The PGA Tour is moving the Genesis Invitational out of Riviera next month out of respect for the deadly wildfires that have decimated parts of Los Angeles, including the Pacific Palisades neighborhood where Riviera is located.
It remains to be determined where the $20 million flagship event, with Tiger Woods as tournament host, will take place from February 13-16.
One option is another golf course that is already part of the West Coast Swing – away from Los Angeles – which would limit the costs and hours required to build a tournament site with everything from grandstands to hospitality. company through television structures.
Riviera, located just south of Sunset Boulevard and about 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean, was undamaged by the fires that killed at least 25 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.
The tour resisted any decision until measures were taken to contain the fires. He decided to move in conjunction with title sponsor Genesis, Riviera Country Club and TGR Live, which hosts the event.
An announcement of a new location is expected in the coming days.
“The PGA Tour is identifying the most effective ways the tournament can support the Los Angeles community and ongoing relief efforts,” it said in a statement, encouraging people to show their support on its site Web.
Riviera was founded 99 years ago and has hosted the US Open and PGA Championship. The club is scheduled to host the US Women’s Open for the first time in 2026, as well as golf competition for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. It will also host the US Open in 2031 for the first time since 1948.
This will be the first time that what was previously called the Los Angeles Open will not be held at Riviera since 1998, when it was held at TPC Valencia, as Riviera was preparing to host the US Senior Open this year -there.
The tournament was first held in Riviera in 1929.
Firefighters are still battling the two largest fires (Palisades and Eaton). The ravaged communities still need to be cleared of ashes and toxic debris before any reconstruction effort can begin. Authorities said Thursday that residents will have to wait at least another week before they begin inspecting what remains of their homes because of dangerous debris in burned areas.
Woods has an exemption to play in one of the marquee events this year. The Genesis Invitational is the only non-major he has played on the PGA Tour schedule since his 2021 car accident.
He said Tuesday in his TMRW Golf League debut: “We’re just trying to figure everything out and make sure everyone is safe and we have some meetings planned in the future. »
“But right now we’re not really focused on the tournament. It’s more about what we can do to help everyone who is struggling, who has lost their home and whose life has changed,” he said.
