Former NFL stars to face off in Pro FTB golf event in Texas
With all the recent talk concerning team golf, especially in light of the success of the TGL co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, an addition to the golf landscape is offering another opportunity to see pro athletes in a team golf competition.
The inaugural Pro Cup, played in December in Innisbrook, Florida, pitted four teams of stars in a Ryder Cup-like setting. Led by John Smoltz and Tyler Clippard, a team comprised of one-time Major League Baseball stars drubbed a squad of former National Football League players, 52-24, in the final match of the first event (a team of former NHL greats defeated a team of NBA players in the consolation, 23-19).
Now the fledgling circuit is set to put on its first sport-specific tournament, one of four that will be played through 2025. Since the first league up is football, the league made a fitting announcement on Tuesday, when it unveiled that the tournament will be played in Texas.
The Pro FTB will be held at PGA Frisco from March 21-23, on the new complex that houses the PGA of America's headquarters.
A number of Pro Football Hall of Famers are among those expected to take part in the event, including Tim Brown, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Dwight Freeney and Brian Urlacher. Also in the initial field are Patrick Peterson, Kordell Stewart, David Binn, Terrell Buckley, Brice Butler, Joshua Dobbs, Eric Ebron, Kyle Fuller, Jermaine Kearse, Fred McCrary, Jason Myers, Andre Roberts, Josh Scobee, Ryan Succop and Bryan Walters.
The event will include two practice rounds, a pro-am and then three days of competition in modified Stableford format.
“Professional athletes of this caliber are never done competing,” said Nick Clark, the general manager for the circuit. “The Pro taps into the relentless competitive drive of professional athletes and gives them an opportunity to compete at a high level in a new arena. We’re bringing some of the top athletes in the world to America’s biggest sports cities to deliver a compelling golf experience for players and fans, while making a positive impact in local communities by showcasing the transformative impacts of sports.”
The no-cut event will have a field of 54 and the announced purse is $400,000.
Three other sport-specific events will round out the 2025 tournament schedule, as hockey players will square off in Pro HKY in July, a Pro BKB event will pit NBA players in Augusta and the Pro BSB event will welcome baseball stars in December. The tournament sites have yet to be determined.
For those interested in attending, daily and weekly passes are available at theprorivalsopen.com although children 14 and under and military veterans will be admitted for free.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: NFL stars golf tournament Texas in March
