No Practice Round Access For NoTrust Open Fans

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I pen a short item and remembrance of practice rounds at GolfDigest.com's Local Knowledge blog after learning the Northern Trust Open is closed to spectators for financial reasons and to funnel more money to charity.

There is a common thread with the NoTrust and other events ending access to practice rounds: several are run by the PGA Tour Championship Management division. Which explains why fan and player favorite events like non Championship Management tournaments such as the Honda Classic and Shell Houston Open are still fan-friendly on practice day (admission is free at the Shell).

The news looks particularly bad when players now Tweet about their practice rounds, as several did Monday at Riviera. The forecast is for a high of 66 with mostly sunny skies Tuesday. A great day to go watch your favorite pro practice.

Well, not anymore.