The Loop
Report: PGA of America cancels Grand Slam of Golf
According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, the PGA of America has permanently cancelled its Grand Slam of Golf event.
"The schedule is totally different [than] when we started in 1979,” said PGA of America COO Jeff Price.
The off-season tournament pitted the year's four major winners in a two-day, 36-hole stroke competition. This concept was an spinoff of the World Series of Golf event, which was played at Firestone Country Club from 1962 to 1975. In 1976, the event transitioned from a limited-field tournament to an official PGA Tour stop with a larger field. In 1999, the tournament morphed into what is now known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Getty Images
Since the PGA Tour went to a wrap-around format for the 2014 season, the PGA of America has faced problems fitting the Grand Slam of Golf on the calendar. The European Tour's Race to Dubai playoff hasn't helped matters.
Last year's Grand Slam of Golf was suspended in part due to Donald Trump's controversial comments regarding Mexican immigrants. The event was scheduled to be played at the Republican presidential candidate's Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, but was pulled from the venue. Initially, the PGA of America hoped to play the event at another course, but eventually called it off entirely.
“It had a great run,” Price said. “The timing is right to discontinue the event.”
Martin Kaymer goes down as the Grand Slam of Golf's final winner. Tiger Woods owns the most event victories with seven.