PGA TOUR releases 2015-16 season schedule

The PGA TOUR announced on Wednesday the 2015-16 season schedule of 47 FedExCup tournaments, which includes two new title sponsors and several notable date and golf course changes.

The PGA TOUR welcomes Dell as the new title sponsor of the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play, and CareerBuilder as the title sponsor of the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation.

World number one Rory McIlroy

Held this past May in San Francisco, the WGC-Dell Match Play shifts to March 21-27 at Austin Country Club in Dell’s hometown of Austin, Texas. (The Puerto Rico Open also moves to that same week after being held concurrently to the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship since 2008.)

The CareerBuilder Challenge, meanwhile, is adding PGA WEST’s Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course to its three-course rotation, joining La Quinta Country Club.

The McGladrey Classic is the other PGA TOUR tournament that is adding a new golf course – Sea Island Resort’s Plantation Course – as it goes to a two-course rotation while moving from the third week of the season to Nov. 16-22, the final week before the TOUR breaks until January.

Other significant date changes are due to golf’s return to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the men’s competition being held Aug. 11-14.

The PGA Championship (July 25-31), Travelers Championship (Aug. 1-7) and John Deere Classic (Aug. 8-14) are making a one-time shift before returning to their traditional dates for the 2016-17 season.

The Travelers Championship’s move from late June will also allow significant course enhancements to be completed before the tournament. Additionally, the Quicken Loans National (June 20-26), World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and Barracuda Championship (both June 27-July 3) are moving earlier on the schedule.

The Quicken Loans National is also among several tournaments returning to familiar golf courses as it will move back to Congressional Country Club as part of its announced rotation.

Three major championships revisit previous host venues: the U.S. Open returns to Oakmont Country Club, The Open Championship to Royal Troon Golf Club and the PGA Championship to Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course.

Also, two FedExCup Playoff events return to their 2012 venues: The Barclays to Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in New York and the BMW Championship to Crooked Stick Golf Club.