With the WGC-Bridgestone heading east a little to Memphis, it appeared that Firestone Country Club was going to be the odd man out with all the scheduling changes in 2019. The Tour put that fear to bed though on Thursday with the announcement that the Senior Players Championship will be moving to Firestone in 2019.
The South Course at Firestone Country Club has hosted the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational every year since 2003 and will now host the Senior Players through at least 2022. Bridgestone will remain in a partnership with Firestone, becoming the title sponsor of the event that is one of five Champions Tour majors.
“Bridgestone has been a tremendous partner and valued member of the PGA Tour family since 2005, and we are excited to begin this new journey with them as we bring major championship golf to northeast Ohio,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “With Firestone Country Club’s South Course as the host venue, golf’s 65-year tradition in Akron will continue.”
While Firestone has hosted a WGC event since 2003, the course has actually hosted professional golf events for over 50 years. The course hosted the Rubber City Open in the 1950s and countless World Series of Golf events, which became a WGC event in 1999. The South Course also hosted the PGA Championship in 1960, 1966 and 1975.