Golf-Venue change for Barclays Classic

MIAMI Jan 26 (Reuters) - The Barclays Classic, the first of the four big-money FedExCup playoff events, will move from Westchester Country Club to Ridgewood Country Club this year, the PGA Tour said on Saturday.

The venue change will leave the prestigious Westchester layout in Harrison, New York, without a PGA Tour event for the first time in 40 years.

"As we have said before we believe it is in the best interest of the Barclays to rotate among various venues in the New York area, as do other significant events," commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

"We look forward to beginning that rotation with Ridgewood in 2008 and a return to Westchester, which has been a terrific host for PGA Tour events since 1967, for at least one more play by 2012."

American Steve Stricker birdied the last three holes at Westchester to win last year's Barclays Classic by two shots from South Korea's KJ Choi.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in San Diego; Editing by Tony Jimenez)