Pacific Links tournament won’t be broadcast
PGA Tour Champions fans hoping to sit back in their comfy living room chairs with a refreshment in hand and watch the three rounds of the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship next weekend will have to change their plans.
Golf Channel will not be broadcasting the event from the Mountain course that provided such beautiful looks to golf fans last season, broadcast out to more than 200 million homes in 84 countries.
That means locals will have to opt for the live action, with tickets available online. In 2016, the tournament — eventually won in a playoff by Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie over Scott McCarron — drew more than 27,000 fans to the three-day event.
“Obviously, it’s a little disappointing, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s still going to be a world-class event with all the players here,” said tournament director Brad Parkins. “We figure it should drive more spectators onto the property to watch the golf, come out and take it in.”
Money was the issue behind no broadcast.
“It was just something that Pacific Links and the tour came to agreement on. There were some challenges for Pacific Links getting money out of China in an effort to continue the event and keep it going,” said Parkins. “There had to be a concession and television, at this point, was that concession.
“Obviously, we didn’t want anything to change. We wanted the tour and Pacific Links to run the event and showcase it here. In that regard, the television component will not be a part of it this year.”
It’s not known whether Golf Channel will run highlights.
“I’m still getting different tidbits of information so I’m not 100 per cent sure of what they are going to do,” Parkins added.
With the likes of Montgomerie, John Daly, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, McCarron and newcomers like Jerry Kelly and David Toms competing, it should draw fans. Players will begin arriving on Monday after this week’s stop in Japan.
Monday and Tuesday will feature practice rounds and the pro-ams are Wednesday and Thursday before the tournament begins Friday and runs through Sunday.
“We’re excited, we have a great field coming in and the weather is looking positive and that’s what matters,” said Parkins.
The final field is expected to be released today. It will not include Fred Couples, who is expected to rest an injury until the Schwab Cup playoffs begin. It will include local Jim Rutledge who has a sponsor’s exemption for the tournament. He will be one of at least three Canadians, joining Stephen Ames and Rod Spittle (and possibly some qualifiers).
Tickets are tabbed at $25 for the pro-am days, $40 for Friday, Saturday or Sunday or a weekly pass for $99. They can be purchased at selectyourtickets.com and shuttles will drive fans up the mountain from Western Speedway during the week with Camosun College Interurban and possibly Belmont Secondary stops added on weekends.