The PGA Tour yesterday continued its recent tournament entitlement shuffle, announcing that Hyundai next year will replace Northern Trust as title sponsor of the event at Riviera Country Club in L.A. Hyundai will be shifting its sponsorship away from the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua to what currently is the Northern Trust Open. The Tour on Tuesday announced that Northern Trust will replace Barclays as title sponsor of the first FedExCup playoff tournament beginning in '17. The Tour is now looking for a new title sponsor for the Tournament of Champions (John Lombardo, Staff Writer). In Hawaii, Robert Collias notes all indications are that the Tournament of Champions "will be held at Kapalua" through at least '19 under a 10-year contract held by South Korea-based Seoul Broadcasting System. SBS was the title sponsor of the '10 Kapalua tournament after Mercedes-Benz ended its deal following 16 years. SBS "farmed out the title sponsorship here to Hyundai" in '11 (MAUI NEWS, 1/21).
TRUMP CARD: The AP's Doug Ferguson noted despite this week's moves, the Tour "still has a few big corporate holes to fill after this year." The "biggest question" is the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral. Cadillac is "not expected to renew its sponsorship after this year, which has raised questions whether the tour will leave the Miami area." The Tour has a "long-term deal to play at Trump National Doral, though that deal is subject to approval by a new title sponsor." Meanwhile, the Colonial National Invitational Tournament in Ft. Worth remains "without a title sponsor this year after Crowne Plaza didn't renew" following '15 (AP, 1/19).
