PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – PGA TOUR and CJ GROUP officials today announced that THE CJ CUP will be contested at CONGAREE GOLF CLUB in Ridgeland, South Carolina, the week of October 17-23, 2022. The tournament name will be changed to THE CJ CUP in South Carolina.
The tournament was launched as Korea’s first official PGA TOUR tournament in 2017 and was played for three consecutive years at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island before being relocated to the U.S. due to the challenges of COVID-19.
This will be the first time THE CJ CUP will be played in the Southeast region of the U.S. following the staging of the tournament in Las Vegas, first at Shadow Creek Golf Course in 2020 and The Summit Club last year.
“Thanks to the tremendous commitment from CJ Group, the PGA TOUR is thrilled to bring THE CJ CUP in South Carolina to the United States this October,” said Christian Hardy, the PGA TOUR’s Senior Vice President, International. “This event has provided a great platform on which to showcase golf’s top Korean players, and we are confident that Congaree will once again serve as a fantastic venue for hosting one of the TOUR’s premier tournaments.”
THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will feature a 78-man field comprised of five players designated by the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), as well as the top-3 available players of Korean nationality from the Official World Golf Ranking as part of CJ Group’s vision to support the development of professional golf in Korea. The remainder of the field will be made up of the leading players from the 2021-22 FedExCup points list and sponsor exemptions. There will be no 36-hole cut.
“We are excited to host THE CJ CUP at Congaree this October. Over the last five years, our tournament has established itself on the PGA TOUR through the caliber of champions who have emerged, and we are also proud the tournament has been well received by players, thanks especially to our bibigo chefs who help deliver an amazing dining experience on site,” said Wookho Kyeong, Chief Marketing Officer of CJ Group. “We look forward to engaging with our fans in a new region and celebrating another fantastic week of golf.”
Congaree, a Tom Fazio design, is located about an hour northwest of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The club, which debuted at No. 39 in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses last May, hosted the PGA TOUR’s Palmetto Championship at Congaree in June of 2021, won by South African Garrick Higgo. The course was built to challenge the world’s top golfers and has earned widespread praise among PGA TOUR players.
Congaree was founded with a philanthropic mission to positively impact the lives of young people through the game of golf. The CONGAREE FOUNDATION supports a number of educational and vocational initiatives within its local community and internationally through the Congaree Global Golf Initiative. Instead of members, the club invites “ambassadors” to join who are passionate about supporting Congaree Foundation’s philanthropic programs and becoming personally involved through a shared devotion to the game and giving their time to mentorship opportunities.
“It’s a privilege to welcome THE CJ CUP to South Carolina and Congaree. From day one, our steadfast belief has been that Congaree can be a conduit to make a difference in the lives of young people locally and around the world,” said Dan Friedkin, founder of Congaree. “In addition to providing a significant economic impact for the state, THE CJ CUP will enable Congaree Foundation to give back to youth in the Lowcountry and beyond in even more meaningful ways.”
THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will be held in partnership with The State of South Carolina, which also supported the Palmetto Championship.
With more than 300 courses and an annual economic impact in the billions, golf is one of the most important markets in South Carolina’s tourism industry. THE CJ CUP in South Carolina joins the list of other significant tournaments in South Carolina in 2022, including the annual RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, and the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation in Greenville.
“In 2021, South Carolina caught the eye of the golf world by hosting three highly successful tournaments in the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course, the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, and the Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Club,” said South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster. “This success, coupled with the rapidly growing popularity of golf in our state, has made South Carolina a top destination for major golf events. We look forward to continuing to grow this reputation with THE CJ CUP in South Carolina and beyond.”
Tickets, volunteer opportunities and additional tournament news regarding THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will be released soon. For more information on the event, please visit PGATOUR.COM.
RIDGELAND, South Carolina – The Palmetto Championship at Congaree announced the field for the 2021 event, which will be contested at Congaree Golf Club the week of June 7-13 in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
The 156-player field is headlined by World No. 1 and South Carolina native Dustin Johnson, who will be in search of his first PGA TOUR title in South Carolina. Johnson will be joined by eight-time PGA TOUR winner Brooks Koepka, who is making his first start since a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship.
Notable international stars set to compete at Congaree include World No. 10 Tyrrell Hatton; Korea’s Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim; and England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood and Ian Poulter.
Accepting a Commissioner’s Exemption to compete, 22-year-old Garrick Higgo will make his second career PGA TOUR start (2021 PGA Championship/T64). Higgo has won twice in his last three starts on the European Tour and has ascended to No. 52 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Winner of the Ben Hogan Award for most outstanding male amateur and collegiate golfer of the year and Fred Haskins Award for most outstanding male collegiate golfer, Florida State University product John Pak will make his professional debut alongside University of Georgia standout and 2020-21 SEC Player of the Year Davis Thompson. Pak made the cut as an amateur at the 2020 U.S. Open in his only other PGA TOUR start while Thompson competed in four previous TOUR events as an amateur, highlighted by a T23 at the 2019 RSM Classic.
The Palmetto Championship at Congaree field list as of Friday, June 4 can be viewed at PALMETTOCHAMPIONSHIP.COM.
Tickets are on sale for the Palmetto Championship at Congaree. A Daily Grounds ticket gives access to the grounds at $70 per day, Thursday through Sunday, or $235 for a weekly pass. Daily Youth (under 18), Military Members and First Responders tickets are also on sale for $40 per day, Thursday through Sunday. In addition, a weekly Youth pass is available for $140. Parking is available for $20 per day, or $50 for the week.
To purchase tickets, parking passes, or to register for volunteer opportunities at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree, please visit PALMETTOCHAMPIONSHIP.COM.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Congaree Foundation, whose mission is to positively impact the lives of young people locally and around the globe by providing educational and vocational opportunities through the game of golf. The Congaree Global Golf Initiative is the Foundation’s signature program, which provides underserved and well-deserving high school students who aspire to play collegiate golf access to the highest level of athletic coaching and academic tools to enhance their opportunities for success.
The Foundation also has local partnerships with the Lowcountry Food Bank and the Boys & Girls Club of Jasper County and works to expand access to the game through youth golf instruction and the Sergeant Jasper Golf Club.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 2, 2021) – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Congaree Golf Club are pleased to announce that the Palmetto Championship at Congaree, a PGA TOUR event, will take place June 7-13, 2021 in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
The official FedExCup event will field 156 golfers and fills a week left open on the TOUR’s calendar following the decision to cancel the 2021 RBC Canadian Open due to logistical challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The RBC Canadian Open will return to St. George’s Golf and Country Club in 2022.
“South Carolina is open for business and we are proud to have the opportunity to take advantage of this unique opportunity,” Gov. McMaster said. “This nationally televised, elite tournament will give people from around the world a chance to see all that South Carolina has to offer and will jumpstart our tremendous tourism industry. We are grateful to the PGA TOUR and Congaree’s owner, Dan Friedkin, for this opportunity to highlight our great state.”
With more than 300 courses and an annual economic impact in the billons, golf is one of the most important markets in South Carolina’s robust tourism industry. The Palmetto Championship at Congaree joins the list of other significant tournaments in South Carolina in 2021, including the annual RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, the PGA Championship in Kiawah and the annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation in Greenville.
“According to figures from 2019, golf generates an economic impact of $2.6 billion in South Carolina,” said South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director Duane Parrish. “Our world-renowned and locally-loved golf courses will be front-and-center and front-of-mind for golf lovers all over the world for three consecutive months. As golf increases in popularity and the weather gets warmer, this is a perfect and timely opportunity to showcase golf in South Carolina.”
Using existing sports marketing funds, the State’s $6 million investment – coupled with the support of Congaree owner Dan Friedkin – is expected to yield a $53.9 million media value and have an estimated $50 million impact on the South Carolina economy. The tournament will spotlight South Carolina’s Lowcountry and the Congaree Foundation’s commitment to giving back through the game of golf.
Congaree Golf Club was designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio to fit seamlessly into its natural surroundings and complement the Lowcountry landscape. However, it is the club’s central focus on philanthropy, driven by the vision of founders Friedkin and the late Bob McNair, that is revolutionary. The club’s Ambassador Members and the Congaree Foundation provide resources for educational and vocational opportunities to underserved and ambitious youths locally and around the world through a shared passion for golf.
“From day one, our mission has been to bring together individuals that share a philanthropic vision, a love for golf and the belief that Congaree can be a conduit to make a difference in the lives of young people around the world,” Friedkin said. “This tournament will further accelerate our ability to deliver on that mission and also enable the Congaree Foundation to give back to youth in the Lowcountry and beyond in even more meaningful ways.”
The annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation will be hosted in Greenville the same week as the Palmetto Championship at Congaree in Ridgeland, simultaneously highlighting the state’s marshy Lowcountry and mountainous Upstate regions.
“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation applauds the Congaree Golf Club, the PGA TOUR, and the State of South Carolina for providing this special occasion to showcase our state with two professional golf tournaments at the same time,” said Max Metcalf, board member for the BMW Charity Pro-Am. “Our organizations share in the important mission of giving back to the community. This June, we have the unique opportunity to help facilitate a significant economic impact for our state. We look forward to hosting PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour professionals and visitors, while they enjoy the chance to embrace the distinct attributes of the Lowcountry and the Upstate of South Carolina!”
The 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree will be broadcast on CBS, Golf Channel and PGA TOUR LIVE, and internationally on GOLFTV powered by the PGA TOUR.
Please visit HTTPS://WWW.PGATOUR.COM/TOURNAMENTS/PALMETTO-CHAMPIONSHIP-AT-CONGAREE.HTML for details about tickets, sponsorships, volunteering and more.
