This Texas city is getting a Korn Ferry Tour event, starting in 2026
This Texas city is getting a Korn Ferry Tour event, starting in 2026
A new chapter in professional golf is set to unfold in the Texas Panhandle. On Wednesday, the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour's developmental circuit, announced a five-year partnership to bring the OccuNet Classic to Amarillo, starting in 2026. The inaugural tournament is slated for June 8-14, 2026, at the Tascosa Golf Club.
The OccuNet Classic will feature 156 players from around the globe in a 72-hole tournament, one of 26 events on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour schedule. This will be the first Korn Ferry Tour event held in Amarillo since 1990. Crucially, the Korn Ferry Tour serves as the primary pathway for aspiring professional golfers to reach the highest level of the sport. At season's end, the top 20 players on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List earn coveted PGA Tour cards for the following season. The No. 1 player also gains exemptions into the next year's Players Championship and U.S. Open.
"We're thrilled to partner with The OccuNet Company to bring the Korn Ferry Tour to the Texas Panhandle,' stated Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. "It's wonderful to see the level of commitment and dedication the Fairly Family has shown to their community over the past several decades. This event will serve as a supercharged engine for this process. With Framework Events serving as the host organization and Tascosa Golf Club as our partner, this tournament will be a great way to showcase our golf facilities. We're excited for the future of the OccuNet Classic and showcasing the incredible talent on the Korn Ferry Tour in Amarillo for years to come."
Baldwin also detailed the decision to choose Amarillo, noting, "This has every ingredient we need for an incredibly successful event — from community partners to corporate support, the Fairly family and OccuNet Company spearheading this initiative, Tascosa Golf Club, John Dunn and the team here, Framework Events." She explained, "Every piece of this formula is just off the charts. The energy and excitement here today alone with the announcement are palpable."
She underscored the long-term vision. "It's a five-year commitment, not just for next year. Each year, we're going to build, and it will begin with a bang. We're excited to see how this community embraces the Korn Ferry Tour and all our players. This platform will continue to get bigger and better annually."
The tour's broader impact also weighed heavily in the decision. "This — the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour — provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation of golfers, but also fosters community-mindedness," Baldwin said. "The PGA Tour's relationships and its impact in the community, alongside the ability to volunteer and contribute to an event that ultimately has an economic impact on this region, offer so many ways to get involved." She concluded, "It's just an awesome opportunity for a community like Amarillo."
Reflecting on the Korn Ferry Tour's history, Baldwin highlighted its consistent role. "Over three decades, it has consistently demonstrated that it is that primary pathway and an identifier in a preparatory environment," she affirmed. "It develops that next generation of talent. Our number one player in the world right now, Scottie Scheffler, played on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019." She emphasized the tour's critical role in helping young players adapt to the professional lifestyle and develop necessary habits. "There are a lot of little intangibles that I don't know most people think about, but that are really critical to forming these future stars." Korn Ferry Tour alumni account for 88 percent of the PGA Tour, with more than 700 PGA Tour titles, 33 major championships, and eight FedExCup championships among them.
Explaining the host city selection process, Baldwin noted, "It takes time, the right energy, the right individuals, and the right commitment. To truly embrace the opportunity and mobilize around it, a community must see the potential and set a plan." She added, "We're going to ask people to come out, we're going to ask them to volunteer, we're going to ask corporate partners to invest, and there's going to be a substantive, rich (experience)." She praised the Fairly family and OccuNet Company for being "the spark and the catalyst for this opportunity."
The OccuNet Company, a healthcare services firm headquartered in Amarillo, will serve as the title sponsor, contributing to the tournament's $1,000,000 purse, with the winner's check set at $180,000. This marks the Korn Ferry Tour's return to Amarillo for the first time since its inaugural season in 1990.
"Bringing the event to Amarillo reflects our ongoing commitment to our hometown and the Texas Panhandle," said Alex Fairly, Chairman of The OccuNet Company. "Our goal is to bring a world-class golf event to Amarillo for all residents and businesses to enjoy, while showcasing the city nationally and internationally."
The Tascosa Golf Club, located in northwest Amarillo, boasts 36 holes across two courses: La Paloma and Tascosa Course. The La Paloma Course, a links-style track stretching over 7,000 yards with dramatic elevation changes, natural rock outcroppings, native rough, and several lakes, will host the tournament. It is designed to be a resort-style course, accommodating golfers of all skill levels. The Tascosa Course, a traditional tree-lined, parkland-style course, offers a complementary experience with undulating greens that challenge experienced golfers while remaining enjoyable for less experienced players.
"On behalf of our incredible membership at Tascosa Golf Club, we're honored to be the host venue for the OccuNet Classic," stated John Dunn, Managing Partner of Tascosa Golf Club. "In preparation for the Korn Ferry Tour coming in June of 2026, our team is already making changes with consultation from our golf course architect, Jeff Blume, and the PGA TOUR to provide a great challenge for these golfers."
Framework Events, a premier event management firm, will operate the OccuNet Classic. CEO Danny Rodgers emphasized the event's community focus. "This is more than a golf tournament—it's a celebration of community, and we're committed to creating an event that reflects the pride, hospitality, and spirit that make Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle so unique," Rodgers stated.
Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley highlighted the economic and community benefits of hosting the event. "This is like WRCA in the way it takes a week and a half to get everybody in and out of town, and they get to taste Amarillo," Stanley said, referencing the popular WRCA Rodeo. "The economic impact is huge. I'd compare it a lot to one of our other very loved events, WRCA, which really exemplifies what Amarillo has to offer."
Stanley also underscored the "intangibles" of putting Amarillo on the map and showcasing the city's quality of life. "We know Amarillo is the Yellow Rose of Texas, and so we get to host an event here that speaks to the quality of life we want in this community," he said. He emphasized the collaborative effort to bring the event to Amarillo, stating, "It's been a community effort... if you invest here with us, we can host better than anyone else in the nation. Hospitality is what we're selling here in the city of Amarillo."
He concluded, "We want you to know when you're here, you're talking to your grandmother's living room."
The tournament's field size will include 70 players based on Korn Ferry Tour rankings, 8 Monday Qualifiers, and 4 exemptions. Organizers anticipate needing 500-600 volunteers across 17 committees to support the event, with opportunities for host housing of Korn Ferry Tour players and caddies. Alex Baldwin noted the importance of community engagement and the strong connections forged between players and host families, citing examples of continued relationships after tournaments.
The tournament is expected to draw a highly competitive field, with the Korn Ferry Tour increasingly featuring top talent and former PGA Tour players. The Korn Ferry Tour is seen in 225 countries and territories via 33 media markets.
For more information, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit OccuNetClassic.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
The ‘ridiculous' Korn Ferry Tour rule that left New Jersey native Ryan McCormick annoyed at US Open
OAKMONT, Pa. — Ryan McCormick, who made the cut at the U.S. Open on the number on Friday at 7-over par, should be exhilarated to be playing the weekend at Oakmont, his first major championship. But McCormick, one of five Metro Area players in the field this week, expressed disappointment when he finished his third round in 76 on Saturday because Korn Ferry Tour players don't receive points for qualifying for a major or even making the cut in one. Advertisement 'It's frustrating,'' McCormick, a Middletown, N.J. native, said. 'We don't get points for making the cut here. It's the only tour in the world that doesn't get points for making a cut at a major. It's clearly ridiculous. It's terrible.'' McCormick, who is 13-over, embraced the challenge the USGA delivers at the U.S. Open. 5 Ryan McCormick hits a shot during the third round of the U.S. Open on June 14, 2025. AP 'I love the test out here,'' he said. 'I wish every week was like the U.S. Open. It's demanding. You have to hit quality shots. You've got to think about where you're going. You've got to do everything on your own. It's you against yourself and the course, and I love the challenge.'' Advertisement His fellow Korn Ferry Tour local, James Nicholas, from Scarsdale, is 12-over after shooting 75 on Saturday. Among the three other players from the Metro Area, Westchester's Cameron Young is not out of contention at 3-over par, seven shots back, after shooting 69 Saturday. Chris Gotterup, from Fair Haven, N.J., is 4-over par and eight shots back after shooting his second consecutive 69. Advertisement And Max Greyserman, from Short Hills, N.J., is also 4-over par after shooting 71 on Saturday. Keegan Bradley, the current U.S. Ryder Cup captain, sounded very bullish on Sam Burns, who had the 36-hole lead and has the 54-hole lead with a 65 on Friday and 67 Saturday. 5 Keegan Bradley reacts during the third round of the U.S. Open. Imagn Images Advertisement Burns' 65 was the third-lowest round played in the 10 U.S. Opens held at Oakmont, behind only Johnny Miller's 63 in 1973 and Loren Roberts' 64 in 1994. 'He's such a great player, and he's been trending,'' Bradley said. 'He seems to have a U.S. Open mentality. I was watching him [Friday] and I just kept saying it looks like he's up for the challenge today, and he was.'' Bradley wasn't a fan of the USGA boasting before the tournament that it wanted the players to use all 15 clubs — the 14 in their bag and the one between their ears (the mind) — to win a U.S. Open. 'The USGA can say all they want, but we're professional golfers,'' Bradley said. 'This is what we do for a living. I don't agree with that. We go out here every day and try to be professionals, and we know when it comes to a major, whether it's a U.S. Open, British Open, Masters, PGA, that we have to be on top of our game mentally. 'The USGA is not doing that, we're doing that.'' Advertisement Cool U.S. Open story. Philip Barbaree Jr., who got into the field through qualifying, was one of the 13 players who had to come out to Oakmont early Saturday morning to complete the second round thanks to Friday's weather suspension. He had to make a five-foot par putt to make the cut at 7-over par and he made it, fist-pumping and giving his wife and caddie, Chloe, a big hug. 5 Philip Barbaree Jr. is pictured during the third round of the U.S. Open on June 14. Getty Images He's previously qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open, but missed the cut. Advertisement A short time later, Barbaree, who grew up with Burns in Shreveport, La., was the first to tee off for the third round, and played with a club-member marker because of the odd number of players to make the cut. 'A lot of pent-up emotion and stress from sleeping last night — or not sleeping last night — knowing that I pretty much had to come out and make par on one of the hardest holes on the course,'' Barbaree said after shooting 75 on Saturday. 'And then to actually do it, that's what you practice for. To be able to pull off a shot like that when it matters, and then with her on the bag, it's special.'' Among the 15 amateurs in the field, Justin Hastings was the only one among them to make the cut, finishing 6-over par through 36 holes. Advertisement 5 Justin Hastings, pictured during the third round of the U.S. Open on June 14, was the only amateur to make the cut. Getty Images He shot 73 on Saturday and is 9-over. The 21-year-old Hastings, from the Cayman Islands, said he plans to turn pro after the British Open next month. Advertisement Early Saturday as the third round was getting underway, the USGA had Jack Nicklaus, the 1962 U.S. Open winner at Oakmont, and Miller, the 1973 winner at Oakmont, into the interview room for some reminiscence. Nicklaus was asked what the 'key'' was to his win as a 22-year-old that year. 'The key was to beat Arnold Palmer,'' Nicklaus said. 'Arnie was the top player in the game at the time. He had won the Masters earlier in the year. He was the guy you had to beat if you wanted to win, and particularly here. 5 Jack Nicklaus (l.) and Johnny Miller (r.) are pictured during a press conference at the U.S. Open on June 14. Imagn Images 'I didn't know anything about Oakmont. I didn't realize, as a 22-year-old, that I was in Arnold Palmer's backyard.'' Palmer, of course, was from nearby Latrobe, Pa., which remains a shrine to his greatness. Both former players were asked about the $21.5 million prize purse this week, with $4.3 million going to the winner. 'Would I have loved to have had what's going on here when we played? Yeah,'' Nicklaus said. 'Obviously, all of us would. But I know Johnny and myself both trail-blazed the way for what's happening today. I think if you look back at [Ben] Hogan and [Sam] Snead and those guys, they trail blazed it for us. 'Would [the money] have changed our lives? I would hope not.''
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
No, Viktor Hovland Does Not Have a Wife at US Open- Here's What We Know
No, Viktor Hovland Does Not Have a Wife at US Open- Here's What We Know originally appeared on Athlon Sports. If Viktor Hovland has a girlfriend, the PGA Tour golfer has gone to great lengths to keep his relationship a mystery ahead of the U.S. Open. There has been plenty of speculation about Hovland's dating life. Advertisement Some outlets have linked Hovland to Norwegian influencer Kristin Sorsdal, but this does not appear to be anything more than an unfounded internet rumor. Hovland's Instagram page is absent of posts about a significant other. Instead, the athlete's social feed is all about golf with a few posts about his sponsors as well. Fans have not witnessed Hovland celebrate any of his seven PGA Tour wins with a wife or girlfriend, a popular tradition for many golfers. Likewise, Hovland has also not been spotted with a love interest during previous Ryder Cups, a popular event for golfers to bring their families along for the festivities. Viktor Hovland looks on during the second round of the U.S. Open golf LeClaire-Imagn Images Back in 2024, Hovland admitted that he is challenging to date. Advertisement 'I'm probably a tough person to truly get to know," Hovland said at the time, per Essentially Sports. 'It takes time to spend with me, and I haven't given enough to do that.' As a public figure, dating may pose its challenges for Hovland but on the course the golfer appears to have regained his form. Hovland is among the top contenders heading into the final rounds of the U.S. Open. Going into the third round, Hovland sounded surprised that he is near the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard. Hovland is one of just three golfers who is under par after the first two rounds at Oakmont. "I mean, (expectations) weren't overly high, to be honest with you, but I know that I can do something like this if I find a feel and make a few putts and stuff," Hovland told reporters on Friday. "I can go around here and play some good golf. Advertisement "But it wasn't like I was feeling overly confident. But that's kind of how this year has been." Related: J.J. Spaun Reveals Wife Melody Spaun's One Rule in Their Marriage This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hamilton Spectator
8 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Sam Burns holds steady on soggy Oakmont to lead US Open
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — The closest Sam Burns has come to a major championship is sharing a house with a close friend who already has three of them. He has been inspired by Scottie Scheffler the last few years. The next step is to join him as a major champion. Burns held steady after missing a short par putt late Saturday in the U.S. Open, responding with a beautiful pitch for a tap-in birdie and two scary putts down the hill from inside 60 feet to save par on the 18th hole at rain-soaked Oakmont for a 1-under 69. That gave him a one-shot lead over major-tested Adam Scott and J.J. Spaun, with Viktor Hovland not far behind as the only four players to survive par. Burns was at 4-under 206. He has five PGA Tour titles, the last one more than two years ago, and is coming off a playoff loss last week in the Canadian Open. At stake for Burns is a chance for the 28-year-old from Louisiana to become the sixth American at 30 or under to capture his first major since 2020. Scheffler has won 19 times worldwide the last three years, including three majors, most recently last month at the PGA Championship. 'Scottie's obviously an incredible player. I don't think I need to say that,' Burns said with a laugh. 'We obviously spend a lot of time together and being able to talk to him and just kind of learn from him and ask him questions, it's been really cool.' Scheffler has won his three majors in what turned out to be blowouts. Sunday at Oakmont was shaping up to be anything but that. Scott, who only climbed back into the top 50 in the world less than a year ago and hasn't seriously challenge in a major in nearly seven years, became only the third player at par or better for the opening three rounds in a U.S. Open at Oakmont. He birdied three of his last six holes for a 67, getting into the final group when J.J. Spaun made bogey from the bunker on the 18th hole and shot 69. Scott is the only player among the top 10 who has won a major. That was 12 years ago at the Masters. No one has ever gone more than 11 years between their first and second major titles. 'Putting ourselves in these positions doesn't just happen by fluke,' Scott said. 'I really haven't been in this kind of position for five or six years, or feeling like I'm that player. But that's what I'm always working towards. It's not that easy to figure it all out. 'But if I were to come away with it tomorrow, it would be a hell of a round of golf and an exclamation point on my career.' Spaun, who lost in a playoff at The Players Championship in March, kept pace with Burns throughout the back nine until the end. He looked comfortable under the pressure, making only two bogeys while matching pars with Burns over seven straight holes. 'It seemed like we were kind of back and forth,' Spaun said. 'He would take the lead, I would take the lead, I would fall back, whatever. But it was fun. You can't really play against your opponent; you got to play this course. There's just so much on demand with every shot.' The other survivor to par was Hovland, who has been smiling as much as anyone on a course that has been exasperating to so many all week. Hovland salvaged a bogey from an opening tee shot into the bushes and an exquisite shot off the muddied cart path. But he hit the pin on the uphill ninth hole for birdie and hit an amazing wedge from the cabbage left of the 17th green for a tap-in birdie. He closed with a bogey from the rain-soaked rough on the 18th for a 70 and was three behind 'I'm well aware that I've got a chance tomorrow, and if I shoot a low round of golf tomorrow then anything can happen,' Hovland said. 'But there's a lot of good players around me. Adam Scott played a brilliant round today, just didn't really miss a shot. That forces me to play some really good golf tomorrow.' Carlos Ortiz turned in one of the most remarkable performances by going bogey-free for 30 consecutive holes. The streak ended on the 18th, but the Mexican still had a 67 and was very much in range at even-par 210. Missing from the mix was Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player who had won three of his last four tournaments coming into the U.S. Open. Scheffler never found any momentum, with one critical stretch coming right before the turn. After holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the sixth, Scheffler saved par after driving into the rough on No. 7 and hitting wedge to 3 feet. But then what looked like a tap-in par on the long par-3 eighth turned into a shocking miss. He wound up with a 70, moving him from a tie for 23rd to just outside the top 10. But he was eight shots behind Burns. 'I put myself in this position,' Scheffler said. 'It's not the position I want to be in, but I've done a good job of hanging in there and staying in the tournament.' The best news for this U.S. Open was that it finished the third round without weather getting in the way. Oakmont received an inch of rain from when played ended on Friday evening. The USGA offered to refund tickets to spectators who didn't want to traipse through the muck. Divots taken from the fairways looked like pelts, and the greens were noticeable softer and more receptive. There was one spell midway through the round when umbrellas were out and the sun was shining. Burns picked up birdies with a wedge from the fairway to a back pin on No. 5 and a tee shot to 7 feet on the accessible par-3 13th. Equally important were the three times he saved par from the fairway after getting out of position off the tee. 'I didn't drive the ball as well as I would have liked to. But when I got out of position I feel like I did a good job of getting myself back in the fairway, having a wedge or short iron in my hand and giving myself a chance for par,' he said. 'I was able to convert some of those and kind of kept the momentum going.' Now it's a night back at the house with Scheffler, where the conversation is more about kids than about golf. 'The conversation in the morning, we just hang out,' Scheffler said. 'There will be two little kids running around. There's nothing crazy, there's not much to say. Sam's been preparing for moments like this for a long time, and he's put himself in position to win the golf tournament.' ___ AP golf:
