Published July 17, 2008 on February 14, 2019

New Enhancements to Elevate Genesis Open Status on PGA TOUR in 2020

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PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced that the Genesis Open will receive elevated status on TOUR with the implementation of several significant enhancements, beginning in 2020.

Joined by tournament host Tiger Woods and Euisun Chung, Manfred Fitzgerald and Erwin Raphael of title sponsor Genesis at The Riviera Country Club, Monahan highlighted several important changes for the tournament moving forward:

 

• The Genesis Open will move to invitational qualifying status and reduce its field from 144 players to 120;
• The champion will receive a three-year PGA TOUR exemption, an increase by one year over the standard winner’s exemption on TOUR;
• The purse will grow to US$9.3 million, among the largest on TOUR and an increase of US$1.9 million over the 2019 purse. The winner’s share will be US$1.674 million;
• In collaboration with the tournament’s broadcast partners, recognition of Woods’ vast accomplishments as a player and his philanthropic work through the TGR Foundation will be amplified through the telecasts and promotion of the tournament.

 

These elements will put the Genesis Open in select company on TOUR alongside the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament began awarding a three-year exemption and elevated purse in 2016 and Palmer’s tournament did so the following year.

“In recognition of Tiger’s place alongside Jack and Arnold as a modern-day golf icon who hosts a home-based PGA TOUR tournament, plus the common thread of doing exceptional philanthropic work through his TGR Foundation, elevating the Genesis Open is an important and deserved step toward further cementing Tiger’s legacy in our sport,” Monahan said. “This announcement comes at a particularly relevant time as Tiger continues to chase history and Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA TOUR victories.

“Tiger is fully committed to continuing the growth of all aspects of the tournament, a vision shared by Genesis as the title sponsor,” Monahan added. “We look forward to working with Tiger, TGR Foundation and the team at Genesis to fulfil our common goal.”

TGR Live became the tournament host organisation with TGR Foundation the primary beneficiary in 2017, the same year Genesis took over as title sponsor.

“I’m honoured and grateful that the Genesis Open will receive elevated status and join Arnold’s and Jack’s tournaments,” Woods said. “To be included with two of the greatest golfers of all-time, in my hometown and at an event that benefits my TGR Foundation is something I could never have imagined when I first visited Riviera with my Pop. I would like to personally thank Genesis, the PGA TOUR and all those that made this dream happen.”

“We are proud of the partnership we’ve had with Tiger Woods, the TGR Foundation and the PGA TOUR thus far and we look forward to elevating the tournament to new heights,” said Chung, Executive Vice Chairman, Hyundai Motor Group. “From the beginning, we have always seen a strong alignment between the sport of golf and the Genesis brand. Both are centred on respect, integrity, mutual admiration and innovation. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership with one of the greatest golfers the world has ever seen, not only for the success of the tournament but also for the benefit of the communities and individuals we will have the privilege to serve.”

The newest Genesis product, the G70 luxury sport sedan, has garnered broad acclaim winning several major industry awards including both of the most prestigious – 2019 North American Car of the Year^TM and MotorTrend 2019 Car of the Year. The G70 is joined in the brand’s product portfolio by the Genesis G90 and G80 luxury sedans.

The Genesis Open begins on Thursday with three-time tournament winner Bubba Watson defending his latest title at The Riviera Country Club.