The du Maurier Classic, which is the fourth major on
the LPGA Tour schedule and the "only stop the tour makes in
Canada, came closer to being snuffed out yesterday when
Imperial Tobacco" announced it is "looking for another
corporation to pick up" title sponsorship of the event,
according to Mark Atchison of the TORONTO STAR. Imperial
had been the event's title sponsor for the past 26 years,
and the announcement "means the chances of the Classic
retaining its major status or even remaining on the LPGA
schedule in future years will now become more difficult."
Atchison writes that the event's new sponsor would "have to
inject at least" C$5M per year into the tournament "to keep
it a major," and Imperial is "hoping to attract a new
sponsor who will commit to the event for at least five
years." Atchison: "That rules out everyone except major
corporations like auto companies or those in the computer
sector. And many of those have committed to other tours and
events." LPGA Exec Dir of Tournament Sponsors Rob Neal gave
no deadline for finding a sponsor (TORONTO STAR, 2/22).
