Philips Electronics will "not extend its contract" as
title sponsor of the LPGA Tour stop in Austin, even though
the company was "happy with the results of the first two
tournaments," according to Kirk Bohls of the AUSTIN
AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Gaylord Event TV, which owns the rights
to the tournament, will "foot the bill" for the $900,000
purse if a title sponsor is not found to replace Philips.
Tournament Dir John Albertson said yesterday Gaylord has "a
couple of people in line" as potential title sponsors and
that it "might even come up with two that would share"
sponsorship of the event. The event has "drastically
improved in terms of attendance and exposure" in its two
years in Austin, as 25,000 attended in '99 and about 40,000
attended this May. Also, the "weak initial field" became
"one with 46 of the tour's top 50 players" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-
STATESMAN, 9/28). Philips VP/Brand Communication Terry
Fassburg noted a change in corporate strategy for dropping
the event. But Fassburg said, "It was a terrific
tournament. When we began this campaign about three years
ago, less than 3 percent of [U.S.] households recognized our
name. Now we're over 50 percent" (AP, 9/28).
LPGA NOTES: While the Weetabix Women's British Open was
officially named the LPGA's fourth major yesterday (see THE
DAILY, 9/22), the event "also will be televised for the
first time" in its history. ABC Sports will carry the event
in the U.S., and the BBC will have it in the U.K. (ESPN.com,
9/27)....The City of Hope cancer research and treatment
center, the owner of the Kathy Ireland Greens.com LPGA
Classic, "intends to move" the event from Myrtle Beach, SC,
"closer to" its HQs near L.A. (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/28).
