Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The PGA Tour’s Los Angeles event, the Genesis Invitational, has been moved to Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, organisers said on Friday. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, was due to be held from February 13-16 at Riviera Country Club, close to the fire disaster at Pacific Palisades. The tour and event decided last week to switch to another venue due to the impact of the fires on the local community.
Riviera did not suffer any damage in the fires, but did fall just within the boundaries of the mandatory evacuation zone which forced residents to flee the disaster. The event, to be played on the South Course in Torrey Pines, will engage in a number of relief efforts in response to the impact of the fires.
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“We are grateful to the City of San Diego and Torrey Pines for hosting the 2025 Genesis Invitational, and to everyone who has reached out in support of the tournament,” Woods said. “While Riviera remains the home of The Genesis Invitational, we look forward to playing on another championship-caliber golf course this year and using the tournament to support those affected by the fires in the Los Angeles area,” he added.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said the event would focus on helping the fire-impacted communities. “As we’ve seen the last two weeks, sports can be a great diversion but an even greater unifier in bringing people together for a common cause,” Monahan said. “Highlighting the resilience of Los Angeles and the need for continued support for the ongoing recovery efforts is what our collective teams are working towards with the playing of The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines,” he added.
The Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open is currently being played at Torrey Pines. First round play at the picturesque venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla was interrupted for just under two hours on Thursday after powerful gusts made the course unplayable.
© 2024 AFP
