PGA Tournament Moved Out of Los Angeles Amid Wildfires

The PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational next month will now be moved amid the ongoing, devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, was set to take place at the Riviera Country Club from February 13 to 16 — where the event has been played for all but two years since 1973. The event is dubbed one of the eight “signature events” on the PGA Tour with a $20 million purse.

However, as Los Angeles is currently experiencing the most destructive fire in the city’s history, the PGA Tour has made the decision to move the event to a different location “out of respect for the unfolding situation.”

“The PGA Tour’s focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of those affected by the unprecedented natural disaster in Greater Los Angeles,” the PGA Tour said in a statement. “We are grateful for the life-saving efforts of first responders and the tireless work being done to put an end to the tragic wildfires.”

No new location has been named at this time, though more information is set to be provided in the coming days.

The PGA Tour encourages fans to support the Los Angeles community and the ongoing relief efforts at PGATour.com/SupportLA.

| READ: List: Events Cancelled, Postponed Due to California Wildfires | 

This is the latest sporting event to be impacted by the fires; earlier this week, the Vikings-Rams wild-card playoff game at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium was moved to Phoenix’s State Farm Arena. The NHL Kings had their games postponed, as well as NBA’s Lakers and Clippers. Dozens of concerts and Broadway shows were also called-off.

The wildfires are still ongoing. The largest blaze at this time is the Palisades Fire, burning between Malibu and Santa Monica. Other active fires include the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Hurst Fire and Lidia Fire in San Fernando Valley, and the Auto Fire in Ventura County.

While firefighters have slowed the progress of the fires, the 14,000-acre Eaton fire is 65% contained as of Friday morning, while the Palisades fire — covering 23,700 acres — is only 31% contained. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Eaton fire has killed 17 people, making it one of the deadliest fires in California’s history. At least 25 people have been killed across the Greater Los Angeles area, while 26 people are currently reported as missing.