Barbasol Championship Moving to Kentucky in 2018

The PGA TOUR is in for a major schedule shakeup over the next few seasons. And now, another long-time PGA TOUR championship has announced a change to their event.

The Barbasol Championship has been a staple on the PGA TOUR for years, being played opposite of the Open Championship since it first became an event in 2015. Since that day the tournament has been held in Alabama, featuring the best players who did not qualify for golf’s third major of the year. Starting next year, however, the tournament will move to a new location.

Traditionally, the Barbasol Championship has been held at the RTJ Trail’s Grand National but the event will now be hosted at the Keene Trace Golf Club just outside Lexington, Kentucky. This is significant because the Barbasol Championship will be the first regular PGA TOUR event to be held in the state of Kentucky since the Kentucky Derby Open, which ended in 1959. That tournament’s last winner? Gary Player.

Aaron Baddeley of Australia poses with the trophy after winning…

Aaron Baddeley of Australia poses with the trophy after winning during the final round of the Barbasol Championship at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National on July 17, 2016 in Auburn,… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Bringing golf back to Kentucky full time is something residents are extremely proud of. “Being selected as the latest PGA TOUR stop is a significant development, and we are excited to showcase the greatness of Kentucky to golf fans from around the world,” said Kentucky governor Matt Bevin. “It will be an incredible honor for Kentucky to host these individuals and corporate guests each summer.”

While the tournament is played opposite of the Open Championship, it doesn’t mean that it is not an important tournament for many players. While winning doesn’t secure players a spot in The Masters or any other major, the winner does get the top prize of a $3.5 million purse. Previous winners of the tournament include Grayson Murray, former U.S. Open contender Aaron Baddeley, and Scott Piercy.

While this tournament may not be seen as a major event for most players, those who compete take much pride in the competition. And for those in Kentucky, it is certainly a big step in bringing golf back to their home state.

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