WGC Match Play Day One Snow And The Future In Tucson
/If you'd like to see the crime scene photos from Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain where first day play was suspended, ESPN.com has a few here, or there's JD Cuban's telling shot posted on Golf Digest's Tumblr page.
The images of the second and far more powerful snow storm to hit the place since it's been host should also double for the resort's obituary as site to the WGC Accenture Match Play. The current 1-year contract ends this week.
Not that any players will shed a tear since the place nearly finished last in the Golf World player survey, it's in a remote locale and has never exuded anything other than "soulless modern resort course" on television. Even back in 2008 when Jack Nicklaus and Tim Finchem were envisioning the remote place, it sounded awful.
But before you nominate a replacement, especially in some far off land, you have to understand the PGA Tour has many very strict parameters to it is played at a quality course. They start with what Accenture wants, then move to what Accenture needs and finally, what Accenture wants must also be taken into consideration.
Anyone know what Accenture wants? I still vote for PGA West Stadium. Great match play design, better weather, better crowds, it's not Dove Mountain and it's not Florida.
**Rex Hoggard vents about the lost cause that has been Dove Mountain, capped off by Wednesday's snow storm. He insists the event is signed there until 2014, but last May's press release definitely only mentioned 2013.
If all this sounds like sour grapes frozen solid by Wednesday’s Nor’wester, consider one Tour member’s take this week when informed the press corps had a distaste for Dove Mountain. “So do the players,” he said.
