Little Rock to start internet hosting PGA Tour Champions ‘Simmons Financial institution Championship’ starting in 2024

From left: Miller Brady, George A. Makris Jr., Gov. Sarah Sanders

The Nice Valley Nation Membership in Little Rock would be the web site of the Simmons Financial institution Championship, a brand new annual PGA Tour Champions match starting in October 2024.

Miller Brady, president of the PGA Tour Champions, made the announcement on Thursday at a press convention on the Arkansas Sports activities Corridor of Fame in North Little Rock. Little Rock skilled golfer Glen Day was in attendance, in addition to Arkansas native Ken Duke, 10 days after winning his first PGA Tour Champions on the Shaw Metropolis Charity Basic in Calgary, Alberta.

The match would be the first PGA Tour Champions occasion held in Arkansas. The Simmons Financial institution Championship is initially a five-year partnership between Simmons Financial institution and the PGA Tour Champions.

“We anticipate it to be for much longer,” Brady mentioned. Simmons Financial institution, which sponsors the Simmons Financial institution Open on the Korn Ferry Tour in Nashville, needed so as to add to their portfolio right here of their hometown of Little Rock, he mentioned.

The brand new match in Little Rock would be the second playoff occasion on the tour schedule, Brady mentioned, which leads and qualifies gamers for the annual Charles Schwab Cup Championship. He referred to as it “a essential occasion on our schedule.”

“What which means is, if [players] certified for this occasion, they’re going to be right here,” Brady mentioned.

The occasion will managed by Professional Hyperlink Sports activities. Ken Kennerly would be the govt director and Mike Harrison would be the match director.

George A. Makris Jr., govt chairman of Simmons Financial institution, mentioned it’s a fantastic day for him as a result of he can lastly discuss concerning the occasion, joking that he’s turned down alternatives to play golf as a result of he didn’t belief himself sufficient to not discuss it.

Makris mentioned the administrators of the Nice Valley Nation Membership had been gracious to supply their venue for this occasion.

“It’s a tricky job to persuade a membership to surrender their facility for every week proper after a model new renovation of the complete clubhouse, however the timing couldn’t be higher,” Makris mentioned.

Makris mentioned two years in the past he bumped into Little Rock resident and professional golfer Glen Day at a Champions Tour occasion in St. Louis, and Day advised him that there needs to be a Champions Tour occasion in Little Rock. “Glen should’ve seen an indication on my head that mentioned ‘sucker’ Makris joked. “I didn’t say no, so instantly after that he sicced Miller on us and he we’re as we speak.”

Makris mentioned Simmons is proud to accomplice with Duke and Day as model ambassadors for Simmons Financial institution, and he thanked Duke for his well timed win lower than two weeks in the past. Duke was sporting a Simmons hat when he secured his victory.

Ken Duke on the finish of the interview is the whole lot @DukePGA @ShawClassic https://t.co/RCSWTFgp7v pic.twitter.com/wiRTXPQqC4

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 21, 2023

Makris mentioned that final 12 months the Simmons Financial institution Open in Nashville was voted match of the 12 months on the Korn Ferry Tour.

“We all know what that match means to center Tennessee and to golf in that state. We predict the Simmons Financial institution Championship could be extra,” Makris mentioned, noting that in Little Rock the golf match gained’t should compete with professional soccer, professional hockey and a booming music trade.

Makris mentioned he believes the financial advantages might be important, however the true function of the match is to supply assist to charitable organizations throughout the state. He mentioned the Arkansas Champions Belief has been established, which is able to distribute web income from the match to charitable organizations every year.

Gov. Sarah Sanders mentioned the occasion will present “folks from world wide … the wonderful issues occurring proper right here in Little Rock, Arkansas, and I’m very enthusiastic about that.”

“We need to develop our out of doors financial system, and occasions like this which have a $15 million affect are precisely the kind of factor that we’re seeking to deliver and spotlight right here,” she mentioned.

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