The ole Bob Hope PGA Tour stop loses CareerBuilder as sponsor
PGA Tour

The ole Bob Hope PGA Tour stop loses CareerBuilder as sponsor

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The CareerBuilder Challenge is no more. Long live the newly named Desert Classic.

The PGA Tour's long-time event in the California desert has lost job-placement company CareerBuilder as title sponsor of what has become the year's first event in the Lower 48. CareerBuilder put their name on the tournament for three years, but they declined to continue forward with their sponsorship in 2019. When CareerBuilder signed on as sponsor in 2015, their agreement was to run six years and through the 2021 edition of the event. No reason was given for the early termination of the contract.

The PGA Tour and tournament organizers are hoping to corral a new title sponsor for 2020. There's not enough time to find one for 2019. This is the third time in a decade the tournament has needed to replace a title sponsor.

The Bob Hope Classic has seen a variety of formats in recent years, as well a bevy of title sponsors. Since Humana became title sponsor of the event in 2012, though, the tournament features a three-course rotation in La Quinta, Calif., with a 156-player field spreading out evenly with an amateur player in each of the first three days of tournament. After three rounds, a cut is made for the final 18 holes at official tournament host PGA West's Stadium Course, and the 72-hole total determines the pro winner. A handful or so of amateurs also play in the final round for the amateur title.

Jon Rahm will be defending champion of the event, which he won in a playoff over Andrew Landry in 2018. This year is the 60th edition of the event.

 

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