PGA Tour Won't Be Leaving North Carolina

By ESPN

Don't expect the PGA Tour to join other sports organizations in leaving North Carolina over House Bill 2 anytime soon.

In his final "formal" news conference as commissioner, Tim Finchem explained the PGA Tour's rationale for not following in the footsteps of the NBA, which has relocated next year's All-Star Weekend, and the ACC, which recently relocated this year's football championship game.

"We are squarely with those other organizations that have taken a public stance about that legislation," said Finchem, who is expected to step down from his position at year's end. "We are not, however, inclined to join that group by pulling our tournament. And the reason for that is, quite simply, that tournament raises about $1.5 million right now for the Teach for America program in the inner city of Charlotte. Nobody else is going to put that money up."

The PGA Tour has contested the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte since 2003, but next year's edition of the event will be held in Wilmington, as the PGA Championship is played at host course Quail Hollow Club. It also has the Wyndham Championship on the schedule, played annually in Greensboro.

"I want to reemphasize that we have three pieces to our mission: One is to benefit the professional game and the people that play it; two is building the communities where we play; and three is helping grow the game of golf," Finchem continued. "We'll be vocal about the legislation, but we're not going to interrupt a unique program that's doing the great work it's doing in the city of Charlotte."