State of North Carolina awards $3.17 million grant, helps land “Biltmore Championship in Asheville”

Asheville, N.C. – Nov. 19, 2025 – North Carolina has approved up to $3.17 million for a grant from the State’s Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund to support the “Biltmore Championship in Asheville.” The new PGA TOUR event set for September 2026 will be part of the FedExCup Fall series.

“PGA TOUR events draw national attention and excitement to a community, and western North Carolina deserves the spotlight as it recovers from Hurricane Helene,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I’m pleased we are helping bring professional golf back to Asheville.”

Biltmore, Explore Asheville, and the PGA TOUR announced the tournament Nov. 10, marking the TOUR’s first return to Asheville since 1942. The event will be played at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course framed by the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains.

“North Carolina is proud to help bring the PGA TOUR back to Asheville after more than 80 years,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Major events like the Biltmore Championship in Asheville strengthen our economy, support local jobs and showcase the beauty of western North Carolina on a global stage. This investment reflects our commitment to growing opportunities in every corner of our state.”

“We are very grateful for the State’s support for the PGA TOUR Biltmore Championship in Asheville,” said Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. “This award from the North Carolina Department of Commerce helped secure this prestigious event for our region that will bring more than 100 professional golfers, their caddies and families, thousands of spectators daily, millions of dollars in direct spending for our area businesses, and hours of live coverage showcasing the beauty of Asheville, Buncombe County and western North Carolina.”

• The Biltmore Championship in Asheville is one of the first six events to receive a grant from the Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund, and the first to be awarded for western North Carolina.
• The North Carolina General Assembly created the fund to stimulate economic activity and support jobs by attracting high-impact events that draw visitors to the state. The fund is derived from taxes generated by sports betting in the state.
• The $3.17 million grant is based upon a portion of the forecasted in-state spend by event organizers and is to be dispersed following the event and an audit of applicable expenditures.

The PGA TOUR’s return to Asheville is the first event in the city in more than 80 years, with the Asheville Land of the Sky Open as the last TOUR event. First contested in the early 1920s, the Asheville Open was an official PGA TOUR tournament from 1939 to 1942, with World Golf Hall of Famer Ben Hogan winning the final three beginning in 1940. The Biltmore Championship in Asheville marks the seventh all-time TOUR event in the city. 

Editor's Note: The official name of the PGA TOUR event is "Biltmore Championship in Asheville" and should be written in full on first reference. 

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ABOUT ASHEVILLE, EXPLORE ASHEVILLE, AND THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 
Asheville is where unrivaled natural beauty and bold creative expression meet in the mountains of western North Carolina. The city is tucked into the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and alongside the ancient French Broad River, just steps from some of the world’s most biodiverse forests. The Asheville area’s ever-evolving community and deeply rooted creative spirit power Explore Asheville, the official destination marketing and management organization. Since 1983, Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority have shared the area’s story with the world while investing in its future, directing nearly $110 million in grants to community projects and, most recently, more than $2.1 million through the Always Asheville Fund to help hundreds of small businesses reopen after Hurricane Helene. Exploreasheville.com; Instagram; YouTube; TikTok; Facebook.