The continuing threat of wildfires in Los Angeles forced PGA Tour officials to move one of their signature events to an alternate site. Officials will choose a new venue for the Genesis Invitational, usually played at Riviera Country Club from Feb. 13 to 16.
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The wildfires have been burning in and around Los Angeles for over a week. They have destroyed thousands of structures and killed at least 27 people. Riviera remains intact, but the country club borders Pacific Palisades, the epicenter of one of the worst-hit areas.
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In a statement Thursday, Jan. 16, tournament officials said, “The PGA Tour’s focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of those affected by the unprecedented natural disaster in Greater Los Angeles. We are grateful for the life-saving efforts of first responders and the tireless work being done to put an end to the tragic wildfires.”
Statement regarding the 2025 Genesis Invitational pic.twitter.com/6NTjJfqPFq
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) January 16, 2025
The Riviera has hosted the tournament 60 times since 1929. The golf course is near and dear to Tiger Woods. He talked about hosting the event during a press conference in 2024.
When asked about attending tournaments with his father growing up, Woods said, “It’s been full circle for us. For me to have come here when I was 7 or 8 when Lanny [Watkins] won going away, to come out here and play in my first tour event, to basically get my start on tour here.”
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While playing in his new TGL Golf league in Florida this week, Woods said his organization was “trying to just figure everything out and make sure that everyone is safe.”
Woods added, “But as of right now, we’re not really focused on the tournament. It’s more about what we can do to help everyone who’s struggling, who’s lost homes and had their lives changed. It’s just hard.”
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) January 14, 2025
Possible replacement courses include La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, California, Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California and TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. Each site will host PGA Tour events in the coming weeks. It could keep the infrastructure needed for the Genesis Invitational in place.
THE WILDFIRES IN LOS ANGELES ARE PUSHING ONE OF THE PGA TOURS SIGNATURE EVENTS – HOSTED BY NONE OTHER THAN TIGER WOODS – TO AN ALTERNATE SITE.
GENESIS INVITATIONAL USUALLY PLAYED AT RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB
FROM FEBRUARY 13TH THROUGH THE 16TH WILL STICK WITH THOSE DATES BUT A NEW SITE WILL BE CHOSEN IN THE COMING DAYS.
THE WILDFIRES IN LA HAVE BEEN BURNING FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. THOUSANDS OF STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE KILLED.
RIVIERA WAS NOT DAMAGED BUT THE COUNTRY CLUB BORDERS PACIFIC PALISADES, THE CENTER OF ONE OF THE WORST HIT AREAS.
IN A STATEMENT THURSDAY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS SAID, “The PGA Tour’s focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of those affected by the unprecedented natural disaster in Greater Los Angeles, We are grateful for the life-saving efforts of first responders and the tireless work being done to put an end to the tragic wildfires.”
THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN PLAYED AT RIVIERA 60 TIMES SINCE 1929 AND THE GOLF COURSE IS NEAR AND DEAR TO TIGER WHO TALKED ABOUT HOSTING THE EVENT DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST YEAR.
“it’s been full circle for us, for me to have come here when I was 7 or 8 when Lanny won going away. To come out here and play in my first tour event.”
POSSIBLE SITES FOR THE REPLACEMENT VENUE INCLUDE LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB NEAR PALM SPRINGS AND TORREY PINES IN LA JOLLA, DOWN NEAR SAN DIEGO, BOTH SITES ARE HOSTING PGA TOUR EVENTS IN THE COMING WEEKS AND COULD KEEP THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CHRIS FRANCIS
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