PGA Champion Calls On PGA Tour To Move Genesis Invitational From Fire-Ravaged L.A.

Respected PGA Tour star and past PGA Championship champion Jimmy Walker has called on the PGA Tour to consider moving next month’s Genesis Invitational from the horror of the fire-ravaged Los Angeles region.

The $US 20m Genesis-backed ‘Signature Series’ event is set to take place from February 13th to 16th on the host Riviera Country Club course at Pacific Palasides that narrowly avoided being consumed by what is being desribed as the worst wildfires, not only in the state of Calfornia but also in the history of the United States.

At the time of writing this article, the death toll is 25 people and with the wildfires having consumed an estimated 60 square miles, and with local authorities stating that 180,000 people have been placed under evacuation orders.

TV footage and images of the aftermath of the wildfires is like nothing seen before not just in the US but worldwide, and some observers likening it to the devastation post the dropping of Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

The PGA Tour issued advice to its members last Thursday stating: “At this point, it is premature to discuss the potential impact on the Genesis Invitational.

“Although The Riviera Country Club has not been directly affected by the fires, our immediate concern is the health and welfare of those in the affected communities, including all our members who have ties to Southern California. We will keep the membership updated as the situation develops.”

Walker, who has teed-up at Riviera often, was approached by GolfByTourMiss and believes the Tour needs to move the tournament to an alternate venue.

“I think there is two ways to look at it”, said Walker who is contesting this week’s DP World Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“People need something to go out and cheer for but then there’s no escaping thinking about the lives of lots and lots of persons who live all around the vicinity of Riviera, who lives have been forever affected.

“It’s why it’s pretty tough to go there, play golf and make a ton of money.  I don’t know if that’s a good decision but I am sure they (PGA Tour) can find somewhere else to go host the tournament.

“I’ve got family and good friends over there.  I feel for them. I wonder how they are coping and getting on.

“As well, it’s one of my favourite venues of all the places with play on the PGA Tour.  I just hope they make the right decision”.

While the PGA Tour is yet to follow-up, if they will on last week’s memo, it has been suggested that the event Genesis Invitational could be moved to that week to TPC Scottsdale and a double-headed following on the week after the WM Phoenix Open, being played a week earlier.

Whatever but one would think that the Tour will show empathy and choose not to go ahead with the Genesis Invitational this year being played at Riviera.

 

 



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