Bridgestone Corp. and the PGA Tour Inc. have reached an agreement in principle to extend Bridgestone's title sponsorship of the World Golf Championships' Bridgestone Invitational tournament. When details are finalized, Bridgestone will host its namesake tournament for the next five years.
Bridgestone first began sponsoring the Bridgestone Invitational in 2006, and the current title sponsorship agreement runs through 2010. The tournament is played at Firestone Country Club's South Course in Akron, Ohio.
"The tough economy has certainly proved challenging for everyone, so it's good to be able to share some positive news," said Mark Emkes, chariman and CEO of Bridgestone Americas Inc. and a Bridgestone Corp. board member, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. "This agreement in principal will keep the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club through 2014.
"This world-class event provides a tremendous boost to the economy in Northeast Ohio, generates significant contributions to local charities such as The First Tee, and gives us incredible global exposure for the Bridgestone and Firestone brands."
The Bridgestone Invitational is one of four World Golf Championships events sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours. The other three are the Accenture Match Play Championship, the CA Championship and the HSBC Champions.
