The season-long quest for 200+ players including Michael Sims to try and earn a 2013 PGA TOUR card via the Nationwide Tour begins next Thursday February 16th in Bogota, Colombia. "The 25" leading money winners at season's end will be awarded TOUR cards. The 2012 membership includes 60 players born in 16 countries outside the U.S.
Former United States president Bill Clinton will be at the Country Club de Bogota on Wednesday, Feb. 15th supporting tournament activities, including playing in the pro-am and attending Tuesday's evening's charity gala that will support his Foundation's work in Colombia. It will be the first time a sitting or former president of the U.S. attends a Nationwide Tour event.
The starting fields will be 144 in Colombia and Chile and 132 in Panama, with spots available to the four leaders off the final 2011 Tour de las Americas money list at all three.
The Tour will be off one week after the Latin America swing before starting the 2012 domestic season at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open (March 22-25), marking the Tour's 21st consecutive visit to Le Triomphe Country Club in the Lafayette, La. area.
By season's end, the Nationwide Tour will play 27 events (one more than 2011) in 17 states in the U.S. and four Latin American countries (Mexico Open, June 7-10). The inaugural Chile Classic is joined by another new tournament, the United Leasing Championship at Victoria National Golf Club near Evansville, Ind., in July. The culminating event is the Nationwide Tour Championship, which returns to TPC Craig Ranch near Dallas Oct. 25-28 after three playing’s at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C.
