PGA Tour set to go in Latinoamerica in 2012

On Thursday, the PGA Tour announced plans to launch a professional tour that will begin with 11 events spreading across seven countries in Latin American beginning in September, 2012.

The tour will be a collaboration between the U.S. based PGA Tour, the Tour de Las Americas and National Golf Federations along with host golf clubs in the regions as the Tour is expected to run from September through December in it's first year.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem had this to say on the announcement of the Latinamerica Tour.

"We are delighted to announced the launch of PGA Tour Latinamerica. This expansion into Latin America, when combined with that the Nationwide Tour has been able to accomplish in this region in recent years, is part of the natural progression for golf which continues to grow globally."

"We see this as an opportunity to help in the further development of elite players across the region. The timing is right, with South America hosting it's first ever Olympic Games, which includes golf's return to competition for the first time in more than 100 years."

"The Latin America market has already produced several PGA Tour stars, and our goals for this tour is to help develop the Latin American starts of the future."

Initially, the tour will play through regions such as: Mexico, Columbia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru. As stated earlier, there are currently 11 events scheduled for 2012 and a goal set to grow the event total to 14 events in 2013.

Jack Warfield, who has over 20 years of experience operating international golf events such as the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup has been named as the Chief of Operations for PGA Tour Latinamerica.

"I'm excited to lead the PGA Tour's further expansion into Latin America," Warfield said. "The players in the region will have the opportunity to play a guaranteed, consistent schedule with multi-year commitments, which will help prepare them for the higher levels of professional golf and will serve as a pathway to the Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour."

"The Tour de Las Americas' experience and history in the region over the past decade, and support for this idea, has proven invaluable during the creation of this new tour."

With the PGA Tour Latinamerica set and ready to tee it up in 2012, it just shows how global the game of golf has become and the direction it continues to grow.