RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- The Kraft Nabisco Championship will be played one week later than usual starting in 2006, preventing the LPGA Tour’s first major from getting lost among other big sporting events.
The Nabisco has been played the final weekend in March since 1991.
Except for the occasional year, that’s the same weekend as The Players Championship on the PGA Tour, and the NCAA basketball tournament. Even with Annika Sorenstam winning the Nabisco two straight years, or Michelle Wie contending for the title as a 14-year-old, its coverage is minimal.
Tournament director Terry Wilcox said the date change would be permanent starting with 2006, when the tournament dates will be March 30 to April 2.
‘We have been considering a date change for the past few years as a way to remove conflicts from other sporting events held the last weekend in March,’ Wilcox said. ‘We felt it was time to capitalize on the excitement and growing popularity of women’s golf and move the tournament so it would not compete with these events any longer.’
Grace Park won the Nabisco this year, taking the traditional plunge into the pond fronting the 18th green.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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