South Carolina state Rep. Andy Patrick said a potential sponsor for the PGA Tour The Heritage is "pretty far along in the process," and a deal should be in place by month's end "if all things continue on the course they're on right now," according to Josh McCann of the Hilton Head ISLAND PACKET. Patrick declined to name the potential sponsor but said, "I don't think it's really any great secret." South Carolina state Rep. Bill Herbkersman said that he “has been told Royal Bank of Canada, which was rumored in April to be close to signing a four-year sponsorship deal, has or is close to a deal.” Tournament organizers in April “denied a Golf World report that RBC was close to a four-year deal.” Tournament Dir Steve Wilmot said that The Heritage is “considering an arrangement in which a primary sponsor would agree to pay the bulk of the cost, while secondary sponsors cover the rest.” He added that organizers are “speaking with ‘a couple’ companies about the primary role, but they need to quickly seal a deal if the tournament is to live on.” Wilmot said the PGA Tour has not given The Heritage a "drop-dead date." But he added that tournament officials “have discussed the possibility they might have to shut their doors soon” (Hilton Head ISLAND PACKET, 6/11).
SPECIAL DELIVERY: In Memphis, Marlon Morgan notes FedEx “stepped up in December and announced a one-year deal to serve as title sponsor” for this past weekend's PGA Tour St. Jude Classic, a role it held from ’86-‘06. Then last month FedEx “announced it was extending its deal” through ‘14. Tournament Dir Phil Cannon said that gate sales “were up 20-25 percent” over last year's event. Concession, parking and merchandise sales “also saw increases.” Cannon cited the “presence of FedEx, local favorite John Daly making the cut and Tim Tebow playing in Wednesday's Pro-Am event as some of the reasons for the increases” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/13).
