Michael Dixon
The state of North Carolina continues to face backlash from its controversial HB2 bill. Following the NBA’s decision to move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, the PGA Tour released a statement, questioning its own future in the state.
It did, however, stop short of threatening to move 2017’s PGA Championship.
Strong statement from the PGA of America about House Bill 2 and the 2017 PGA Championship: pic.twitter.com/L3RqUEym9M
— Phil Orban (@philorbanWSOC9) July 22, 2016
Even without threatening to move one of next year’s majors, that’s certainly a strong stance to take, especially the conclusion to this statement.
“As we look forward to future events, our willingness to consider coming back to the State of North Carolina will be severely impacted unless HB2 is overturned.”
Even if we ignore the Women’s PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, the PGA has an annual stop at Quail Hollow. More often than not, that event is one of the more star-studded non-majors or WGC events on the PGA calendar.
Moving the tournament away from Quail Hollow and North Carolina would be a big deal.
On top of that, North Carolina’s Pinehurst No. 2 is in regular rotation for the U.S. Open. It has hosted the National Championship three times (1999, 2005, 2014) and is scheduled to host it again in 2024.
While the U.S. Open is put on by the USGA and not strictly a PGA Tour event, it’s fair to say that the PGA Tour would carry a great deal of weight with the USGA.
