LOS ANGELES – Nissan North America, Inc., title sponsor of the PGA TOUR’s Nissan Open since 1989, has extended its sponsorship by four years, through 2010.
The announcement was made today by Jan Thompson, Vice President, Marketing for Nissan.
"It gives Nissan great pleasure to extend our partnership with the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Riviera County Club and the PGA TOUR," Thompson said. "Aside from bringing world class golf to the greater L.A. area, it allows Nissan to partner with the LAJCC in reaching out to the community in which, we work and live."
Nissan’s affiliation with the tournament began in 1987 as presenting sponsor. The Nissan Open, held annually at Riviera Country Club, is the oldest civic-sponsored tournament on the PGA TOUR, celebrating its 80th anniversary this week. The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce has managed the event since its inception.
"Nissan’s longstanding involvement with the Nissan Open has had significant influence on the tournament’s overall growth and charitable impact," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "Besides being one of the longest-running tournaments on TOUR, its host venue, Riviera Country Club, is one of the great historic courses and a favorite among players. We are very pleased that Nissan has extended its sponsorship through 2010 and will continue to play an important role in the event’s success."
The extension coincides with next year’s start of the TOUR’s new television agreements and introduction of the new FedEx Cup competition, a dramatic season-long points bonus program for players and the centerpiece to the restructured PGA TOUR season in 2007. Scheduled for Feb. 15-18 next year, the Nissan Open’s first two rounds will be televised on The Golf Channel – the TOUR’s exclusive cable network provider for the next 15 years – while the weekend coverage will return to CBS.
"The LA Junior Chamber of Commerce is extremely happy with the extension of the title sponsor relationship with Nissan North America," said Tournament Director Tom Pulchinski. "They are not only a great partner relative to the tournament but also regarding their support of our charitable efforts in the Los Angeles community."
The Nissan Open benefits various area organizations, with proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce’s community service projects throughout Los Angeles County.
Since Nissan assumed title-sponsorship in 1989, the Nissan Open has generated more than $20 million for local charities. Last year’s event raised in excess of $1.5 million. The mission of the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce is to serve the community by providing innovative projects and programs which benefit at-risk youth. The five primary charitable recipients from the 2005 event were: Urban Youth Golf, Safe Passage, L.A. Watts Summer Games, Riordan Leadership Development and Ready to Learn.
About Nissan North America, Inc.
In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infiniti.com.
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.
In 2006, the three Tours will compete in nearly 120 events for approximately $325 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in eight countries outside the U.S. and in 38 states.
In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours reached the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions in late 2005. The PGA TOUR’s web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
About the Nissan Open
The Nissan Open is the third oldest event on the PGA TOUR and the oldest civic-sponsored event. It is managed by the LA Junior Chamber of Commerce. During the tournament’s 80-year history, more than $50 million has been raised to support the local charitable programs of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce has managed the tournament for the past 80 years, making it the oldest civic-sponsored event on the PGA TOUR. The programs and projects of the LAJCC focus on at-risk youth sports that emphasize education, life skills, family growth and leadership development. Membership information can be obtained by calling (213) 482-1311 or online at www.lajcc.org.
Contact:
Terri Hines
Nissan North America
310/771-5155
terri.hines@nissan-usa.com
Chris Smith
PGA TOUR
904/273-3379
csmith@pgatourhq.com
Toby Zwikel
Nissan Open
818/344-6195
tobyz@bzapr.com
