LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — One year ago, organizers were introducing Louisville to a PGA Tour event.
This year, they're trying to make it better.
As officials gathered Tuesday at Hurstbourne Country Club for ISCO Championship media day, the mood was noticeably different from a year ago. There were no questions about whether the course could handle a PGA Tour field, whether Louisville would support the event or whether players would embrace the venue.
Those questions were largely answered last July.
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Instead, speakers throughout the morning focused on growth, refinement and building on the momentum created during the tournament's first year at Hurstbourne.
"We're just getting started," ISCO CEO Jimmy Kirchdorfer said.
The ISCO Championship returns to Louisville July 9-12 as one of just 35 regular season PGA Tour events worldwide, and organizers believe they now have a foundation worth building on. The tournament has generated approximately $1.2 million for charitable causes across Kentucky during its time in the commonwealth, and Kirchdorfer said the event continues to bring players, media members, sponsors and visitors from around the world to Louisville each summer.
"It's a big help to our business," Kirchdorfer said. "This championship brings a lot of eyes on Kentucky and a lot of eyes on Louisville."
New director takes over
One of the biggest changes for 2026 comes in the tournament office.
Justin Kristich, who spent the past eight years operating a Korn Ferry Tour event in Florida, took over as tournament director in April. His message Tuesday was simple: Don't fix what isn't broken.
"Very fortunate to take over an event that doesn't need to have everything change," Kristich said. "I don't have to reinvent the wheel."
Instead, Kristich said organizers are focused on enhancing the experience around the tournament. That means improvements in hospitality, food and beverage offerings, sponsor experiences and creating what he called "more Kentucky vibes on the course."
"This is Kentucky's PGA Tour event," Kristich said.
Hurstbourne earned players' respect
If there was one takeaway from the tournament's debut at Hurstbourne last year, it was that the golf course held its own.
Players and caddies repeatedly praised the layout, according to Hurstbourne Director of Golf Danny Baron, who said many appreciated the strategic demands of a course that doesn't simply reward power.
"You can't just hit driver as far as you possibly can and then go find it," Baron said.
Hurstbourne is shorter than many modern PGA Tour venues but it forces players to think. Firm fairways, slick greens and thick Kentucky bluegrass rough combined to create one of the more interesting tests on the schedule. Baron noted that two Hurstbourne holes ranked among the 25 toughest played on the PGA Tour last season, including the tournament's opening hole, which ranked seventh toughest on Tour.
"What they love about it is the strategic aspect of it," Baron said.
One request from Eric Wood
The most direct message of the morning came from tournament co-chair Eric Wood.
The former Louisville and Buffalo Bills standout spent much of his remarks making a public appeal for volunteers, calling them the "lifeblood" of PGA Tour events and saying organizers still need additional help before tournament week arrives.
"We need more volunteers at this point," Wood said.
Volunteers assist with everything from hospitality and operations to player support and fan services, and Wood said the experience offers behind-the-scenes access that most golf fans never get to see.
Year one showed Louisville could host a successful PGA Tour event. Year two will depend on the same thing that drives most successful tournaments — community support.
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