A long-rumored move became official Thursday as the PGA Tour announced that a World Golf Championship event will be heading to Memphis beginning in 2019.
The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational has one more iteration in Akron this summer, but next year it will move south and be known as the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. The tournament will replace the FedEx St. Jude Classic, which has been held in Memphis since 1958. TPC Southwind, which has hosted the annual stop since 1989, will remain host site for the new event.
“We are thrilled FedEx has signed on as the title sponsor of this World Golf Championships event,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “We look forward to working with FedEx and continuing to grow a tournament that it has supported for 30 years and carries one of the most impactful charitable stories on the PGA Tour.”
Last year FedEx signed a 10-year renewal for its sponsorship of the season-long FedExCup. Its global headquarters are located in Memphis.
With a PGA Tour event no longer an option, the South Course at Firestone Country Club was announced Thursday as the host site for the newly-named Bridgestone Senior Players’ Championship beginning in 2019 and running through at least 2022.
While the 2019 tournament dates for the new Memphis event have not yet been announced, Monahan explained that the dates have been chosen but the Tour is still waiting on the details surrounding a few other events before announcing a full slate for 2019.
“We have its place, and it will be in and around the same position that the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational has been in,” Monahan said.
That likely means early August, following the conclusion of the season’s four majors and when average temperatures in Memphis can reach 91 degrees.
Source: Internet
