Motorola said Tuesday it will not extend its title
sponsorship of the PGA Tour's Western Open beyond '99,
according to Ed Sherman of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The event
will search for a new title sponsor, and Sherman writes that
United, Chrysler and Lincoln-Mercury will all be considered.
Motorola's sponsorship expenses exceeded $5M, of which $1.5M
went toward the $2.2M player purse, ranking the Western Open
in the "top quarter" of PGA Tour events. An additional
$2.1M was used in TV advertising and a "significant amount
of cash for corporate entertainment." Motorola, currently
experiencing financial "troubles," cited its desire to
"pursue more globally oriented sports" for terminating its
sponsorship. Motorola spokesperson Barry Cronin: "The
decision does come at a time when the company is under
financial pressures" (Ed Sherman, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/9).
BELL WEATHER: In Toronto, Tim Wharnsby reports that
Bell Canada has agreed to a long-term extension, "believed
to be about five years," as title sponsor of the Canadian
Open. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said that he would
like to see the event's purse, currently at $2.2M, increase
to $3M by 2000 (Tim Wharnsby, TORONTO SUN, 9/10).
