FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2022

CONTACT
Lynn Stander
Senior Communications Manager, MCEDC
301.922.8017
lynn.stander@thinkmoco.com

UPDATED ON APRIL 8, 2022 AT 12:00 PM TO REFLECT THAT TOURNAMENT GOLFERS HAVE NOT YET MADE OFFICIAL COMMITMENTS TO PLAY IN THE UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS.

Wells Fargo Championship in May projected to have $30 million economic impact; First in series of future PGA championships in Montgomery County 

Rockville, Md – Professional golf will be returning to the Greater Washington area for the first time in three years with the Wells Fargo Championship to be held May 5-8, 2022 at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland. 

The Wells Fargo Championship is the first of two significant men’s and women’s tournaments held in Montgomery County this year. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a major tournament on the women’s tour, will be held at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, June 23-26, 2022. 

To forecast the fiscal implications of the upcoming 2022 professional golf tournaments, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Visit Montgomery, the Maryland Sports Commission and the Maryland Department of Commerce commissioned an economic impact assessment from Sage Policy Group, Inc., with a focus on the Wells Fargo Championship. 

The analysis projects that the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac will generate nearly $30 million overall in economic activity to the Maryland economy with more than $17 million in visitor spending to Montgomery County that would not have occurred without the tournament. Statewide, the Wells Fargo Championship is expected to support 249 jobs, more than $10 million in associated labor income, approximately $175,000 in local tax revenues, and $1.6 million in income and sales tax revenues for the State of Maryland. 

Additionally, the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is the first of eight professional and amateur championship tournaments that the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America has committed to Congressional Country Club over the next 15 years. The other championship tournaments include the 2024 Junior PGA Championship, the 2025 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, the 2027 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the 2029 PGA Professional Championship, the 2031 PGA Championship, the 2033 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and the 2037 Ryder Cup. 

The region has not hosted a professional golf tournament since the 2018 Quicken Loans National was held at TPC Potomac. After this year, the Wells Fargo Championship will return to its home base at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

“Montgomery County is proud to be hosting the Wells Fargo Championship in May and the KPMG Women’s Championship in June this year, and is scheduled to be a host of national tournaments for years to come,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Montgomery County’s golf courses attract players from throughout the region annually, and our economy will clearly benefit from these tournaments being hosted in the County.”

“Not only will the country be watching some of the leading men and women golfers play locally here but we’ll also be able to introduce Montgomery County to the world, especially with such an expected international field of players in both tournaments,” said County Council President Gabe Albornoz. 

“After a three-year absence and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the appetite for a return of professional golf to the region is very strong,” said Benjamin H. Wu, President & CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “It’s highly unusual for there to be such a concentration of the world’s best golfing talent in one area in a span of just a few weeks. With two championship tournaments this year and the PGA’s commitment through the next 15 years, golf will provide Montgomery County with a robust economic contribution through at least 2037.” 

“Both of these incredible golf tournaments are incomparable opportunities to support our hospitality and tourism sectors,” said Kelly Groff, President & CEO of Visit Montgomery. “The players, their caddies, their families, the tournament staff, and the fans coming to Montgomery County for the tournaments will help these affected industries recover from the pandemic.” 

“The revenue that golf tournaments generate for the state and the county is incredibly significant. With these two tournaments this year and the remarkable success of the BMW Championship last year, Maryland is proving itself to be one of the best destinations for some of the world’s top golfers to compete,” said Mike Gill, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce. 

“Attracting major tournaments to Maryland has important financial and marketing benefits for the state and the entire sports tourism industry. Our golf fans throughout the state have shown their ability and willingness to support a future annual stop on the professional tour,” said Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of the Maryland Sports Commission. 

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy won the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship. Olympic gold medalist Nelly Korda won the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

The economic impact assessment report can be found here. 

ABOUT MCEDC

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County, Maryland. Created in 2016, MCEDC is led by a Board of Directors of business executives. Its mission is to help businesses start, grow and relocate in Montgomery County by helping them gain access to top talent, business and market intelligence and prime locations. For more information, visit our website. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.