The Concession to Host Relocated WGC Event
By Dave Daubert|2021-01-24T09:58:59-05:00January 24th, 2021|Categories: News|Tags: Industry News, Tournaments|
The PGA TOUR announced that The Concession Golf Club has been awarded another big-time event. Due to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Golf Championship will not be played in Mexico this year. The 2021 event will be conducted February 25-28 in Bradenton, Florida at the Concession Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus/Tony Jacklin codesign that opened in 2006. There will be no change in the format or eligibility requirements. Visit TheConcession.com for more information.
The WGC Golf Championship will kick-off a four-week Florida Swing that features the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, The PLAYERS Championship, and the Honda Classic. This year's Valspar Championship at Innisbrook will be played April 29-May 2.
The new venue is named for one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship in the game's history. At the 1969 Ryder Cup on the final hole, Jack conceded a 2-foot putt to Tony guaranteeing the first tie in the history of the Cup, allowing the United States to retain the Cup. The U.S. team would have won the Cup outright had Jacklin missed the putt who had won that year's Open Championship.
"I don't believe you would have missed that, but I'd never give you the opportunity in these circumstances," Jacklin recalled Nicklaus telling him.
The Concession was named "Best New Private Course" by Golf Digest when it opened. Bryson DeChambeau, playing for Southern Methodist University, won the individual title in the 2015 NCAA Championship at Concession.
Regarded as one of the Sunshine state's toughest tests this 520-acre Signature Golf Course is a nature rich design, full of thought-provoking and strategic challenges, winding around natural wetlands, 150 ft. tall pines and 200-year-old oaks. The layout boasts a par 72, 7,470-yard course with a rating of 77.6 and a slope of 155. In 2019, Nicklaus Design came back and laid out the 9-hole 'Gimme' short course and the 'Snake Acre'
practice putting green. The two have templates of some of the game's most famous holes like TPC Sawgrass's #17 island green, St. Andrews' road hole green and Riviera's #6 with a bunker in the green. In 2020 Golf Magazine named it one of the Top 25 par 3 courses in the world.
"This is a monumental opportunity for The Concession to host an event at the level of a World Golf Championship and showcase the unique layout and rich history of the Club to a global audience," said Bruce Cassidy, President of The Concession Golf Club. "With our past experience hosting high-profile events, we believe this course will provide a stern but memorable test of golf to the very best golfers in the world."
The WGC will be staged without general admission ticketed spectators, but will have a limited number of club members and invited guests on-site for competition days. It will also include a Wednesday pro-am and honorary observers.
"The news of a World Golf Championship event coming to Concession and the Bradenton-Sarasota Area is a testament to the premier golf venues and the other area assets that set our destination apart and solidify its position among the most attractive golf destinations in the country,"
said Elliott Falcione, Executive Director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This event comes on the heels of the Korn Ferry Tour, which kicks off its season the week prior at Lakewood National Golf Club, making this a truly an historic time for golf in the Bradenton-Sarasota area." The KF Tour's LECOM Suncoast Classic will be contested the week of February 18-21.
"We are thrilled for the opportunity," said Virginia Haley, President of Visit Sarasota County. "With such a wonderful setting and renowned course,
we're hopeful that the PGA TOUR's best players will enjoy battling for the title here in the Bradenton-Sarasota area."
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