Las Vegas, NV – The Las Vegas Founders Club, PGA TOUR and Michelin North America today announced that the tire manufacturer has extended its title sponsorship of the TOUR’s Michelin Championship at Las Vegas through 2006.
Michelin, the world’s largest tire maker, signed a one-year sponsorship agreement with the Founders Club for last year’s tournament. Following the success of the 2004 tournament, Michelin extended its sponsorship for two years.
“Michelin is proud to extend the title sponsorship of this world-class golf event and our support of local charities in the Las Vegas area. This year, we will associate much more of our brand marketing activities with the tournament and professional golf where possible. Research shows a clear link among professional golf, the PGA TOUR and the car enthusiasts we want to reach,” said Sheryl Henderson, director of Michelin brand.
This year’s tournament will be held October 12-16 at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin and the Tournament Players Club at The Canyons, and will offer a purse of $4 million.
“The Founders is extremely pleased to be extending its relationship with Michelin,” said John Sullivan, president of the Las Vegas Founders. “Adding an industry leader like Michelin to our long standing PGA TOUR relationship and the exciting new changes to our event creates a better way forward for the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas.”
The Michelin Championship at Las Vegas underwent several changes last year. Still featuring a unique pro-am format in which amateurs play with TOUR members during the actual tournament competition, the tournament was reduced from five rounds to four. This year, the Michelin Championship at Las
Vegas will be played over four days on two courses. The pro-am format will be modified to include two professionals and two amateurs in each pairing, rather than one professional and three amateurs.
“With Michelin’s continued commitment as title sponsor, and the format changes that have been made, we believe the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas is significantly strengthened as a tournament and as a contributor to local charities,” said Tom Wade, Chief Marketing Officer for the PGA TOUR. “We are extremely pleased Michelin has extended its involvement with the Founders Club and the Las Vegas community.”
About Michelin
The world’s largest tire maker, Michelin (http://www.michelinman.com/) manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs 23,000 and operates 21 plants in 17 locations.
About the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas:
The Las Vegas Founders Golf Foundation and its charitable foundation, the Las Vegas Founders Gold Foundation, have contributed in excess of $10,000,000 to local charities over the years from its operation of golf events for the PGA TOUR, Champions TOUR, UNLV Rebels men’s golf team, UNLV Rebels women’s golf team, and the American Junior Golf Association. Proceeds of these events have gone to such local community organizations as Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas, The First Tee of Southern Nevada, Opportunity Village, Las Vegas History Foundation, Classroom on Wheels, Boy Scouts of America, Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer, Variety – Children’s Charity, and the UNLV men’s and women’s golf programs.
About the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.
Approximately 110 events will be contested on the three Tours in 2005, for approximately $320 million in prize money. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant sums of money for charity. TOUR events have raised approximately $909 million for charity since 1938, the first year such records were kept. The PGA TOUR’s Web site address is http://www.pgatour.com/.
Contact:
Michelin North America
Phil Romba (864) 458-4511
mailtphil.romba@us.michelin.com
PGA Tour
Chris Smith (904) 273-3379
mailtcsmith@pgatourhq.com