Charity a reason to stay in N. Carolina

ATLANTA (AP) — Commissioner Tim Finchem leaned on charity as a reason why he has no plans to relocate PGA Tour events from North Carolina over HB2, the so-called "bathroom bill" that limits protects for LGBT people.

The NBA pulled the AllStar Game from Charlotte, while the NCAA said it would not hold the first and second rounds of the men's basketball tournament in North Carolina and the ACC relocated all its championships from the state.

The Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte has been around since 2003, while the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro dates to 1938.

Finchem said Tuesday that the PGA Tour supports the NBA, NCAA and ACC over its public stand against the legislation.

"We are not, however, inclined to join that group by pulling our tournament," he said. "And the reason for that is quite simply, that tournament raises about $1.5 million right now for the Teach for America program in the inner city of Charlotte. Nobody else is going to put that money up."

Finchem said the three pieces of the PGA Tour mission is to benefit the professional game and the players; building the communities where they play and helping to grow the game of golf.

"We'll be vocal about the legislation," he said. "But we're not going to interrupt a unique program that's doing the great work it's doing in the city of Charlotte."

The Wells Fargo Championship will be played next year in Wilmington because Quail Hollow is being used for the PGA Championship.