Kentucky’s PGA Tour event just around the corner, but its long-term future still unclear

Cameron Drummond
·6 min read
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The 2023 Barbasol Championship is set to be the fifth edition of the PGA Tour event at Champions at Keene Trace in Nicholasville, which is about 25 minutes outside of Lexington.

That much is clear, given the preparations underway on the grounds and the lengthy list of championship week events on offer for fans.

But what remains up in the air is whether or not this will be the final edition of the event in Central Kentucky.

The Barbasol moved from Alabama to Kentucky in 2018 and was granted a five-year extension in 2019 to remain in Nicholasville through at least 2023.

The tournament’s five-year sponsorship deal with the American shaving brand is set to end after this year’s event.

Monday morning’s media day previewing the Barbasol was heavy on promotion for this year’s tournament — which is set to take place July 13-16 — but light on news about the future of the event.

“There’s no news as of yet,” said Tournament Director Darren Nelson — who is overseeing his second Barbasol Championship in that role — when asked by the Herald-Leader about the future of the event.

“We obviously want the event to stay. We’ve got the ownership of the golf course, the PGA Tour, everybody is having conversations right now. ... We hope to have some news in the very near future.”

Here’s what you should know about this year’s tournament, and the potential for the PGA Tour to maintain an annual, regular presence in the commonwealth.

The 2024 PGA Championship will be held next May at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal waves to fans after making a putt for birdie on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2022 PGA Barbasol Championship. Gouveia was one of dozens of international players in last year’s field.
Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal waves to fans after making a putt for birdie on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2022 PGA Barbasol Championship. Gouveia was one of dozens of international players in last year’s field.

A strong international presence

As was the case with last year’s tournament, the 2023 edition of the Barbasol Championship will feature a significant international presence thanks to an existing partnership between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour that provides access for both memberships to the Barbasol.

Nelson said the 2023 Barbasol field with feature 156 golfers, with about 100 from the PGA Tour and about 50 from the DP World Tour.

The low 65 players, plus ties, will make the cut following the second round.

More news on sponsor exemptions into the tournament will be announced in the coming weeks, but on Monday it was formally announced that Josh Teater — a fan-favorite and former golf standout at Henry Clay High School and Morehead State — would receive a sponsor’s exemption into the field.

The tournament will be held during the third weekend of July, which is one week later than last year’s event.

But, the Barbasol still occupies the same spot on the PGA Tour calendar as it did in 2022: The week before the British Open, which will be held this year at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England.

The winner of the 2023 Barbasol Championship will earn a berth into the British Open field, just like last year, when Trey Mullinax earned a British Open spot after winning the Barbasol with a birdie on the final hole.

There was also a local angle to Mullinax’s win: His caddie, Julien Trudeau, lives near Keene Trace with his wife, former Woodford County High School and University of Kentucky star Mallory Blackwelder.

As a result of winning last year’s event, Mullinax earned a spot in the 150th British Open at historic St Andrews in Scotland.

He finished in a tie for 21st at that event.

Just like in 2022, the 2023 version of the Barbasol will offer $3.8 million in purse money and 300 FedEx points, along with the ability to play your way into golf’s most historic major championship.

Trey Mullinax celebrates with his caddie Julien Trudeau after winning the PGA Barbasol Championship last year. That victory remains Mullinax’s only win on the PGA Tour.
Trey Mullinax celebrates with his caddie Julien Trudeau after winning the PGA Barbasol Championship last year. That victory remains Mullinax’s only win on the PGA Tour.

Mullinax recalls last year’s drama

Mullinax recounted that dramatic 2022 Barbasol Championship victory, and provided some new details about the mad dash he made to Scotland, during a virtual interview with media members Monday.

Wearing a backward gray hat, Mullinax described how winning last year’s tournament “kick-started” his professional career.

Mullinax said after winning the Barbasol he had to return home to Birmingham, Alabama, to retrieve his passport, before flying to New York City, Dublin, Ireland, and then Edinburgh, Scotland, on his way to St Andrews.

He didn’t arrive at St Andrews until just two days before the British Open began, and had to fix some of his golf clubs after they were damaged in transit.

“It was a crazy 48 hours, but (I was) super happy to be there and was thrilled to be able to play that tournament,” Mullinax said.

Trey’s father, Chip, also made the trek with his son to St Andrews for the British Open, a journey made possible by Mullinax’s first, and still only, PGA Tour win.

“I think just being a PGA Tour champion is pretty cool,” Mullinax added. “You’re in that champions category for the rest of your life.”

Seung-Yul Noh walks to the No. 5 tee box during the second round of the PGA Barbasol Championship last year. This year’s tournament will take place July 13-16.
Seung-Yul Noh walks to the No. 5 tee box during the second round of the PGA Barbasol Championship last year. This year’s tournament will take place July 13-16.

Schedule of events for Barbasol Championship week

Here’s a look at some of the scheduled events for Barbasol Championship week:

▪ Monday, July 10: Pro-am sponsored by Revive Life House, official practice rounds (grounds closed to public).

▪ Tuesday, July 11: Official practice rounds (grounds closed to public).

▪ Wednesday, July 12: Pro-am (grounds open to public).

▪ Thursday, July 13: First round, Military and First Responders Appreciation Day.

▪ Friday, July 14: Second round, College Day.

▪ Saturday, July 15: Third round, Family Day.

▪ Sunday, July 16: Fourth round.

Notes: Prior to Mullinax, Troy Merritt won the Barbasol Championship in 2018 and Jim Herman in 2019. The event was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seamus Power captured the title in 2021 in a playoff over J.T. Poston.

When it arrived in 2018, the Barbasol became the first regular-season tournament to be played in Kentucky since the Kentucky Derby Open was held in Louisville from 1957-59.

Among the adjustments being made to the spectator experience at Keene Trace are changes to the bleacher seating around the ninth green to provide more of a stadium-feel, in similar fashion to the 16th hole at the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, the site of the WM Phoenix Open.

Nelson, the Barbasol Championship tournament director, said about 630 volunteers helped stage the 2022 event, and the goal is to have 800 volunteers for this year’s event.

Caddie127 is the charitable arm of both the Barbasol Championship tournament and Keene Trace Golf Club. Caddie127 has five official charity partners:

▪ All God’s Children

▪ Make-A-Wish Foundation

▪ Refuge For Women

▪ Kentucky Children’s Hospital

▪ Woodhill Community Center

Since 2018, the Barbasol Championship and Caddie127 have given $670,000 back to their charitable partners.

PGA Barbasol Championship

When: July 13-16

Where: Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville (Champions Course)

Tickets: Visit BarbasolChampionship.com/Tickets

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