WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Exec Dir Don Padgett III said that Bridgestone's four-year title sponsorship extension announced after last year's event "prompted most of the tournament’s other major sponsors to follow." Padgett: “Keeping Bridgestone as our title sponsor is a big deal. That provides the underpinning that makes the event possible. Once that came into line, we then asked the local sponsors to extend as well, and the majority of them did.” Padgett added that the sponsorship extensions "mirrored Bridgestone’s four-year commitment" through '18 (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 7/30).
A NEW ERA BEGINS: The PGA of America has selected New Era as the official cap provider for the '14 U.S. Ryder Cup team. The agreement gives New Era exclusive rights to the team's headwear through '16. The new Ryder Cup headwear will begin showing up at retail, including at PGA.com and NewEraCap.com, later this week. A portion of the proceeds will go to the PGA's 41 sections across the country. The Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 26-28 at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland (PGA).
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: PNC Financial Services Group has renewed its contract as title sponsor of the Father/Son Challenge. PNC became title sponsor of the offseason event in '12. The multiyear extension keeps the event, which features a mix of PGA Tour and Champions Tour golfers with their sons, in Orlando (PNC).
