Ninety-two percent of the club’s members voted to allow the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play competition to be held on its Pete Dye-designed course from 2016 through 2019. Masters champion and former University of Texas standout Jordan Spieth issued a statement expressing pride and excitement that the event was coming to the city he considers his “second home.”
The PGA TOUR has announced that Austin (Texas) Country Club will host the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play starting in 2016, station KXAN of Austin reported. The club said 92 percent of members voted to allow the event to be held at the course, which will be held there through 2019. NBC and the Golf Channel will televise the event, KXAN reported.
Founded in 1899, Austin CC is one of the oldest existing clubs in Texas, KXAN reported. The course’s current location along Lake Austin was designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1984. The back nine borders Lake Austin near the Pennybacker Bridge, while the rest of the course sits higher and resembles terrain found in the Hill Country.
Austin CC last hosted a regular Tour event from 2003-2009, on the Champions Tour, KXAN reported. The club was also the original site of the Legends of Golf from 1978-1994.
Austin CC has also hosted several University of Texas and junior golf tournaments through the years, KXAN reported. The course is currently going through a planned restoration project that will last through the fall. The repairs were in the works before the decision was made to host the event, KXAN reported.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for Austin Country Club and the city of Austin to host World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play,” said James Cahill, Austin CC’s current President. “The economic and charitable impact will benefit the community, as well as give great exposure to Austin as one of the best places to host worldwide events.”
After the announcement was made, recent Masters champion and former University of Texas standout Jordan Spieth issued this statement:
“I couldn’t be more excited and proud that my second home, Austin, Texas, is going to host the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play at the great Austin Country Club. I know that my peers—the Americans and the international players — are going to love the Austin feel, the crowds and Austin Country Club itself.”
In making the announcement, PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem said, “We look forward to bringing the best 64 players in the world to Austin and a club that has such rich tradition at a course that will be a challenging, but fair test for the field. Between the membership at Austin Country Club, the partnership we have with Dell and the excitement throughout the Austin community, we believe that this event will become one of the most popular stops on our schedule.”
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