PGA Tour, PGA of America reaffirm Georgia events

After MLB pulls All-Star Game from Atlanta in response to new voting laws, golf groups announce intentions to play as scheduled

Released: Statements by the PGA Tour and the PGA of America affirming that their upcoming events will be played as scheduled in Georgia amid controversy about the state’s new voting laws. The comments were made shortly after Major League Baseball announced on Friday that it will be moving its All-Star Game from Atlanta to an undisclosed site this summer, citing the Georgia legislation, Senate Bill 202. With baseball’s move, public scrutiny shifted toward the major golf events to be played in Georgia this year, including calls to boycott this week’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. The Masters is administered by the club and not the PGA Tour, though the event is part of the tour’s schedule. The PGA Tour will play its season-ending Tour Championship on Sept. 2-5 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The PGA Tour also visits Sea Island each fall for the RSM Classic, though dates for that event have not been announced. The PGA Tour’s statement, which cited the organization’s charitable mission and revitalization of the East Lake neighborhood, read in part: “Our intention to stage an event in a particular market should not be construed as indifference to the current national conversation around voting rights. The PGA Tour fully supports efforts to protect the right of all Americans to vote and to eliminate any barriers that may prevent citizens’ voices from being heard and counted.” The PGA of America will play its KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which is part of the LPGA schedule, on June 24-27 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. The PGA statement read: “The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is a partnership between three organizations committed to diversity, equity and inclusion: PGA of America, LPGA and KPMG. Like many entities, we are monitoring developments related to the new state legislation on voting access. We believe elections should be accessible, fair and secure, and support broad voter participation.”

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