Does anyone know the reason why they're moving the Western Open outside of Chicago in 2008? That makes no sense to me whatsoever to move golf out of the Chicago area especially considering the tradition of this tourney. All they just said on TV was that it was moving, but no realy explanation.

It has to do with the Fed Ex Cup, but I don't really know why.

There's a good article at this address. Thanks to golfwrx for the assist since it was on one of their ad banners (the site link and a little scrolling pulled it up). Definitely a shame that this is moving out of Chi-town every other year...

http://www.tourspecblog.com/archives/2006/...an_era.php#more

In addition to this article, Olympia Fields is hoping to get into the rotation for this tournament. The sponsors want to move this event to private courses.

It's truly a shame in my opinion.

Moving a tournament with so much tradition is one thing, but the sponsor not wanting to use the name "Western" in the title puts it over the top for me. Not to mention Chicago losing the tourney every other year and also the timing of the event (September vs. July)............very sad...

It's all about the money I guess.

Money talks boys as you all know, but yes it does suck!

Yep...they could've gone with something like the BMW Western Open or the Western Open presented by BMW...Here's another good article from espn.com--it's almost a month old, but it's still good.



http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/sto...&id=2510010

Yeah, it is a shame that it will no longer be called the Western Open. I am not sure why they could not be the BMW Wesetern Open or something similar as I guess it is no longer an "open" if it is a PGA playoff event. The Western name has quite a history to just ignore.

I am not as much bothered by the tournament moving around a little as every other year is enough for me to go in Chicago and I will like seeing the event at Bellerive, Crooked Stick, and other major championship venues.