PGA boss says Victoria perfect fit for two tournaments
Victoria is one of just two Canadian cities that play host to two events which fall under the PGA Tour umbrella, and that reality is not lost on new PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who recently took over from Tim Finchem.
Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada stops in Victoria this week for the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open presented by the Times Colonist and PGA Tour Champions rolls into town in midSeptember for the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.
“We love being able to have more than one event in a marketplace,” said Monahan, the former deputy commissioner and chief operating officer for the PGA Tour, who took over the office from Finchem, who retired in January. “We’ve done that in markets like Phoenix, Columbus, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Calgary.
“For us, being able to present two different tours is something that we think ultimately showcases and gives us a broader platform in terms of timeframe and creates more interest and exposure for the game.”
Having two events in the same city benefits many, he added.
“Oftentimes you’ll have tournaments that are working with each other to maximize the commercial impact of the event and the promotional impact of the event. In some cases it’s led to third events in other markets,” said Monahan. “We look at it as a great positive.”
Monahan recently took time to speak to some Canadian golf writers via a conference call and spoke glowingly of his satisfaction with the PGA Tour’s fan base in Canada and the role the Mackenzie Tour plays.
“It’s such an exciting time for the PGA Tour and golf, in general, in Canada as another summer approaches in 2017. As you know, we’ve already seen two Canadians, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Hadwin, become PGA Tour winners for the first time this season,” he said of the PGA Tour Canada grads. “And along with Graham DeLaet, David Hearn and Nick Taylor, there seems to be another Maple Leaf near the top of the leaderboard every week, and there’s a good chance you will see a number of them compete for spots on the Presidents Cup team this fall.”
Monahan pointed to graduates of the Canadian circuit now on the PGA Tour.
“Mackenzie Tour alumni continue to have success at the next level with 10 on the PGA Tour this season, including each of the first three Order of Merit winners from 2013-15, and an additional 66 players on the Web.com Tour,” added the commissioner.
“I would give Mackenzie TourPGA Tour Canada a solid ‘A’ and I look to the fact that we have 10 alums that have matriculated to the PGA Tour and the 66 players on the Web.com tour. The proof is in the performance.”