Finchem: PGA Tour events to remain in North Carolina

The PGA Tour will not be drawn into a protest that has caused other sports organizations to remove their events from North Carolina because of a controversial state law.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, in his annual “State of the Tour” address at East Lake Golf Club on Tuesday, said his organization doesn’t like the new law, but will continue to host the annual Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte and the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro.

“We are squarely with those other organizations that have taken a public stance about that legislation,” Finchem said. “We are not, however, inclined to join that group by pulling our tournament.”

The NCAA and the ACC recently removed all their neutral-site championships from North Carolina to protest the passage of the state’s Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act. The NBA withdrew the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte. Other organizations are under similar pressure to follow suit.

Finchem said the presence of Tour events outweighs the benefits of pulling the events. He said the tournament in Charlotte raises about $1.5 million for the “Teach for America” program that serves the inner city by enlisting teachers for low-income communities.

“Nobody else is going to put that money up,” Finchem said. “We’ll be vocal about the legislation, but we’re not going to interrupt a unique program that’s doing the great work in the city of Charlotte.”