La Quinta, United States: Desert Classic Charities, the charitable entity that has operated the Coachella Valley’s PGA Tour event since its inception in 1960, has reached an agreement with the PGA Tour and Lagardère Sports for the global sports agency to manage all aspects of the CareerBuilder Challenge PGA Tour event.
The Board of Directors at Desert Classic Charities will continue to oversee the charitable donations made to local non-profits from the proceeds of the tournament.
The event will be managed by the Lagardère Sports’ Golf Events division, which has a successful track record of growing and adding value to professional golf tournaments.
Along with this new role with the CareerBuilder Challenge, Lagardère Sports also manages the Safeway Open PGA Tour event in Napa, California, and a series of Web.com Tour and charity golf tournaments.
The agency has been successful at increasing charitable contributions for its tournaments, including generating US$125 million for charity through its golf events over the past 28 years.
Phil Mickelson
A Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, Lagardère Sports previously served as management consultant firm for the 2017 CareerBuilder Challenge and brought 42-time PGA Tour champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member
Phil Mickelson on board as Tournament Ambassador.
Mickelson will continue his role as Ambassador, and expand his involvement in the 2018 event.
Jeff Sanders, Executive Vice President of Golf Events at Lagardère Sports, will be the new Executive Director of the CareerBuilder Challenge. Sanders also serves as the Executive Director of the Safeway Open.
“We are honoured to be named the management company for the CareerBuilder Challenge and look forward to taking an active role in the future of this iconic event by working together with the team at Desert Classic Charities and the PGA Tour,” Sanders said.
“As a former Bob Hope Desert Classic PGA Tour participant, and resident of La Quinta, this is a dream come true for me. We look forward to implementing our golf entertainment model at PGA West, and enhancing the tournament experience for the fans, players, sponsors, and volunteers.”
The 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge will be played from January 17-21 in La Quinta. A field of 156 amateurs and 156 PGA Tour professionals will tee it up on three courses – the Stadium and Jack Nicklaus Tournament Courses at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club.