The PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament has "extended its contract" with presenting sponsor Nationwide through '21 and increased its purse by 37%, from $6.2M to $8.5M, according to Rob Oller of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. The overall purse will "increase by $200,000 per year through the length of the contract." The winner's share "also jumps" nearly 45%, going from $1.116M to $1.615M. The total prize money now ranks the Memorial behind only the four majors, four WGC events and The Players. Winners of the tournament also "will receive one more year -- from two to three -- of exempt status" on the Tour. Event host Jack Nicklaus said of the longer exemption, "We wanted to have some things that help separate us. It's meaningful to the players. Probably to some of the younger guys it would mean a lot." He added that talks had been taking place between Nationwide, the event and the PGA Tour "for the past several years, but the tournament wanted more than just an increase in the purse." Oller notes in addition to the increased purse and Tour exemption, the Memorial also will get "added TV coverage, including a one-hour special to air on CBS the week before the tournament" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/16). Nicklaus said of the increased purse, "It was to get the tournament in position to where we fell in line with where our status really is, and our status is right there under the major championships. ... That's where we felt like we should be, and so that’s what we’ve done." Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte noted the Nationwide extension "was needed in many ways," and the enhancements to the event "sends a sign to the players too, that this is a golf tournament you shouldn’t forget about in your priority list." Rosaforte: "It should be right up there with the WGC’s and the FedExCup Playoff events. These are moves that Jack has made along with the staff up there to ensure that that’s going to happen” (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 12/15).
