Breaking News: PGA Tour Steals Discarded LPGA Tour Sponsor
The PGA Tour literally just sent out a press release saying that Seoul Broadcasting System has agreed to a new 10 year deal to sponsor the season-opening event in Hawaii.
PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem and Sang Chun, President, SBS International, a division of Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), today announced a 10-year agreement whereby SBS becomes title sponsor of the TOUR’s season-opening tournament in Kapalua, HI from 2010 through 2019.
In other words, this means two things:
- Mercedes-Benz is out as sponsor of the winners-only event at Kapalua, though we don't know their future as a PGA Tour sponsor
- The PGA Tour signed SBS up as a sponsor of a Hawaiian event just a few short months after the LPGA Tour decided to go with J Golf as its Korean TV distribution partner
When J Golf was introduced as the LPGA's Korean TV partner, the reaction from SBS was that they felt like they had not been treated like a 15 year partner of the LPGA Tour. Almost assuredly, that hurt sentiment compelled SBS to get on board with the PGA Tour to help them out in a tough situation.
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DUDE !
You can’t steal something that was discarded !!
Kind of interesting – the LPGA went with J Golf – but SBS obviously has the dollars to take over a PGA Tour spot. The immediate deduction is that J Golf outbid SBS. Now it looks more like the dollars the LPGA got were more than SBS was willing to spend.
SO – does SBS know something through experience that J Golf doesn’t know – that the LPGA will only draw so many dollar and aren’t worth expanding their sponsorship ? Or is it just SBS’ corporate opinion and J Golf has a different opionion and idea of how to broadcast and make money off of their sponsorship ?
It would be interesting to see the figures after all is said and done.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on May 7, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think you’re right that SBS wasn’t willing to pay the same thing that J Golf was because of value, not because of cash flow. It’s a big spending hike to get into a PGA Tour event!
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on May 7, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
remains to be seen
I believe J Golf has committed to sponsoring an annual LPGA tournament during the season in Southern California, specifically at Torrey Pines. That will be better for the LPGA than one in Hawaii in February.
Mercedes wanted out, SBS wanted in. It’s possible this will turn into a win-win for everyone.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
by dianemarie on May 7, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it will be a win-win for everyone. J Golf has their name on the Torrey event, as you mentioned. It’s going to work out for them, too.
More than anything, I found the loop of how this works out interesting.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on May 7, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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