Financial troubles prompt future sponsor to drop out
Associated Press
ATLANTA (April 4) -- Atlanta is in danger of losing its 10-year-old Senior Tour event after failing to line up a new title sponsor.
LiquidGolf.com was set to take over as the title sponsor this year in place of Nationwide Insurance, but financial troubles prompted the Internet company to drop out.
The Senior Tour gave tournament officials until Monday to find a new title sponsor, but no one has stepped forward in a slowing national economy to make the necessary financial commitment.
"This couldn't have happened at a worst time economically," said Warner Neal, the tournament's executive director. "People just don't have the money for a title sponsorship that would fit in our budget."
The average title sponsorship on the Senior Tour runs about $2 million.
The tournament was scheduled for Sept. 21-23 at the Golf Club of Georgia in suburban Alpharetta, its home for six years. Prior to that, it was held for four years at the Country Club of the South.
Jeff Adams, spokesman for the Senior Tour, said other cities are interested in the event.
"We are going to continue to pursue sponsorship for the Atlanta date," he said. "At the same time, we will proceed with other interested markets. It would be premature for me to mention who that may or may not be."
Content Provided by GolfDigest.com
