Todd Rhinehart, who has been tournament director of the Tour Championship since it became a permanent fixture at East Lake, is leaving to take another post with the PGA Tour in Asia.
Rhinehart will become the tournament director for the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In 2013 the CIMB and the HSBC Championship in China will become official PGA Tour events and will award points that count toward the FedEx Cup.
“We’re very excited about it and we’re looking forward to experiencing different cultures,” Rhinehart said. “It’s just a great opportunity that came up.” Rhinehart and wife Lisa have started the process of relocating.
Rhinehart has worked for the PGA Tour since 1999 and has been a part of the Atlanta golf scene since 2002, when he ran the 2003 WGC – American Express Championship at Capital City -- Crabapple. He’s been tournament director of the Tour Championship since 2004 and has seen the event grow in stature and in the public’s awareness.
Rhinehart sees a new focus on golf in Asia. The Presidents Cup will be held in Korea in 2115 and China has become a new player. “I think it’s where the game of golf is going,” he said. “Golf is growing more globally and this is an opportunity to help grow the game.”
The new director for the Tour Championship will be Tom Clark, who has been with the PGA Tour for 10 years. He was tournament director for the Presidents Cup in 2007 and 2009 and has since been executive tournament director of the Charles Schwab Cup.
Dufner vs. Bradley
Since they met in a playoff for the PGA Championship last summer at the Atlanta Athletic Club, Keegan Bradley has outdrawn Jason Dufner in terms of attention. But Dufner, who lost that playoff, has actually outplayed Bradley since their showdown.
Since the PGA, Dufner has made the cut in 16 of 19 events, with six top-10s and 11 top-25s, with earnings of $4.3 million. Dufner has two victories this season, winning at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the HP Byron Nelson Classic.
Bradley has made the cut in 14 of 18 events, with three top-10s and 12 top-25s, with earnings of $2.036 million. Bradley hasn’t won since taking the PGA, but came close this spring when he lost in a three-way playoff at the Northern Trust Open.
Dufner is taking a different approach to relaxation prior to a major championship. He’s skipping this week’s Memorial so he can spend a few days helping the players at Auburn University prepare for the NCAA Championships at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
On the Tours
Sonny Skinner, the PGA Professional at Albany's River Pointe Golf Club, tied for 44th at the PGA Senior Championship at Harbor Shores. Skinner overcame a poor opening round of 77 and finished with rounds of 70-69-70 to finish at 2-over 286, one shot behind Bill Britton, the tournament's low club professional.
"This course played totally different every day," Skinner said. "The temperature would fluctuate 20, 25 degrees it seemed like and the winds would fluctuate from 5-25 mph. I loved it. I look forward to coming back. I do not have a problem with this golf course. I like it a lot." Craig Stevens of Brookstone Golf Club missed making the cut by one shot. . . . UGA grad Chris Kirk closed with a 65 at Colonial to finish fifth, his best showing of the season. It was the second top-10 of the season for Kirk, who jumped to 101st on the FedEx Cup points list.
Miscellaneous
David Potts, a PGA teaching professional at the Country Club of the South, beat Kevin Durkin of Horseshoe Bend on the second playoff hole to win the Chicopee Woods Players Championship. Potts made a birdie on the second extra hole after the pair had tied at 7-under. . . . Former Georgia PGA Professional of the Year Scott Mahr has left Barnsley Garden for the general manager's post at Horseshoe Bend in Roswell.
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