PGA Tour
Announces New 2003
Dates for International
PGA TourAnnounces New 2003
Dates for International
CASTLE ROCK, CO - The PGA Tour today announced new dates for The
International Presented by Qwest beginning in 2003, placing it
in sequence just ahead of the PGA Championship and WGC-NEC Invitational.
Tournament officials hailed it as a significant move that would immediately enhance future fields.
"This is exactly what we were hoping for and what we've been aiming to accomplish in our recent discussions with the Tour," said Executive Director Larry Thiel. "And I'm extremely happy it worked out in our favor. Obviously the PGA Tour realizes that maintaining a proper sequence is critical to our continued success.
"Besides, this date is more of a natural home in the rotation for us, for the players and for our fans. We have always considered ourselves an international venue and this now makes it more practical for foreign players to travel to America for our event."
Beginning in '03, The International will be staged Aug. 4-10. In '04 it's set for Aug. 2-8, followed by Aug. 1-7 in 05 and Aug. 7-13 in '06.
In all cases it precedes the PGA.
And how much longer after that?
"Hopefully, forevermore," said Thiel.
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Beginning last year, the Colorado tour stop was moved up in the calendar, two weeks after the British Open and two weeks before the PGA.
"And we felt the difference," said Thiel.
This year's dates are July 30-Aug. 5, followed by the Buick Open, then the PGA and NEC-WGC.
"There are so more many tournaments around the globe today and premium dates have become a real commodity," said Thiel.
"The INTERNATIONAL was conceived as a global event, long before the game of golf became so popular in so many countries. So we are grateful to our partners in the PGA Tour office for recognizing how important the calendar is toward the common goal of staging one of the world's premier golf events."
