TAMPA - Champions Tour fans who have come to expect the senior golf season to get warmed up with a consecutive four-week February swing through Florida, including a stop at TPC of Tampa Bay, will need a slight adjustment.
Florida remains an early-season haven, only with a little different route.
After starting the season this week with consecutive events in Hawaii, the Champions Tour will move to Florida for tournaments in Boca Raton (Feb. 8-10) and Naples (Feb. 15-17). A stop in Palm Coast does not come until late March, and Tampa's Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am has moved from its previous mid-February date to April 18-20.
"I like the schedule this way," Champions Tour president Rick George said. "Would I like one more event as part of that swing? Probably. But where we moved the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am is perfect.
"It gives us more flexibility, more daylight time. The course conditions will be firmer and faster at that time of year. We think there are a lot of positives. I like it; I think it's good for us."
Plagued by poor weather in past years, the Outback should find an improved climate conditions and even greater appeal to celebrity competitors. However, there is some question as to the buzz it will create coming later in the season and the week immediately following the Masters.
George is not concerned.
"I think the timing of it is good," he said. "A lot of people watch the Masters and get excited about golf again. I don't think there is any way it can hurt us. It can only be enhanced."
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