A Tiger could prowl the Southern Arizona desert in 2007. Tiger Woods, that is. All signs point to the World Golf Championship's Accenture Match Play Championship, a PGA Tour event featuring the world's top 64 golfers, moving to the Tucson area from Carlsbad, Calif., in 2007.
The event would be the biggest sporting event the city has ever seen, putting Southern Arizona on the global sports map in terms of exposure.
An announcement on a move "that would be of news to Tucson" is anticipated in about a week, said tournament director Michael Garten.
"The parties all sat down, and at the end of the day we all agreed the best thing to do would be to position the event at a new venue," said Desi Howe, director of golf at La Costa Resort & Spa, where the match-play event will end a seven-year stay this week.
Howe indicated that no other potential sites besides Tucson were discussed during negotiations with Accenture, a global business-management firm that is the event's title sponsor.
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Accenture spokesman Freeman Miller would confirm only that "a major announcement about the future of the event" is pending.
The $7.5 million purse more than doubles the current payout at the PGA Tour's Chrysler Classic of Tucson, which is set to begin Thursday at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa.
Bigger purses mean bigger names, such as Woods, the world's top-ranked golfer.
Tour veteran Tom Lehman of Scottsdale, currently ranked 43rd in the world, has confirmed speculation that Tucson will host the WGC event.
"I've been told by everybody at the PGA Tour that Tucson will be hosting the World Match Play event in 2007," Lehman said.
Say so long to the Chrysler Classic of Tucson, formerly the Tucson Open — at least for a while.
Next year's PGA Tour schedule does not include the Classic, which normally is held the same week as the match-play event.
The Chrysler Classic has had a $13.5 million economic impact on Tucson each year, according to tournament officials. The Carlsbad, Calif., visitors bureau estimated the match-play event generated about $15 million last year.
The Tucson-area course expected to get the event starting next year is The Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana. PGA Tour officials have visited the course numerous times in the past year.
The event's prestige likely would drive million-dollar home sales in the Dove Mountain area and could help Marana's efforts to lure Ritz-Carlton to build a resort there.
All five days of the event are televised by ESPN and ABC to 140 countries. The World Match Play Championship trailed only the Masters and the U.S. Open in golf's 2005 TV ratings.
The Gallery Golf Club's 36-hole layout is at 14000 N. Dove Mountain Blvd., two miles north of Tangerine Road and roughly 23 miles northwest of Tucson's city center. The course is at the base of the Tortolita Mountains.
Parking is planned at lots near Tangerine Road and Dove Mountain Boulevard with shuttle service to the course. Traffic will be intense.
The event at La Costa averages about 20,000 fans per weekday and 5,000 to 7,000, because of fewer matches, on Saturday and Sunday.
Daily tickets this year are $25 advance, $30 at the gate. Admission to Monday and Tuesday practice rounds is $25. A weekly badge is $85.
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