Sports Illustrated reports that staff reductions at the PGA Tour have claimed the job of Todd Fleming, who served as tournament director for the Cognizant Classic of the Palm Beaches.
Fleming was among 56 PGA Tour employees who lost their positions during Thursday’s layoffs, according to the publication.
Despite the personnel change, the Cognizant Classic will proceed as scheduled in 2027 under temporary leadership. For the last three years, PGA Tour Events has managed the tournament’s operations, the same organization that oversees major competitions like the Players Championship and Tour Championship using PGA Tour staff members.
This operational structure differs from most PGA Tour events, which typically rely on local organizations working with regional charitable groups for management and ownership.
The tournament has a rich history dating back to 1972, when it debuted as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic. Over the decades, it has undergone several name changes, including a stint as the Honda Classic before becoming the Cognizant.
PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens has served as the tournament’s venue since 2007. This year’s competition ran from February 26 through March 1, with Colombian golfer Nico Echavarria claiming victory and taking home more than $1.728 million in prize money.
The layoffs come as the PGA Tour announced additional schedule changes earlier this week, including the cancellation of its traditional January season-opening tournaments in Hawaii.
