PGA Tour's The Heritage Tees Off Today Without Title Sponsor

The Heritage PGA Tour event tees off today at Harbour Town Golf Links without a title sponsor and "it could be the beginning of the end." The event, which has been held on Hilton Head Island since '69, used its reserve funds to host this year's event. Tournament Dir Steve Wilmot said that six to eight potential sponsors will be at the tournament, "getting the full treatment that includes a heavy-handed push from South Carolina politicians." The tournament "hasn't been given a drop-dead date to find a sponsor but something needs to be resolved before summer" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/21).

PGA Tour Exec VP & COO Andy Pazder said the Tour feels "extremely confident we can find a long-term partner and title sponsor here. We've got a number of active discussions under way" (AP, 4/20).