MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — Brooks Koepka’s presence at this year’s Myrtle Beach Classic has boosted attention for the tournament, even as he was not at the top of the leaderboard after two rounds.
Koepka joined a field that also includes familiar PGA Tour names such as Brandt Snedeker, Billy Horschel, and Danny Willett, giving the event added star power in a week when it has competed for attention with other tournaments, including the Wells Fargo and Truist championships.
Tournament director Darren Nelson said opposite-field events held the same week as another PGA Tour stop can sometimes struggle to attract excitement from players. Still, he believes the Myrtle Beach Classic has changed that perception.
“With this event, there’s also another PGA Tour event the same week so a lot of times, the opposite field events the golf course aren’t as good and the players aren’t excited to play these types of events,” Nelson said. “But I think we’ve blown them away. The first two years, the players who have played here I think, have told the other guys, ‘hey, you need to come play here at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club’ because it is such a great golf course.”
As the tournament continues, officials are also working on the terms of a new contract, with the current agreement running through 2027.
Tournament executive director Tracy Conner said discussions about the next contract have been positive and suggested the event could potentially play a role in a pathway for players returning from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour.
“What we’re bringing to not just Myrtle Beach, but the key to the tournament is a little different than most tournaments since we’ve had really good, positive conversations about the next contract,” Conner said. “That is the conversation we have with the tour. Right. Use us next year to transition Liv back into standalone tournaments with the tour.”
It appears to be the price players like Koepka are willing to pay, as earlier this week, he humbly said he looks forward to earning his way back into Signature Events on the Tour.
“I’m itching to get in, but I’m accepting of where I’m at,” he said. “I understand that there’s a price to pay for coming back, and I’m willing to accept those and whatever I have to do.”
Conner said talks between the PGA Tour and title sponsors ONEFlight and Visit Myrtle Beach have been ongoing, and he expects it to take a few more months before they near an agreement to continue the Myrtle Beach Classic after 2027.