PGA Will Begin 1986 Tour With New Tournament in the Bahamas Jan. 2-5

The Professional Golfers Assn. will precede its 1986 Tour with a new event, the $300,000 Bahamas Classic at the Paradise Island Golf Club, PGA officials announced.

The tournament, scheduled for Jan. 2-5, will feature a starting field of 44 players -- the top 30 available players from the final 1985 PGA Tour official money list, seven foreign invitees not otherwise eligible and seven sponsor exemptions, said Deane Beman, commissioner of the PGA Tour.

The format for the unofficial money event will be 72 holes on the 6,900-yard course with a par of 36-36--72. The last three rounds of the event will be televised by ESPN.