EDS May End Title Sponsorship Of Byron Nelson Championship
EDS CEO Ron Rittenmeyer said that for his company to remain title sponsor of the PGA Tour Byron Nelson Championship, which will be played this weekend at the TPC at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Dallas, the Tour "needs to help get marquee names back," according to Bill Nichols of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Rittenmeyer last week told PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem that the tournament "needs a date that is more popular with players.'' Rittenmeyer: "Our title sponsor comes to a close in two years, and if [Finchem] wants us to continue, he's going to have to come to the table and help us." Since EDS became title sponsor of the tournament in '03, "several factors have eroded the tournament's foundation -- competition for top players from the new Wachovia Championship, being replaced by the Players Championship and moving ahead three weeks on the schedule.'' The second week in May "was the Nelson's primary spot on the [Tour] schedule for 25 years." But last year the Tour "moved the Players Championship into the Nelson's spot and moved the Nelson ahead three weeks.'' Rittenmeyer, whose company "pumps about $6[M] into each event," said, "We kind of got jerked around a bit, and I'm not happy about that." Rittenmeyer also said that the FedEx Cup playoffs "reduces the importance of regular events." Rittenmeyer: "I wasn't happy with the FedEx Cup, and they know that. They did it to get some more excitement, some more money in the game. But we didn't get a vote, and we didn't get to discuss it" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/21).
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