before the advent of the FedEx Cup.
Alternatively, I suppose they could tweak the schedule to have the Nelson, Colonial, and Valero in back-to-back-to-back weeks, but if the Texas swing was bookended by the Players and Memorial (or something similar), I still don’t see the San Antonio event doing that well. Just my two cents.
by hawkeyedc on Jun 13, 2008 12:29 PM EDT 0 recs
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