The PGA Tour released a portion of its 2013-14 schedule on Monday with one glaring omission. The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic is not part of the new lineup.
According to tournament spokesman Tony Morreale, “it was a mutual decision between us and the Tour,” and there is no chance to find a replacement sponsor for the Children’s Miracle Network, which ended its sponsorship of the Walt Disney World stop after last month’s event.
The Disney event has been a staple on Tour since 1971, when Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural Walt Disney World Open Invitational, and in recent years had served as the final event on the circuit’s schedule.
Speculation had been building, however, that with the Tour’s transition to a split-calendar schedule beginning next season and the loss of its title sponsor, November’s event, which was won by Charlie Beljan, would be the last.
“Disappointed to see it leave,” Ryan Palmer, the 2004 Disney champion, said last month. “I honestly think it would have gotten a better field as part of the FedEx Cup. It will be sad to see an event like this go away.”
The Frys.com Open will kick of the 2013-14 schedule Oct. 20-13 followed by the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (Oct. 17-20) in Las Vegas. Following two events in Asia – CIMB Classic (Oct. 24-27) and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions (Oct. 31-3) – the circuit returns to North America for The McGladrey Classic in Georgia and the OHL Classic at Mayakoba (Mexico) in November.
Following a 1 ½-month break, the Tour continues its season at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in January.