DFW loses two PGA Tour-sanctioned events amid coronavirus crisis
The AT&T Byron Nelson won’t be played for the first time since 1965. And the inaugural Korn Ferry Tour stop at Texas Rangers Golf Club has been put on hold for a year.
The PGA Tour announced a number of cancellations and postponements on Tuesday, including those two DFW-based events. The Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth remains on schedule with tournament rounds scheduled for May 21-24.
“The health and safety of everyone associated with the PGA TOUR and the global community is and will continue to be our No. 1 priority as we navigate the ongoing health crisis related to the Coronavirus Pandemic,” the PGA Tour said in a statement.
The news isn’t too surprising given how many sports leagues have postponed and suspended play for the coming weeks.
The Korn Ferry Tour, which is golf’s minor leagues, had been expected to host the Veritex Bank Championship at Rangers Golf Club from April 16-19. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was among the players expected to be in the field.
The AT&T Bryon Nelson, meanwhile, had been scheduled for May 4-10, which is the eighth week of the CDC’s latest recommendation of postponing or canceling events of 50 or more people for eight weeks.
The Nelson, which was established in 1944, has been played continually since 1966. Along with 1965, the other years without a tournament are 1963 (when Dallas hosted the 1963 PGA Championship) and 1947-55.
“Our focus now will be on how we use this moment in time to inspire our community, and celebrate the 100 years of service of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and the children and families that are served through the non-profit programs of Momentous Institute,” the tournament said in a news release. “The tournament will continue to work with all our partners to ensure we continue to make a positive impact within the metroplex.”
This was scheduled to be the Nelson’s final year at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas. A site for the 2021 tournament has yet to be announced, but a return to TPC Four Seasons Golf Course in Irving would make sense.
Colonial still on?
Along with the PGA Tour canceling the Nelson and several other stops, the PGA of America announced that this year’s PGA Championship has been postponed. That is golf’s second major championship to postpone its tournament along with the Masters.
The tournament following the PGA Championship? The Colonial.
As of now, the tournament remains on schedule.
“We are 10 weeks out and I don’t want to say we are business as usual because we’re not,” tournament director Michael Tothe told the Star-Telegram on Monday. “We are running through various scenarios, and monitoring what the City of Fort Worth and the PGA Tour do.”
PGA Tour changes
A look at every change the PGA Tour has made to its various circuits —
PGA TOUR
March 9-15 THE PLAYERS Championship Canceled
March 16-22 Valspar Championship Canceled
March 23-29 WGC-Dell Match Play Championship Canceled
Punta Cana Corales Resort & Club Championship Postponed
March 30-April 5 Valero Texas Open Canceled
April 6-12 the Masters Tournament Postponed
April 13-19 RBC Heritage Canceled
April 20-26 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Canceled
April 27-May 3 Wells Fargo Championship Canceled
May 4-10 AT&T Byron Nelson (at Dallas’ Trinity Forst Golf) Canceled
May 11-17 PGA Championship Postponed
PGA TOUR Champions
March 23-29 Rapiscan Systems Classic Postponed
April 13-19 Mitsubishi Electric Classic Canceled
April 27-3 Insperity Invitational Canceled
May 4-10 Regions Tradition Rescheduled (Sept. 21-27)
June 8-14 Mastercard Japan Championship Canceled
Korn Ferry Tour
March 16-22 Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by MISTRAS Canceled
March 23-29 Lake Charles Championship Canceled
March 30-April 5 Savannah Golf Championship Postponed
April 13-19 Veritex Bank Championship (at Arlington’s Texas Rangers Golf Club) Canceled
April 20-26 Huntsville Championship Canceled
April 27-3 Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation Canceled
May 4-10 KC Golf Classic Canceled
May 11-17 Visit Knoxville Open Postponed
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 5:19 PM.
