Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Genesis-sponsored PGA Tour Genesis Invitational kicks off
Tiger Woods tees off on the third hole during the pro-am of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Wednesday. AP-Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
Tiger Woods returns to tour
By Baek Byung-yeul
Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour golf tournament sponsored by Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group's luxury car brand, will kick off its four-day run at a golf club in California, featuring prominent golfers including golfing legend Tiger Woods, the automotive group said Thursday.
The group said the 2023 Genesis Invitational will be held at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, west of Los Angeles, from Thursday (local time) to Sunday. A total of 132 golfers will compete in the tournament including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy and world No. 3 John Rahm.
Interestingly, this year's Genesis Invitational features Tiger Woods who makes his return to the tour seven months after he missed the cut at the Open Championship in July.
As a title sponsor, Genesis will capitalize on the PGA Tour tournament as a precious opportunity to promote its vehicles. During the tournament, Genesis will provide a total of 260 cars including the GV60 electric vehicle, the Electrified GV70 and the Electrified G80 to help players move conveniently and safely.
Tiger Woods speaks during a news conference for the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Feb. 16, 2022. Woods returns to the PGA Tour for the first time since July. AP-Yonhap
“It is truly an honor to be the title sponsor of the Genesis Invitational for seven consecutive years, and I hope this world-class event is one where players, caddies and fans can all come together to enjoy themselves and celebrate the sport of golf,” Song Min-kyu, global head of Genesis, said.
The automotive group said the winner of this year's tournament will receive a new Genesis Electrified GV70 SUV and $3.6 million in prize money among the $20 million purse. The pool of prize money was increased by $8 million since last year as part of the PGA Tour's initiative to strengthen its commitment to a robust slate of elevated events, the group said.
“The player with the first hole-in-one each day on the 14th hole will also take home an Electrified GV70 and his caddie will receive a 2023 Genesis GV60. As well, the first player with a hole-in-one each day on the 16th hole will win a 2023 Electrified G80 and his caddie will receive a 2023 Genesis GV60. This is the first time ever at a Genesis-sponsored golf event that there will be two holes with eligibility for hole-in-one car prizes for both the player and caddie,” the automotive group said.
Prior to the tournament, Genesis also announced it would donate a total of $1 million over five years to Tiger Woods' TGR Foundation for the development of youth education. The TGR Foundation was established by the golfer in 1996 to improve the health, education and welfare of all children in the U.S.