Jack Nicklaus does not think PGA Tour will sacrifice Cognizant Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Jack Nicklaus does not believe the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches will be sacrificed by the PGA Tour .
Nicklaus, whose foundation is the primary charitable benefactor of the event, says he has no insight on the expected changes in the PGA Tour schedule, but he does not believe the Tour would want to eliminate a tournament that remains a big part of the community.
"The community doesn't want it to go away. It's a community event," Nicklaus said as the final three groups were finishing their rounds on Feb. 28. "Whether they change the date of it or leave it the way it is, it's struggled to come out of the pack, you might say, because of its date. But it's been a good tournament. It's been supported pretty well for every year.
"I don't think the tournament's going to go anywhere. I have no idea what the tour's plans are, but I don't think it's going to go anywhere."
More Cognizant Classic: What's next for the PGA Tour event?
The event has partnered with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation since 2004 and that relationship strengthened when it arrived at PGA National in 2007.
In recent years, Cognizant has made a $2 million gift to the foundation established by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus.
With the tournament stuck in a very unfavorable spot in the schedule for several years, the field has suffered, which in turn has led to decrease in attendance.
The PGA Tour is expected to make changes to its schedule and it is expected the Cognizant Classic will be in impacted in some way whether it is moved to a different spot or, in the worst case, eliminated.
Nicklaus speculated that it could fit in anywhere from the start of the season to possibly May.
"There's a variety of things that could happen," he said. "I don't think Palm Beach wants to give up having a tournament. I think they've done very well. I think the community loves it. It's raised a lot of money for charity."
But, Nicklaus added:
"I have not been privy to it. They haven't asked me a question about it. I haven't asked anybody about it. So I really don't know. It would be total speculation on my part."
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jack Nicklaus weighs in on Cognizant Classic's future with PGA Tour
