Whispers about possible title sponsor candidates included the insurer, Aflac, which purchased about a third of the advertising spots for this year's telecasts, and RBC, the Royal Bank of Canada, which sponsors tour star Jim Furyk. "I'd wish when they're building new golf courses, they'd look at something like this rather than some of the monstrosities we play on now." "This golf course kind of holds up to the test of time," said Scott Verplank, who finished ninth this week.
1 before losing in a dramatic three-hole playoff to Snedeker. 3 Luke Donald had the chance to rise to No. Seven of the top 20 players took part in this year's tournament. It's less than 7,000 yards, but its fairways are tight, its green are small and fast, and the wind off Calibogue Sound typically makes the final three holes some of the most difficult on tour.Īrnold Palmer won the inaugural event in 1969 and the list of champions includes some of the game's greats - Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and others. The island was a little thought of spot at the bottom of the state when Pete Dye crafted Harbour Town, a devilishly little test of terror. "Trust that as a new or repeating champion is crowned today, the efforts of the Foundation and the PGA TOUR will continue with the care that The Heritage name and tradition deserves." "We will not be making any announcement regarding a new title sponsor today, but the sponsorship search continues in earnest," he said. Wilmot was forced to put out a statement late in the day saying that would not happen. The buzz this week was of a "Sunday surprise," a white knight riding in to assure PGA Tour pros and fans that the tournament would survive. The agreement was at the lawyer's office, he said, when the deal fell through at the end. That leaves the tournament chasing down prospects.Ībout six weeks ago, Wilmot held off printing caddie bibs and other signage because he thought he had a done deal for this year and beyond. Nikki Haley has pledged her support for the event, she said several times that taxpayer money was not an option to keep it going. The foundation depleted its funds and while Gov. The Heritage Classic Foundation cobbled together enough through its reserves ($4 million US) and local government help ($1 million US) to hold the just concluded tournament. "At the end of the day, when we go home at the end of the day, we still don't have it," Wilmot said. He said players and prospective company representatives are saying positive things about the tournament. Tournament director Steve Wilmot knows his organization needs to make something happen - and soon.
"Everybody in the field wants to come back here next year, not just me." "I think just how special this is," Snedeker said. Tour and event officials have called it imperative to find a backer for the world's best golfers to return in 2012. The PGA Tour fixture since 1969 is without a title sponsor and desperately seeking the $8 million or so it would take to underwrite the tournament.
Sunday's final round at Harbour Towns Golf Links, when Brandt Snedeker happily slipped on his plaid champions coat and held the trophy high as fans applauded the thrilling finish, could have been The Heritage's last hoorah. Without a title sponsor, The Heritage is on the clock.
0 kommentar(er)
