PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida– PGA TOUR and CJ Group officials today announced that THE CJ CUP will be contested at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina, the week of October 17-23, 2022. The tournament name will be changed to THE CJ CUP in South Carolina.
The tournament was launched as Korea’s first official PGA TOUR tournament in 2017 and was played for three consecutive years at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island before being relocated to the U.S. due to the challenges of COVID-19.
This will be the first time THE CJ CUP will be played in the Southeast region of the U.S. following the staging of the tournament in Las Vegas, first at Shadow Creek Golf Course in 2020 and The Summit Club last year.
“Thanks to the tremendous commitment from CJ Group, the PGA TOUR is thrilled to bring THE CJ CUP in South Carolina to the United States this October,” said Christian Hardy, the PGA TOUR’s Senior Vice President, International. “This event has provided a great platform on which to showcase golf’s top Korean players, and we are confident that Congaree will once again serve as a fantastic venue for hosting one of the TOUR’s premier tournaments.”
THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will feature a 78-man field comprised of five players designated by the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), as well as the top-3 available players of Korean nationality from the Official World Golf Ranking as part of CJ Group’s vision to support the development of professional golf in Korea. The remainder of the field will be made up of the leading players from the 2021-22 FedExCup points list and sponsor exemptions. There will be no 36-hole cut.
“We are excited to host THE CJ CUP at Congaree this October. Over the last five years, our tournament has established itself on the PGA TOUR through the caliber of champions who have emerged, and we are also proud the tournament has been well received by players, thanks especially to our bibigo chefs who help deliver an amazing dining experience on site,” said Wookho Kyeong, Chief Marketing Officer of CJ Group. “We look forward to engaging with our fans in a new region and celebrating another fantastic week of golf.”
Congaree, a Tom Fazio design, is located about an hour northwest of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The club, which debuted at No. 39 in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses last May, hosted the PGA TOUR’s Palmetto Championship at Congaree in June of 2021, won by South African Garrick Higgo. The course was built to challenge the world’s top golfers and has earned widespread praise among PGA TOUR players.
Congaree was founded with a philanthropic mission to positively impact the lives of young people through the game of golf. The Congaree Foundation supports a number of educational and vocational initiatives within its local community and internationally through the Congaree Global Golf Initiative. Instead of members, the club invites “ambassadors” to join who are passionate about supporting Congaree Foundation’s philanthropic programs and becoming personally involved through a shared devotion to the game and giving their time to mentorship opportunities.
“It’s a privilege to welcome THE CJ CUP to South Carolina and Congaree. From day one, our steadfast belief has been that Congaree can be a conduit to make a difference in the lives of young people locally and around the world,” said Dan Friedkin, founder of Congaree. “In addition to providing a significant economic impact for the state, THE CJ CUP will enable Congaree Foundation to give back to youth in the Lowcountry and beyond in even more meaningful ways.”
THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will be held in partnership with The State of South Carolina, which also supported the Palmetto Championship.
With more than 300 courses and an annual economic impact in the billions, golf is one of the most important markets in South Carolina’s tourism industry. THE CJ CUP in South Carolina joins the list of other significant tournaments in South Carolina in 2022, including the annual RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, and the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation in Greenville.
“In 2021, South Carolina caught the eye of the golf world by hosting three highly successful tournaments in the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course, the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, and the Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Club,” said South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster. “This success, coupled with the rapidly growing popularity of golf in our state, has made South Carolina a top destination for major golf events. We look forward to continuing to grow this reputation with THE CJ CUP in South Carolina and beyond.”
Tickets, volunteer opportunities and additional tournament news regarding THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will be released soon. For more information on the event, please visit PGATOUR.com.
About PGA TOUR
By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide.The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 28 countries and territories outside the United States (90 international members). The PGA TOUR has long-term domestic distribution partnerships for broadcast coverage on CBS, NBC and Golf Channel and video streaming service on ESPN+. Internationally, PGA TOUR coverage is available across 200+ countries and territories in 27 languages via 43 local broadcast partners, in addition to the digital streaming service platform GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $3.37 billion.
Fans can follow the PGA TOUR on PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, on the PGA TOUR app and on social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram (in English, Spanish and Korean), LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, WeChat, Weibo, Toutiao, Douyin and LINE.
CJ Corporation
Founded in 1953, CJ is a global lifestyle company headquartered in South Korea dedicated to promoting the values of health, happiness and convenience through its products and services. CJ strives to transform global industries through innovation in each of its four core business areas: Food and Food Services, Bio, Logistics & Retail, and Entertainment & Media. From the delicious and healthy meals provided by renowned food brand bibigo to the world-class entertainment developed by CJ ENM, CJ maintains a commitment to its ONLYONE standard. Through the constant pursuit of forward-thinking solutions, CJ is committed to helping consumers around the world live life to the fullest. For more information, please visit https://english.cj.net/
About bibigo
Launched in 2010, bibigo is the global K-food brand created by CJ, Korea’s No.1 lifestyle company. bibigo has been delivering Korean food and culture to dinner tables worldwide under the slogan “Share Korean Flavor. The brand takes 5,000 years of delicious cuisine and revamps the recipes to fit today’s modern, non-stop lifestyles. That’s why the name combines the Korean word “bibim,” from a long cultural tradition of “mixed” flavors, with the English word “go.” The brand line-up includes a full assortment of snacks and appetizers. Overall bibigo products are now spread across over 70 countries worldwide. The brand’s signature item, Mandu(Korean-style dumpling) is sold at around 50,000 stores across 6 continents, putting it in first place in the frozen snack market. Inspired by authentic recipes, bibigo makes the exciting tastes of Korean cuisine easily accessible with popular offerings in most major grocery chains. Also, bibigo is the official sponsor of THE CJ CUP, PGA TOUR regular-season tournament, and has been the first ever global marketing partner of the LA Lakers representing authentic Korean food culture to sports fans around the world. For more information, please visit www.bibigousa.com.
About South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is a cabinet agency assigned to operate and manage South Carolina’s 47 state parks, market the state as a preferred vacation destination and provide assistance to communities to develop recreation assets. Explore all of the great golf, rich history, sandy beaches, and family attractions a South Carolina vacation has to offer at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com.
South Carolina Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing business grow. S.C. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as BMW, Boeing, Continental, Giti Tire, LPL Financial Holdings, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Samsung, Toray and Volvo Cars and also supports startups, small and existing business, innovation and rural development initiatives. S.C. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. With a strong international footprint, the Palmetto State has consistently been among the top in the nation for attracting jobs through foreign direct investment on a per capita basis – recognized by multiple economic development publications for its pro-business climate. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
About Congaree Foundation
Congaree Foundation provides resources for educational and vocational opportunities to help shape the lives of underserved and ambitious youths who share a passion for golf. Its signature program is the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, an immersive collegiate preparatory curriculum tailored toward high school students in the U.S. and internationally. Participants come to Congaree each summer and work with educators, guidance counselors and golf instructors to advance their preparation for the college admissions process and prepare them for success in life. In the Lowcountry, Congaree Foundation operates a number of programs and partnerships with valuable community organizations including Lowcountry Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club of Jasper County. The Foundation also works to increase access to the game of golf for area students through youth golf instruction programs and Sergeant Jasper Golf Club.
About The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group is a privately-held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. These organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts Collection, AS Roma, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin. For more information, visit www.friedkin.com.
Media Contacts:
Rachel Noble, PGA TOUR, 860-841-2424, RachelNoble@pgatourhq.com
Chuah Choo Chiang, PGA TOUR, Asia, +6012 2172 123, ChuahCC@pgatourintl.com.my
