Farmers Insurance Open Tournament Dir Peter Ripa yesterday said that the purse for next year's event will be $6.1M, "with escalators in the contract that would increase the purse each year," including a $200,000 bump in '15. He added that one "considerable upside" of the tourney's five-year title sponsorship extension with Farmers Insurance is "continuing to build on the brand that has been established in the last five years." Farmers Insurance CFO Scott Lindquist said, "To be a sponsor of a PGA Tour event of this caliber is a perfect fit for us. There's been tremendous success for the tournament through the years and we've been pleased to be involved since 2010. We look forward to continuing that growth through 2019" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/6).
OAKLEY GOES AFTER RORY: The IRISH INDEPENDENT reported golfer Rory McIlroy has accused former sponsor Oakley of "trying to 'harass' him by seeking a vast amount of documents." Oakley is "suing the golfer and Nike over McIlroy's lucrative deal with Nike." Oakley claims that prior to the Nike deal, McIlroy "had an agreement with Oakley to wear and endorse its products." Oakley also "claims this deal gave it a right of first refusal over any new deal with McIlroy." The golfer is "relying on the credibility of his former agent Conor Ridge in the case in California -- the same agent he is accusing of deception in a separate case in Dublin" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 11/5).
CLEVELAND GOES AFTER CALLAWAY: GOLFWEEK.com's Alex Miceli reported Cleveland Golf has sued Founder Roger Cleveland's "current employer, Callaway Golf, for use of the Cleveland name." Cleveland Golf and parent company Dunlop Sports last month filed a suit "claiming trademark infringement relating to Callaway's Mack Daddy 2 wedge" (GOLFWEEK.com, 11/4).
