PGA Tour Still Sorting Out The Messy 2016 Schedule...
/Joe Morelli of the New Haven Register looks at the various options for next year's Travelers Championship as golf in the Olympics makes a complete mess of the schedule. The event, normally played after the U.S. Open and popular with players, does not want to be played opposite the Olympics.
Of course, why any golf has to be played opposite the Olympics is beyond me and sadly will give critics just the evidence they need of Olympic golf's sillyness.
Anyway, Morelli writes:
The PGA Championship has already moved backward from its traditional August spot to July 28-31 in order to accommodate the Olympics. So with the U.S. Open June 16-19, there will be three majors and a World Golf event in a seven-week stretch. Bessette indicated the WGC event, likely the Bridgestone Invitational, will be held in between (June 30-July 3) the U.S. Open and the British Open (July 14-17). The FedEx St. Jude’s Classic has already announced its dates as well (June 9-12).
“I don’t want to play against the men in the Olympics or play against the women in the Olympics (Aug. 17-20),” Bessette said. “Somebody has to be between the British and the PGA. Who wants to be in that spot?”
Apparently, the RBC Canadian Open will fill that spot July 21-24. That leaves three open weeks not against the Olympics: June 23-26, the Travelers’ traditional position behind the U.S Open; July 7-10 and Aug. 4-7.
Also competing for spots on the calendar are the Quickens Loans Invitational, Tiger Woods’ tournament, the Greenbrier Classic and the John Deere Classic. The FedExCup playoffs follow the Olympics.
And fans will care even less than ever following four majors and the awarding of a gold medal.