R.J. Reynolds (RJR) President of Sports Marketing Rick
Sanders said that the company "intends to continue
sponsoring" the Senior PGA Tour Vantage Championship in NC,
despite speculation that the company would drop its support
due to the Master Settlement Agreement on tobacco
sponsorship, according to John Dell of the WINSTON-SALEM
JOURNAL. Sanders said that the event is "one of [RJR's]
biggest vehicles for entertaining clients" and added that
"community relations" is another benefit to the partnership.
Sanders: "Given those as our objectives, we don't see
anything changing other than the name. ... We can name it
the RJR Championship or we could name it the R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Championship or something like that." Dell cites
one source as saying that RJR "spends close to" $3M per year
on the Vantage event (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 9/12).
THIS DEAL FITS LIKE A GLOVE: MA-based Acushnet has
signed a deal with Jesper Parnevik to continue playing
Titleist balls and wearing FootJoy shoes and glove through
2003. Parnevik has been using Titleist balls and wearing
FootJoy shoes since turning pro in '86 (Acushnet).
WOMEN'S GOLF: Boxes of LPGA sponsor MultiGrain Cheerios
are now featuring the LPGA logo. The co-branded packages
offer consumers the chance to redeem on-box coupons for golf
balls and will be on shelves through September (LPGA).
...Golf Digest Woman has become title sponsor of the
National Club Championship for Women. Liquidgolf.com is
presenting sponsor of the event. The tournament includes
120 women club champions and runners-up (THE DAILY).
