The PGA Tour, Farmers Insurance and the Century Club of San Diego today announced that Farmers has extended its title sponsorship of the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines Golf Course through '19. The five-year extension begins following the January '14 event (Farmers). In San Diego, Tod Leonard notes the renewal will "continue what has been a highly successful bonding since the Southern California-based insurance company signed up as sponsor only one week before the 2010 event." Tournament Dir Peter Ripa said that in the four years of Farmers’ presence, the event has generated more than $6M in "charity for local organizations" and $100M in "economic impact to San Diego." Farmers has had a "high corporate profile during the event week and thousands of its agents have attended the tournament." Ripa said that the Century Club, with the support of Farmers, has spent more than $1M "in tournament upgrades in the past two years." Farmers’ relationships in other sports and entertainment areas "also have made an impact." As an example, the company "sponsors the country band Rascal Flatts, which held a private benefit concert at the Del Mar race track last year that raised $150,000 for the Monarch School and Pro Kids Golf Academy." Ripa said, “They have resources the Century Club might not have. Some partners might write a check and not be quite as involved. They have a sense of ownership in the success" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/5).
YOUR NAME HERE: GOLFWEEK.com reported the Canadian Women's Open "has secured a new title sponsor" for '14 in railway company Canadian Pacific. The Canadian National Railway Company (CN) had "sponsored the event the last eight years" (GOLFWEEK.com, 11/4). Meanwhile, GOLFCHANNEL.com's Randall Mell reported the LPGA Founders Cup "will return to Phoenix next year but with a new title sponsor." RR Donnelley, title sponsor for the first three Founders Cups, "is stepping aside." LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan in a statement yesterday said that a new title sponsor "has been secured and will be revealed later this year" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 11/4).
LAST CALL? In Pennsylvania, Joe Tuscano reported Mylan Inc. has "decided to no longer sponsor" the Web.com Tour Mylan Classic outside of Pittsburgh. The event "will probably be discontinued" if a sponsor cannot be found. Tournament Dir Chase McClain said that there were "two sponsorships under consideration, but a decision is still a couple weeks away" (OBSERVER-REPORTER.com, 11/4).
