Course designed by LIV Golf's Greg Norman back to host PGA Tour event
The PGA Tour will play the Mexico Open at Vidanta; a course designed by LIV Golf chief Greg Norman.
The PGA Tour heads to Mexico this week to a course that was designed by LIV Golf League supremo Greg Norman.
That might not sound particularly newsworthy because Norman, 68, has designed loads of courses.
But given what has transpired since LIV launched last June, it's surprising the PGA Tour continues their association with Vidanta.
Spanning six continents and 34 countries, former World No. 1 Norman has been involved in more than 100 projects since 1987.
That was the year in which he established Greg Norman Golf Course Design.
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In the three decades since, around one third of Norman's courses are located in America, with a smattering of designs across the globe.
The Mexico Open at Vidanta will be played over 27-30 April. Jon Rahm, who won The Masters earlier this month, is the defending champion.
In recent months the PGA Tour have made decisions that have been directly influenced by LIV Golf and the financial threat the 'rebel' league carries.
The North American circuit announced a series of changes that included increased prize purses. In 2024, some tournaments will have no 36-hole cut.
It was a move in which PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan vigorously defended, but why wouldn't he?
In March, the tour announced the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship will be moved from the Norman-designed Mayakoba to El Cardonal Course located at Diamante Cabo San Lucas.
It will come as no surprise to you that that course was designed by none other than the PGA's poster boy and needle mover: Tiger Woods.
The tournament debuted in February 2007 but the venue was snapped up by their bitter rival.
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Mayakoba was the host of LIV Golf first event of their 2023 schedule, which was won by Charles Howell III.
Borja Escalada, the CEO of RLH Properties which owns Mayakoba, previously stated that he would like to host the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed league.
He suggested that was a way to build bridges between two warring tours.
But instead a PGA Tour tournament director slammed those in charge at Mayakoba, insisting in comments to Golfweek that they won't be back.
This anonymous tournament director told the publication:
Diamante’s El Cardonal is the first course designed by 82-time PGA Tour winner Woods and TGR Design. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
The revamped World Wide Technologies Championship will be played as part of the fall schedule, with 132 players in the field.
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