An announcement on whether the PGA Tour will keep its long-running stop in Houston or move it to TPC Twin Cities in Blaine starting June 6-9, 2019, isn't expected until Monday in Houston.
And even if Houston does secure new sponsorship and a new venue by the Friday deadline, TPC Twin Cities could still be in the running for another week later in the 2019 PGA Tour schedule.
If Houston doesn't secure new sponsorship to replace Shell Oil Company by the end of the business day Friday, 3M is poised to step in as a long-term title sponsor for what would be the first regular Twin Cities tour stop in nearly 50 years. The St. Paul Open (1930-65) and Minnesota Golf Classic (1966-69) were held at Keller Golf Course (1930-66, '68), Hazeltine National in 1967 and for the final time at Braemar Golf Course in Edina in 1969.
If Minnesota gets a PGA Tour stop, the Champions Tour event that's been played at Bunker Hills and TPC Twin Cities since 1993 would be discontinued.
Houston has hosted a PGA Tour event all but one year since 1946. But Shell dropped its sponsorship in 2017 after 26 seasons.
The June 6-9, 2019, tour stop comes the week before the U.S. Open. Typically, most of the tour's star players don't play the week before a major. But the tour's desire to end the FedEx Cup playoffs before the start of college football season starting next season could force more stars to play those weeks to accrue points.
But, first things first. Monday's expected announcement in Houston could shed more light on what's in store for 2019 for the PGA Tour and the Twin Cities.
MARK CRAIG
