A series of events that will allow those who planned to play on the Mackenzie Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamerica and PGA Tour China will begin in August and run through October, it was officially announced on Tuesday.
The new series, which will be named the LOCALiQ Series, begins Aug. 4-7 with an event at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Georgia.
The champion of the final tournament and the top two players on the Series long points list will receive sponsor exemptions into a 2021 PGA Tour tournament. The Tour plans to announce other performance benefits for players in the future, according to a release.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to make this announcement. We have so many gifted, hardworking players who were anxious to play this season on their respective Tours before the effects of COVID-19 caused us to change our plans. To be able to provide this Series and these quality playing opportunities is very gratifying,” said Rob Ohno, PGA TOUR Senior Vice
President, International Tours. “And we’re thrilled to be working with a TOUR partner in LOCALiQ on a series of events that we know is going make a difference for these players.”
The tournaments will consist of 54 holes with 144-player fields and a 36-hole cut to the top 55 and ties. A minimum of $100,000 purses will be awarded with a winner’s share of $16,000. The entry fee per event is $675.
LOCALiQ, the sales and marketing arm of Gannett Co., Inc., works with the communities in their network and helping them build relationships with their local businesses. Gannett is the owner of Golfweek and the USA Today Network.
“We could not think of a better way to leverage our relationship with the PGA Tour than to bring professional golf to local communities,” said Michael Flanagan, President and General Manager of LOCALiQ’s Sports and Entertainment division. “As a comprehensive provider of digital marketing services, LOCALiQ enables local businesses and their communities to thrive.”
The series begins the first week of August, with three events in Georgia—with two in Alpharetta and the third in Callaway Gardens. The fourth is in Auburn, Alabama. The fifth and sixth events are in the Florida cities of Jacksonville and Lady Lake.
The seventh tournament is at The Club at Weston Hills in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, previous host to PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Qualifying Tournaments. The series concludes on October 26-30. The closing tournament will be a limited-field tournament with the top-78 eligible players from the points list invited.
LocaliQ Series Tournament Schedule
August 4-7: The GC of Georgia, Alpharetta, Georgia
August 10-13: Echelon GC, Alpharetta, Georgia
August 25-28:Callaway Resort and Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia
August 31-September 3: Auburn University Club, Auburn, Alabama
September 22-25: Hidden Hills GC, Jacksonville, Florida
September 29-October 2: Harbor Hills CC, Lady Lake, Florida
October 6-9: The Club at Weston Hills, Fort Lauderdale,
Florida
October 26-30: TBD