"The LPGA’s desire to return to La Costa likely hinges on how successful the L.A. tournament is next year."
/Tod Leonard reports on La Costa's Steve Pate-Daminan Pascuzzo renovation causing the move of the KIA event to Industry Hills and says a return to San Diego depends on the success of the LPGA stop in Industry.
Not to worry San Diego, they'll be begging their way back!
“L.A. is a market we wanted to be in. And we want to be in San Diego as well,” said Kelly Hyne, an LPGA vice president who oversees tour properties. “In a perfect world, we’d be in both markets.”
Given the fragile state of the economy in Southern California and the LPGA’s challenge to add domestic events to its schedule, being in both places is improbable. In the last year alone, San Diego has twice seen tournaments leave: the Samsung World Championship at Torrey Pines because it folded, and now the Kia because of La Costa’s decision.
The fits and starts have made getting traction in San Diego difficult for the LPGA, which previously had been in the market until 1993.
“Obviously, we don’t go into any event wanting it to be one event,” Hyne said. “We want to build on the event. We certainly had a great experience at La Costa and were looking to build on that.”
Paul McCormick, La Costa’s vice president and general manager since April, said La Costa wants the LPGA back and “we’re trying to ensure we keep it here for many years to come.”
McCormick said an extensive makeover is necessary to address agronomic, water and aesthetic issues. He said the work likely would start in January and take at least 10 months to complete.