Why Is The TOUR Moving WGC Doral Event To Mexico

The PGA TOUR has announced that it will be moving the 2017 WGC tournament away from Doral which is sad.  Doral has hosted a PGA TOUR event since 1962.  The really interesting part is that not only are they leaving Doral, but they are leaving the United States.  They are moving it to Mexico City for 2017.

Now the reason that they are moving the event, according to Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner, has nothing to do with Donald Trump and any of his remarks, but simply that their sponsorship deal with Cadillac is ending and they can’t find a sponsor to keep it at Doral.

That I can understand – no sponsor – no tournament.  What I am interested in finding out is why Mexico City?  Is a drug cartel going to sponsor it?  I am sure they can afford it.

Butch Buchholz, the event’s chairman said he was informed of the move by the PGA TOUR on Tuesday night and had this to say:

“I believe they are sincere when they said they didn’t want to leave an event with a 54-year history, but they’ve got an obligation to their board and they couldn’t find a sponsor, so they had to move. They don’t have a choice. If you don’t have a sponsor what can you do?”

Doral’s owner, Donald Trump, had this to say:

“I just heard that the PGA TOUR is taking their tournament out of Miami and moving it to Mexico,” Trump said. “It’s at Doral … they used one of my places. They’re moving their tournament; it’s the Cadillac World Golf Championship. And Cadillac’s been a great sponsor, but they’re moving it to Mexico. They’re moving it to Mexico City which, by the way, I hope they have kidnapping insurance.”

 “It is sad days for Miami, the United States and the game of golf, to have the PGA TOUR consider moving the World Golf Championships, which has been hosted in Miami for the last 55 years, to Mexico.”

The PGA TOUR announced a 10-year contract extension with Trump National Doral through the 2023 event in 2013. That was contingent upon, however, a title sponsorship.

There was an interesting comment made to me, by someone that is in a position to know the facts, that special deal is being offered to the tour players.  As soon as they finish the Honda tournament the week prior they will all be flown on private jets for three hours down to Mexico City, and will be flown to Tampa at the end of the tournament.

Flying first class private accommodations on someone else’s pocketbook is definitely a deal sweetener.  At this point I have no idea who is picking up the tab.

I will keep you updated as I get more information.  Stay tuned.

I would like to clarify one point.  The PGA TOUR and the PGA of America are two totally separate organizations and the PGA has nothing to do with this move.

Cover Image via Flickr