A handful of the nation’s finest golfers had gathered almost 3,000 miles from their hometown of Los Angeles for a wierd indoor competitors the place they struck balls into an infinite display, however their heads and hearts had been with these affected by the harmful wildfires raging by Southern California.
And though they didn’t know a lot about plans for the Genesis Invitational, a signature PGA Tour occasion with a $20-million purse scheduled to happen Feb. 13-16 at Riviera Nation Membership in Pacific Palisades, that they had lots to say in regards to the hearth victims and methods they may help.
“We’re trying to just figure everything out and make sure that everyone is safe and we have meetings scheduled going forward,” stated Tiger Woods, who talked about that he is aware of “a couple people that have lost everything” within the Palisades hearth.
“But as of right now, we’re not really focused on the tournament,” Woods added. “It’s more about what we can do to help everyone who’s struggling, who’s lost homes and had their lives changed.”
Woods and others recommended the most effective answer is likely to be to carry the Genesis Invitational at a special location fairly than cancel or postpone it. However they made it clear no choice has been made. Riviera was spared injury however is smack in the course of a burned-out Pacific Palisades neighborhood that’s at present inaccessible and beneath evacuation orders.
Woods sponsors the Genesis Invitational, and the legendary golfer who grew up in Orange County is also a founding father of the TGL, quick for the TMRW Golf League, a simulator expertise that staged its second match this week on the SoFi Heart — to not be confused with SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. This venue is on the campus of Palm Seaside State Faculty in Palm Seaside Gardens, Fla.
Max Homa, left, and Tiger Woods of the Jupiter Hyperlinks Golf Membership react Tuesday as they fall behind the Los Angeles Golf Membership. The 2 golfers say they’ve been following the wildfires in Los Angeles County.
(Marta Lavandier / Related Press)
So it was from this perch whereas taking part in not precisely golf that Woods and fellow PGA Tour veterans with SoCal roots — Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala — talked in regards to the ongoing devastation from fires and the way forward for Riviera.
Theegala was raised in Chino Hills and attended Pepperdine, driving every day down the Pacific Coast Freeway to the Malibu campus. The house of the sister of his caddie, Carl Smith, was destroyed by hearth.
“When you see it right in front of your eyes, it’s as real as it gets and it’s scarier than any media portrayals, scarier than anything that’s being described,” Theegala stated.
The relentless blazes have been on Morikawa’s thoughts for days.
“I get to that point sometimes when you think it’s over but it’s not,” stated Morikawa, who grew up in La Cañada Flintridge. “Winds are picking up, fires are still going, people are still out there fighting fires, protecting their houses, helping their neighbors, helping communities.”
Not many insiders are even speculating about what the PGA Tour will do with the Genesis Invitational, though host Rex Hoggard of the Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio’s “Golf Channel podcast with Rex and Lav” did say he spoke to a Riviera member and got here away with this impression:
“I spoke with a member today at Riviera and he said the club is fine. The golf course didn’t receive any damage. The clubhouse hasn’t received any damage. But everything around it is devastated. … This member told me they’re still in evacuation mode. People can’t really get anywhere near the golf course. You can’t get into the community, even if the golf course is fine.”
Co-host Ryan Lavner added, “I think it would be such a drain on the resources of that community. I don’t know how you have it there, what is it three weeks away now? I just don’t see it happening.”
The podcast talked about that the Genesis Invitational may probably transfer to Sherwood Nation Membership in Thousand Oaks, the La Quinta Nation Membership that’s at present internet hosting the American Specific match, or the Torrey Pines Golf Course, the place the Farmers Open will happen Jan. 22-25. The TPC Scottsdale, Ariz., course that may host the Waste Administration Open Feb. 6-9 is another choice.
Looking forward to the intensive and staggeringly costly restoration from the fires has raised considerations about L.A. internet hosting three main sporting occasions over the following three years. World Cup matches are scheduled for SoFi Stadium in the summertime of 2026. Then comes the 2027 Tremendous Bowl, adopted by the 2028 Summer season Olympics.
Not one of the area’s stadiums or arenas are broken up to now, giving occasion organizers and authorities leaders confidence that plans won’t want to alter.
“Los Angeles is defined by its resilience and determination,” Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA28 organizing committee, stated in an announcement. “The strength of our communities and our unity in tough times make this city extraordinary, and when Los Angeles welcomes the world in 2028, our spirit will shine brighter than ever before.”
