San Antonio-based Valero Energy yesterday "announced an extension of its title sponsorship" of the PGA Tour Texas Open, "keeping its name attached to the event" through '28, according to John Whisler of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. The '19 tournament "will be played April 4-7, the week before the Masters, all but guaranteeing a better field than it has had in recent years." Since becoming title sponsor in '02, Valero has raised more than $120M for charity, the "most on the PGA Tour." That fact was the "driving force in the tournament reclaiming (the) spot of a week prior to the Masters." PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said that the Texas Open will be "played before the Masters" every year through '28, but "stopped short of guaranteeing the coveted spot one week prior to the major tournament." Sources said that the new deal "exceeds" $10M annually. The 10-year pact is also "among the lengthiest" on tour. The purse will increase in '19 from $6.2M to $7.5M, and Tournament Dir Larson Segerdahl said that the bump in prize money "should help in strengthening the field" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/5).
SHELL GAME: In Houston, Jack Witthaus noted Houston Golf Association President & CEO Steve Timms, whose group runs the PGA Tour Houston Open, said that "sponsorship talks have been 'ongoing'" for the event. Shell Oil had been the tournament's sponsor since '92, but announced in June '16 it would "stop sponsoring the tournament as part of a shift in its sponsorship strategy." That left the HGA "tasked with finding a new sponsor" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/4).
