PGA Tour announces 2009 schedule

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The PGA Tour announced Friday it was releasing dates for its 2009 schedule without having come to a decision about when to play its season-ending event.

A date for the Tour Championship is still being negotiated. It could take place either Sept. 17-20 or Sept. 24-27.

"While we have a couple of late-season scheduling issues to resolve, we felt it was best to release the majority of what we believe is an outstanding schedule for 2009 that is fully sponsored," PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

"We are very pleased to officially welcome the Valero Texas Open to the FedEx Cup schedule after performing exceptionally well during the Fall Series. The date change, combined with its planned move to the new TPC San Antonio in 2010, bodes extremely well for its future."

The 2009 season will begin with the usual two weeks in Hawaii. The first World Golf Championship event, the Accenture Match Play, will be contested Feb. 25-March 1.

The Masters will be played in Augusta, Ga., beginning April 9. The other major events will find the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in New York June 18-21, the British Open at Turnberry in Scotland from July 16-19 and the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota Aug. 13-16.

The United States will defend its Presidents Cup title Oct. 9-11 at Harding Park Golf Club in San Francisco.