PGA and LPGA Discussing Possibility of Joint Event in 2018

The PGA TOUR is off to a great start to the 2016-2017 the season, already having many exciting events played as the season progresses towards the first major championships of the year.  One of the earliest events on the PGA TOUR calendar, however, could soon be an event shared between their female counterparts.

There has been a lot of discussion in the past year about the possibility of joint PGA-LPGA events occurring for the upcoming season and that now seems to be becoming more of a reality.  After the end of the SBS Tournament of Champions, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan spoke of the possibility of a joint PGA-LPGA Tournament of Champions next year.

Monahan seems to believe that the idea is much more of a reality than it has been in the past, as he said in an interview after the tournament that, “You could see men and women here at the Tournament of Champions…that is something we are thinking about and talking to Mike and the LPGA about.  We would like to see that happen.  We have some interest from sponsors.”

The talk of doing a joint event between the two golf associations was first speculated in March of last year, where both Monahan and LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan discussed a need for a strong alliance between the two associations.  It seems that this alliance is working and the two associations have targeted the early January Tour of Champions as a possible target event.

Henrik Stenson says he’s in favor of joint PGA Tour-LPGA events. What do you think? https://t.co/8VgcnLbIx1 pic.twitter.com/hqzGNdX7we

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 9, 2016

Players seem to be excited about this possibility as well, with many players showing their support.  Henrik Stenson, for example, has voiced support in the past and said that this could be a good opportunity to showcase both Tours.  Specifically, Stenson stated that “If there’s room for that on the schedule I’m sure it would be something both for the television viewers and fans to watch and the LPGA and PGA TOUR are kind of striving for the same goal.”

While the possibility of a joint Tournament of Champions certainly looks like it could become reality soon, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the event and more information should be released in the future.

Cover Image via Flickr