Hey, Las Vegas, let’s play another 72

City may receive relocated PGA Asian Tour event

A second PGA event in Las Vegas in October is being floated as a possibility as tour officials scramble to replace the likely loss of three fall events in Asia.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc with professional sports, The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the three Asian tournaments scheduled directly after the Shiners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas likely will not happen this year.

One of the three events, the World Golf Championships-hsbc

Champions in Shanghai, was unofficially canceled following China’s announcement last week that all international sporting events other than

Olympic qualifying have been halted.

AP reported that the Tour has begun exploring moving events slated for Japan, South Korea and China to West Coast courses. Among

the possibilities is having the tour play consecutive weeks at TPC Summerlin, which is set for the Shriners Open on

Oct. 8 to 11 and could host the second tournament Oct. 15 to 18.

A PGA official refused to confirm the possibility of a second event in Las Vegas. Because of the pandemic, he said, the schedule remains in flux but there is nothing to officially announce at this stage. AP described any potential move as being a long way off.

Shriners Executive Director Patrick Lindsey did not respond to a request for comment.

If Las Vegas were to land a second event, TPC Summerlin would be the logical choice to host. Although numerous local courses have been used for tour events through the years, all the essentials to hold a second event would already be in place at Summerlin, including television setup.

A second Las Vegas event would duplicate

the scenario this week in Columbus, Ohio, where the tour is playing for the second consecutive week at Muirfield Village. The Memorial is being held this week following last week’s Workday Charity Open, a last-minute addition to the schedule to fill the opening left when the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, was canceled because of the pandemic.

The Shriners is scheduled three weeks after the rescheduled U.S. Open and one month before the first-ever autumn Masters. Having consecutive events in Las Vegas could be an ideal scenario for tour players looking to stay sharp heading into Augusta, Georgia.

China’s decision last week also means the LPGA will likely lose its October event in Shanghai, the first of four Asian tournaments for the women. The LPGA has yet to restart its season, with its first event back scheduled for July 31 to Aug. 2 in Toledo, Ohio.

Greg Robertson is a freelance reporter who covers golf for the Review-journal. He can be reached at robertsongt@gmail. com.