The Memorial is at Jack's Place, Why Isn't Tiger's National at His?

by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 3, 2009 12:49 PM EDT

The One Eyed Golfer made an interesting observation the other day about players or golfing legends that have their own events on Tour. Those in the more modern era (1960s and onward) has tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule that are played on their own courses.

Arnie bought Bay Hill to be his own and hosts his tournament there. Why it's not in Latrobe, PA, doesn't baffle me at all but I wish it was.

Jack constructed Muirfield Village to host a tournament that was the caliber of a major championship. Given the player complaints about furrowed bunkers and deep rough in the past several seasons, he is working with the PGA Tour to set up Muirfield like a US Open tune-up.

But, Tiger holds his tournaments - the Target World Challenge and AT&T National - at courses that he didn't design. Of course, he has three projects under construction today in Dubai, North Carolina, and Mexico. (Talk about stretching the geographic bounds!)

If I had to speculate, Woods would most likely want to host a tournament that he hosts at the course in Carolina at the Cliffs, which already has another course on the property that hosts a Nationwide Tour event. I say this not only because The Cliffs is in the United States, but also because the course in Mexico is in the very early stages and I cannot seem to find Tiger's Dubai course anywhere on the map!

See for yourself.

View Larger Map

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Tiger's Place?

I say in due time Tiger will have a single annual tournament that he hosts that will be his marquis event (like the Nelson, Hogan/Colonial, Arnie’s and Jack’s). A good bet on first course might be The Cliffs in Carolina, but maybe he’ll design another course in the US specifically with this event in mind?

by Bob Diercksmeier on Jun 3, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe so. I’m curious to see how his design career goes. Will he only do a handful, or 30 ever? Or does he turn it into a passion, etc.?

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 3, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Depends on what he means by "design"

There are some pros that work intensively on a course design, some that come to a site 2-3 times, offer their opinions, take a few photos with a hard hat on, and leave the other 99% of the design to golf course architects. Basically, they’re a name that they can market. I would think Woods would be the latter style of designer.

Overall, it’s a very interesting phenomenon that’s fairly unique to golf. It’s not as though you see Emmitt Smith designing football stadiums.

by Cairo on Jun 3, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha, with his spelling inabilities, I think it would be quite an adventure to read his architectural plans!

But, so far the word is that Tiger is more “hands on” than Jack or Arnie might be. Then again, those two’s companies have done so many courses that it’s basically as though they’re involved even if not personally. It’s pretty formulaic, sadly.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 3, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

It won’t be at The Cliffs. That area is fine for a Nationwide event, but not a Tiger Woods PGA Tour stop. It is a LONG way from anywhere and is difficult place to get around.

Right now, Tiger doesn’t have “a place”. Here’s a shocker for you – Jack and Arnie didn’t have places when they were 33, either.

If this was a part of a Monty Python sketch, the general would have just walked in the door ordering this to stop – it has gotten too silly.

Tiger is “hosting” this tournament because he is being paid ungodly amounts of money to have his name on it – end of story.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jun 4, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think he isn’t being paid to host the event at all – just has his name on it.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 4, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Tiger does several “hosting” duties around the tournament – parties, receptions – those kinds of host jobs…except cleaning up after the party and kicking the drunks off of the furniture. :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jun 4, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions