The community of Pacific Palisades is ground zero for where the wildfires burning throughout Los Angeles County originated.
The Palisades fire is one of several causing massive destruction—the most ever recorded in the history of Los Angeles. The cumulative impact is responsible for the death of at least 24 people, destroying more than 12,000 structures, and impacting more than 60 square miles.
Nearly 24,000 acres of land have burned in the Palisades fire alone with 5,300 or more structures destroyed. To provide a bit of perspective—Central Park in New York City is 843 acres. The fire is currently the equivalent of more than 28 Central Parks combined. The actual fire area is even larger than the borough of Manhattan.
Pacific Palisades is the host community for the annual PGA Tour Genesis Invitational event at Riviera Country Club. The $20 million signature event is still on schedule for the week of February 10–16.
The bigger question remaining unanswered is why?
The scale of total devastation and human misery caused cannot remotely be explained through words alone. The shockwaves are both immediate and may live on permanently given the emotional pain endured.
The physical core of Pacific Palisades has been leveled. There is also the mental anguish seared into the consciousness of all the residents.
In response to what has happened the PGA Tour issued a statement last week.
“The PGA Tour is monitoring the devastating fires in Los Angeles County. At this point, it is premature to discuss the potential impact on the Genesis Invitational. Although the Riviera Country Club has not been directly affected by the fires, our immediate concern is the health and welfare of those in the affected communities, including all our members who have ties to Southern California.”
However, other sporting events did not reply with words such as “premature” and quickly postponed or moved various contests elsewhere.
The National Football League (NFL) wisely chose to switch the venue for the playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home field for the Arizona Cardinals.
The National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings acted first, scrapping last Wednesday night’s game vs. the Calgary Flames at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) followed suit postponing games last Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets and Saturday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Clippers also followed suit in postponing a scheduled game against the Hornets for this past Saturday.
Both the Lakers and Clippers were scheduled to return to play starting Monday. Gauging public reaction to that decision will be of immense interest.
Bolstering the effort in being a good neighbor the NBA and National Basketball Players Association also announced donating $1 million to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and other organizations “to support those affected by this disaster and are working with the Lakers and Clippers on ways to support longer term assistance and rebuilding efforts.”
The quickness to act by the NFL, NBA and NHL respectively itemizes a much-needed proactive stance that sports don’t exist in a silo. The critical aspect is creating a bond with millions of people now trying to pull their lives together from such total disruption.
In sum—sports must take a back seat to the deep pain and emotional distress that, in all likelihood, will only intensity in the weeks and months ahead.
The Los Angeles connection to professional golf has a long and storied history dating back to 1926 when the LA Open started. The U.S. Open returned to Los Angeles in 2023 for the first time since 1948, and the Summer Olympics will be staged here in 2028 with the golf competition hosted at Riviera Country Club.
Given all that happened and likely will happen, it is mindboggling to even contemplate this year’s Genesis event remaining as scheduled. The optics in golf played on a verdant green prepared course in juxtaposition to the countless numbers of people just a very short distance away sorting through piles of rubble and looking for any vestiges of memories stored in former houses is beyond comprehension.
Hyundai Motor Company, the South Korean parent company, also needs to weigh the ramifications in how the Genesis brand will be viewed. Does a luxury automobile company want to have videos shown of happy faces hoisting wine glasses with finely prepared meals when just beyond the gates of Riviera people are wondering how to pull their lives together?
Does the auto company want to invite a likely strong and visceral social media backlash? That would undoubtedly happen given a lack of sensitivity shown.
Golf historically has had to fight back against an image issue—a sport where privilege, money and separation from the masses are all joined together. Elitism has often spawned an arrogance in which the affluent have built up walls against the presence of others. Showing a clueless concern would only reinforce for many how the golf establishment is more talk than action.
There’s another aspect dealing with a specific golfer who is closely associated with the event—Tiger Woods. The 15-time major winner, grew up in the nearby community of Cypress and serves as host to the event.
In addition, the Tiger Woods foundation—TGR which started in 1996 receives proceeds from the tournament. Thus far, Woods, whose voice remains prominent globally, has said nothing publicly.
There are also the practical realities that come with the staging of any high-profile professional golf tournament. Such events are dependent upon thousands of volunteers. There is also the need for police and medical personnel. Given all the demands now being faced how does a golf event remotely rate as a high priority?
In years past the playbook in handling such calamitous circumstances has been clear—either cancel or and postpone such events. When the 9/11 attacks took place the NFL and Major League Baseball both opted to suspend the playing of its games. There was no delay in taking such meaningful action.
Interestingly, the PGA Tour cancelled two tournaments planned after that tragedy happened with the WGC-American Express Championship and Tampa Bay Classic. Those events were to start on September 13. Just three days after that announcement the Tour opted to cancel that year’s Ryder Cup matches planned to happen later that same month.
Since past actions were swiftly done, correctly I might add, why is the PGA Tour hesitating to act now and still viewing involvement as “premature?”
Professional golf needs to be in alignment with what other sports have proactively done. Hesitation shows a complete disconnect and disrespect to the paralyzing realities many are now facing.
Remaining as scheduled for Riviera Country Club is not the “genesis” in creating good will but sets in motion only one additional spark to a firestorm that has already caused unfathomable death and ubiquitous destruction.
The Genesis golf event is a marquee tournament on the PGA Tour schedule. The best, and only sensible way in going forward, is either postpone or relocate the event elsewhere.
Commissioner Jay Monahan, are you listening?
The time is now.
