Korn Ferry Tour Championship moving to French Lick

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - A major announcement was made Tuesday about the future of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

United Leasing & Finance will remain the sponsor, but starting in 2024, it will be be held at the Pete Dye Golf Course in French Lick, Indiana.

As we’ve previously reported, Victoria National decided to exercise their contract out at the five year benchmark of a 10 year contract.

“It just didn’t fit their [Victoria National’s] model, they didn’t like giving up that week from what I understand,” Ron Romain said, Executive Director of United Companies. “For the amount of time we had to make the move, French Lick was on our radar from the get-go.”

The Pete Dye Course is about an hour and a half away from Evansville, but course pros up in French Lick are excited for the opportunity.

“This is a natural step for us and it’s a great step for us,” Dave Harner said. Harner is the Director of Golf Operations at French Lick Resort.

Romain says his number one priority was keeping the tour championship in Indiana.

“It will stay in Indiana, which is dear to my heart, we at least needed to do that, and it’s certainly going to happen,” Romain said.

Some aspects of the Tri-State will remain. For example, the main charitable beneficiary.

“We’ve decided to have Building Blocks as the name charity going forward,” Romain said.

The tour championship is known to host a little over 300 volunteers a year. Romain says there will be a mix from the Evansville area and the French Lick area.

“The volunteer part of it, which is central to making this event successful, is well under control,” Romain said.

Jack Pate, Chairman of Golf Gives Back, says having hotels on property at French Lick will enhance the experience.

“Customers and sponsors will be around the players, and everybody’s going to be contained in one type of area,” Pate said.

Also, Romain says there are plans to keep people from the Tri-State at the tour championship as well.

“We’re working on a transportation package so that we can get people moved back and forth up there,” Romain said.

The Pete Dye Course at French Lick is best known for hosting the 2015 Senior PGA Championship.

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