Las Vegas, Nevada (December 11, 2012)–While it has long been known that Las Vegas' PGA Tour event–The Shriners Hospitals for Children Open–would become a part of the FedEx Cup system, it is now officially in black and white. The PGA Tour released the early part of the 2013-14 schedule, and the Las Vegas event will be played the week of October 14-20, 2013. And there are at least $1.5 million more reasons for the PGA Tour pros to make Las Vegas one of the tournaments they play. The event has been on the up swing over the last several years, and adding the FedEx Cup prestige will help continue the positive momentum. –By Brian Hurlburt.
“We are very excited about our move to the front of the 2013/14 schedule," says Tournament Director Adam Sperling. "Our city has always made this event a world class destination for the game's best and brightest, but with the purse increase–to $6 million up from $4.5 million–and awarding of full FedExCup points, next year should bring the strongest group of PGA TOUR Professionals the valley has seen in years. And many in the community have stepped up and sponsored and participated in the event, and experienced first hand the value of activating at the tournament. And we hope more will join us in 2013 to ensure a long and bright future of PGA Tour golf in Las Vegas, building on the previous 30-straight years of this prestigious tournament."
As Sperling revealed, the tournament will offer a full share of FedEx Cup Playoffs points and a total purse of $6 million will be up for grabs. The winner will cash a check for $1.08 million, up substantially from the $810,000 that Ryan Moore earned for his 2012 title. Moore is a Las Vegas resident and 4-time All-American at UNLV. He was the second-straight Las Vegas golfer to win following fellow resident Kevin Na winning in 2011. And the move to the FedEx Cup was made possible by the continued support of the PGA Tour and of Las Vegas by the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
“We are very pleased that the start to the 2013-2014 PGA TOUR Season features such strong events, including several international tournaments,” said Andy Pazder, Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR, in a statement. “Due to the change from the traditional calendar season to the newly configured schedule that bridges two calendar years, we felt it was important to announce this first portion of the schedule.” The rest of the 2014 schedule will be released at a later date.
The 2013-2014 season will get underway with the Frys.com Open October 10-13 in San Martin, CA, the week following The Presidents Cup 2013. The PGA TOUR then moves to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas October 17-20 before going overseas for two straight weeks.