Golf’s PGA Tour has reached an agreement to stage a new tournament in the US state of Alabama next year.
The inaugural Barbasol Championship will be held at the Grand National – Lake Course, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, on July 13-19, 2015. The course is located near the city of Opelika, with the new event marking the first PGA Tour tournament in Alabama since the 1990 PGA Championship was held at Shoal Creek in Birmingham.
The PGA Tour has signed a four-year contract to establish the event, which is to be title-sponsored by men’s shaving cream brand Barbasol.
Although it is slated for the same weekend as the third major of the year, the Open Championship in the UK, the Barbasol Championship will become part of the FedEx Cup competition and award 300 points to the winner to go towards their score in the PGA Tour’s season-long ranking system.
Tour officials have said that since around 70 PGA Tour players usually play in the Open, this will leave 130 available to compete in the Barbasol Championship.
“We are excited to announce the creation of the Barbasol Championship and to present an outstanding new playing opportunity for our members beginning next season,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.
“Barbasol has been a leader in the industry for more than 90 years and we are delighted to forge this new relationship with such an iconic brand. We are equally pleased to partner with the Robert Trent Jones Trail Foundation and to bring this tournament to the renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and Grand National’s exceptional Lake Course.”
