FedEx extending its sponsorship of the St. Jude Classic through ‘14 gives the PGA Tour event the “stability it has sought since a troubled title-sponsorship relationship with Stanford Financial ended two years ago,” according to Phil Stukenborg of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. Tournament Dir Phil Cannon said, "There was an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude when we learned of their commitment and an affirmation that what we're doing out here matters and is of value to the city and to St. Jude." FedEx previously title sponsored the event from '86-'06. Stanford took over “shortly after FedEx agreed in 2005 to become title sponsor" of the PGA Tour's season-ending FedExCup playoff. The tournament was held without a title sponsor in '09 and “had Smith & Nephew as a presenting sponsor” in ‘10. FedEx did remain a "presenting sponsor of the tournament during the four years that it was not title sponsor.” Cannon said that a “major benefit of a long-term title-sponsorship relationship is having time to concentrate on enhancing future tournaments.” Cannon: ''We are going to spend a lot of time this summer with FedEx and St. Jude officials to shore up all our marketing plans, especially going after the 21- to 35-year-old market” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 5/18).
