August 21, 2005
BRIDGESTONE BRAND BECOMES TITLE SPONSOR OF WORLD
GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL
AT FIRESTONE COUNTRY CLUB
Bridgestone Brand also will serve as Umbrella Sponsor
of the World Golf Championships series
Akron, Ohio — The International Federation of PGA Tours today announced that
the Bridgestone brand will serve as the title sponsor of the World Golf Championships
tournament at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. The tournament, currently titled
the World Golf Championships NEC-Invitational, will become the Bridgestone Invitational
in 2006. The agreement spans from 2006-2010.
"We are pleased to welcome the Bridgestone brand as an umbrella sponsor of the World
Golf Championships and as title sponsor of the Bridgestone Invitational," said PGA
TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours.
"We look forward to a long-term relationship with the Bridgestone family of companies
and a bright future for this championship."
This sponsorship agreement ensures that the Bridgestone Invitational will remain
at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio for the next five years. The 2006 Bridgestone
Invitational will be held Aug. 22-27.
“We are honored to sponsor such a world-class tournament, especially since the Bridgestone
Invitational will be played at the world-renowned Firestone Country Club,” said
Mark A. Emkes, chairman and CEO, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. and Bridgestone
Firestone North American Tire, LLC. “Our company has been part of the Akron community
for more than a century, and to have the tournament played at Firestone is a wonderful
connection with our heritage and to our future. We look forward to working with
the International Federation of PGA Tours and the City of Akron to continue the
great tradition of this tournament.”
Since 1984, the tournament at Firestone C.C. has donated more than $15 million to
local charities in the Akron area. The Bridgestone Invitational is eager continue
this tradition of giving and will continue to provide meaningful support to local
charities.
Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of tires and other rubber
products. The company also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which
include industrial rubber and chemical products, and sporting goods. Bridgestone
first began making golf balls in 1935 and has a long and distinguished history in
the sport. After becoming the leading golf equipment supplier to the Japanese market,
Bridgestone entered the U.S. market in 1983, marketing its products under the Precept
brand.
Beginning this year, the company introduced the Bridgestone Golf brand to America
as a premium Tour brand, with PGA TOUR players Stuart Appleby, Nick Price, Shigeki
Maruyama and Fred Couples representing the Bridgestone brand.
“This is a very exciting time for the Bridgestone family of companies,” said Shigeo
Watanabe, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Corporation. “We’re thrilled
to be teaming with our Americas operations and our Bridgestone sports and golf divisions
to sponsor such a prestigious event on the PGA TOUR. Just as in tires and in other
rubber products—Bridgestone Golf is known for its precision and performance. What
a great way to showcase our great brands and our passion for excellence,” Watanabe
concluded.
The Bridgestone Invitational became a part of the World Golf Championships in 1999
as the NEC Invitational. NEC had been title sponsor of the tournament since 1984.
“In welcoming Bridgestone, I would also like to express our gratitude to NEC,” added
Finchem. “Its support has helped elevate this tournament into one of the premier
championships in golf.”
The World Golf Championships feature elite players in a variety of competitive formats
at venues around the world. Since the series debut in 1999, World Golf Championships
have been held in seven countries.
When the Algarve World Cup in Portugal is held this November, that number will increase
to eight. The remaining 2005 World Golf Championships are the American Express Championship
at San Francisco's Harding Park Golf Course, Oct. 4-9, and the Algarve World Cup
in Portugal, Nov. 15-20 at the Victoria Clube de Golfe-Vilamoura, in the Algarve
region of Portugal. The first World Golf Championships event of the year, the Accenture
Match Play Championship, took place in February at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad,
Calif. and was won by David Toms. Accenture, American Express, and Portugal are
worldwide Umbrella Sponsors of the World Golf Championships, while JELD-WEN and
Kohler are Official Sponsors. Prior to becoming an Umbrella Sponsor of the World
Golf Championship next year, Bridgestone is an Official Sponsor for 2005.
# # #
About the World Golf Championships:
This year marks the seventh year of the World Golf Championships, which debuted
in 1999. The World Golf Championships are sanctioned and organized by the International
Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf
Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Southern Africa Tour. The World Golf
Championships include the Accenture Match Play Championship, American Express Championship,
NEC Invitational and Algarve World Cup in Portugal. For more information, please
visit worldgolfchampionships.com.
About Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH) is the U.S. subsidiary
of the Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAH
and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone,
Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires to address the needs of
a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle
original equipment manufacturers and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining
industries. The companies also produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic
rubber and industrial fibers and textiles and operate the world’s largest chain
of automotive tire and service centers.
About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and
rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications,
it manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial
rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150
countries and territories around the world.
About Bridgestone Sports:
Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets premium sporting goods equipment
and accessories globally. Bridgestone Sports’ history of innovation has made them
the #1 golf equipment manufacturer in Japan, with greater than a 40% market share
of the Japanese golf ball market. In addition to their global presence in golf,
Bridgestone Sports utilizes its proprietary precision engineering to create quality
racquet sports equipment as well, including a full line of tennis racquets, tennis
balls, badminton racquets, racquet sports shoes and apparel. For more information
on Bridgestone Sports visit http://www.bs-sports.co.jp/english/.
About Bridgestone Golf:
Bridgestone Golf, Inc., based in Covington, GA, manufactures and markets premium
golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Precept and Bridgestone brand names.
Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed
golfers including, Stuart Appleby, Fred Couples, Shigeki Maruyama and Nick Price.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd.,
whose headquarters are in Tokyo.
Contacts:
James Cramer
Director, Public Relations
World Golf Championships
Tel: 904-273-3293/904-631-2999 (mobile)
Email: jcramer@pgatourhq.com
Dan MacDonald
Director of Media Relations
Bridgestone Americas
Tel: 615-937-1497/615-419-4565 (mobile)
Email: macdonalddan@BFUSA.com
Jeff Dezen
President
Jeff Dezen Public Relations (JDPR)
864.233.3776, ext. 11/864.630.7187 (mobile)
Email: jeffd@jdpr.com