TULUM, Quintana Roo – Yesterday, on Tuesday, June 27, The Tulum Times had the privilege of attending a press conference held at Tulum Country Club, home to the renowned PGA Riviera Maya golf course. This picturesque venue is set to host the highly anticipated Bupa Tour Championship, marking not only the culmination of another thrilling season but also the final tournament in the history of PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, one of the international tours established by PGA TOUR in 2012.
After an impressive eleven-year run, featuring 162 tournaments across Latin America, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica will merge with PGA TOUR Canada in 2024 to form PGA TOUR Americas. The new circuit is set to commence activities in February and extend until September. The top ten players in the points standings will earn coveted spots on the Korn Ferry Tour.
PGA TOUR Latinoamérica bids farewell with a remarkable track record in promoting players to the next levels. A total of 179 graduates achieved various statuses on the Korn Ferry Tour, including 50 Latin American players. At the pinnacle of world golf, the PGA TOUR, this regional circuit witnessed 40 of its alumni accomplishing their goals, with nine of them proudly hoisting champion trophies.
As the afternoon unfolded, the press conference was gracefully hosted by Gregory Villalobos, the master of ceremonies and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica’s press officer. He warmly welcomed all attendees, including Todd Rhinehart, Executive Director of PGA Tour Latinoamérica, Yamín Pérez, Commercial Director of Bupa Mexico, David Romero, Commercial and Marketing Director of Tulum Country Club, Tory Gatrell, General Manager of PGA Riviera Maya, and Mexican player Raúl Pereda, currently ranked 25th in the Totalplay Cup, emerging as a leading contender.
In the words of Yazmín Pérez, Commercial Director of Bupa Mexico, “We are thrilled to celebrate another year of the Bupa Tour Championship. Sponsoring a sport like golf, which demands physical and mental discipline, fills us with pride. We know that the 60 players who embarked on this adventure will give their absolute best. We wish them the utmost success.”
Bupa, the tournament’s main sponsor, continues to demonstrate its commitment and support to golf in the region. On this occasion, they will award two prizes of $5,000 each to the two Mexican players with the best performance at the conclusion of this edition of the Totalplay Cup.
David Romero, Commercial and Marketing Director, commented, “As part of Grupo Piñero, an international tourism company with over 40 years of experience, our purpose is to create thrilling experiences. Specifically, at Bahia Principe Golf, within the Living Resorts Division of our group, our aim is to become a benchmark for designing, constructing, and managing golf courses in environmentally friendly settings, providing unique experiences for players of all levels in truly privileged environments.”
“It is an honor for us to host the finale of the PGA Tour Latinoamérica in Tulum, a championship that began in Mexico and concludes in this incredible destination,” added Romero.
Tulum Country Club, our residential development in this destination, and PGA Riviera Maya are transforming the lifestyle in the area. With a firm commitment to offering greater exposure and promotion of golf, there is no better way to achieve this than by hosting the Bupa Tour Championship.
Tory Gatrell, Director of Golf at PGA Riviera Maya, expressed gratitude for the participation and enthusiasm of all organizers, sponsors, players, and attendees, reaffirming PGA Riviera Maya’s commitment to remain an ideal venue for top-level international tournaments. Undoubtedly, it serves as a fantastic showcase across Latin America, the United States, and the rest of the world.
Todd Rhinehart, Executive Director of PGA Tour Latinoamérica, officially inaugurated the Bupa Tour Championship and added, “This week, at the Bupa Tour Championship, we will have 54 of the top 60 players from the Totalplay Cup, and all of them have one objective: to finish in the top 5 to secure their membership for the Korn Ferry Tour next year.”
The race to reach the Korn Ferry Tour arrives in Tulum more open than ever, and it remains a mystery as to which players will manage to secure the coveted top-5 positions in the Totalplay Cup. Similar to last year, the Bupa Tour Championship will award 600 points to the winner and 330 points to the runner-up. This point distribution differs from the previous eleven tournaments of the season, adding excitement and suspense to the tournament from start to finish.
Todd Rhinehart expressed his gratitude for the hospitality of PGA Riviera Maya and mentioned that the players have spoken highly of the course and its spectacular facilities, as well as the support of all the sponsors.
Raúl Pereda, who currently ranks 25th in the Totalplay Cup, stated, “It’s a very important week for us. Finishing in the top 25 allows us to enter the second stage of the Q-School, so there is a lot at stake. The course is very demanding, and you have to be assertive from the tee. The heat and wind will be factors to consider in the strategy.” Pereda is seeking his first victory on the Tour at PGA Riviera Maya.
This Bupa Tour Championship marks Pereda’s 42nd tournament on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica this season. So far, he has participated in nine of the eleven tournaments, making the cut in six. His best results to date include a fourth-place finish at the Neuquén Argentina Classic and a seventh-place finish at the Roberto de Vicenzo Memorial 100 años.
To conclude the event, a magnificent cocktail was offered to all the guests.
