Bob Hope out, Humana in

The PGA Tour’s long-running Bob Hope Classic has been given a new format and a new name.
Times, they are a changing; the PGA Tour’s long-running Bob Hope Classic has been given a new format and a new name.
PGA Tour organisers said on Thursday that the tournament would discontinue using the late Bob Hope’s name and instead be called the Humana Challenge and that it would now be played over four rounds instead of five after the Kentucky-based Humana company had agreed to an eight-year deal as the tournament’s title sponsor, along with the William J. Clinton Foundation.
The first Humana Challenge will be played from January 16-22 next year.
The event had been without a title sponsor since Chrysler bailed out after the 2008 event during the worldwide recession when most America auto makers had to be bailed out of mounting debt by the US Government
The previous five-day format was unpopular with the players and had been seen as one of the problems the Hope had been having in attracting strong fields so in order to help overcome this problem, the organisers have changed format from five days to four with only the first three rounds being played on a pro-am basis. .
The pro-am teams will include one pro golfer and one amateur playing in groups of four.
During the three rounds of pro-am competition, the pro will have a different amateur partner each day and Amateurs will compete in daily competitions as well as in an overall three-day competition.
Only the pros will go forward to the fourth round with the usual cut of 70 plus ties. The field size will increase by 16 pros to a total of 144, and 144 amateurs.
The tournament will be played on three courses instead of four, these being La Quinta Country Club and the Nicklaus and Palmer Private courses at PGA West.
The winner will receive the newly created Bob Hope Trophy.
Hope, one of the great movie comedians of the mid 20th Century and a great lover of golf,, got involved as a tournament host in 1965.
Latest
-
PGA Tour
JT Poston completes wire-to-wire victory at John Deere Classic
England’s Callum Tarren bogeyed two of his last four holes en route to a one-under 70 as he was forced to settle for equal-sixth place.
-
European Tour
Adrian Meronk makes history for Poland as David Law celebrates Open berth
Meronk’s flying finish made him his country’s first winner on the DP World Tour.
-
News
Paul Casey becomes latest player to join LIV Golf series
He opted out of the inaugural Saudi International on the European Tour in 2019 citing concerns over the country’s human rights record.
-
European Tour
Adrian Meronk has the edge as he aims to make Tour history for Poland
A third round of 68 at Mount Juliet means a one-shot advantage on a crowded leaderboard.
-
European Tour
Shane Lowry birdies last four holes to make Irish Open cut
Jorge Campillo tops the leaderboard at the midway point.
-
European Tour
Keith Pelley hits back at 16 players threatening DP World Tour with legal action
Pelley says the sanctions against players who competed in the first LIV Golf event are ‘proportionate’ and ‘fair’.
-
PGA Tour
JT Poston takes two-shot lead at John Deere Classic
The 29-year-old also became the first player on record to open consecutive Tour events with 62 or better.
-
European Tour
Ryan Fox surprised to be leading after opening round of Horizon Irish Open
The New Zealander carded a flawless 64 to set the pace at Mount Juliet.
-
News
Defiant Lee Westwood does not believe playing in LIV should harm Ryder Cup hopes
Westwood doesn’t agree with penalties and sanctions.
-
News
Shane Lowry welcomes closer ties between Tours in response to threat from LIV
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced the next phase of their strategic alliance.