More good news for the PGA
The Duramed FUTURES Tour announced today that Anheuser-Busch has extended its long-standing sponsorship with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) to its official developmental tour, the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Under the terms of the agreement, Michelob ULTRA will be the official beer sponsor of the Duramed FUTURES Tour this season.
Anheuser-Busch has been the LPGA’s official beer sponsor since 1994, making it one of the longest-running relationships in golf. Recognizing the invaluable role of the Duramed FUTURES Tour in both reaching active golf fans and developing an incredible pipeline of talent for the LPGA, Anheuser-Busch has widened its sponsorship commitment to include both tours, now under the same roof since the LPGA acquired the developmental tour in 2007.
The LPGA’s marketing department has been on a real rollercoaster ride lately. The Anheuser-Bush agreement has to be huge. Beer is pretty much recession proof. In fact, there may be an inverse relationship. The worse things get, the more people drink.
The entire press release is below:
Anheuser-Busch Extends Alliance With LPGA to Sponsorship of Developmental Tour
Michelob ULTRA Designated Official Beer Sponsor of the Duramed FUTURES Tour
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 14, 2009 – The Duramed FUTURES Tour announced today that Anheuser-Busch has extended its long-standing sponsorship with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) to its official developmental tour, the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Under the terms of the agreement, Michelob ULTRA will be the official beer sponsor of the Duramed FUTURES Tour this season.
Anheuser-Busch has been the LPGA’s official beer sponsor since 1994, making it one of the longest-running relationships in golf. Recognizing the invaluable role of the Duramed FUTURES Tour in both reaching active golf fans and developing an incredible pipeline of talent for the LPGA, Anheuser-Busch has widened its sponsorship commitment to include both tours, now under the same roof since the LPGA acquired the developmental tour in 2007.
“Anheuser-Busch is a long-time partner of the LPGA and, in more recent years, has served as the title sponsor for our major championship, the Michelob ULTRA Duramed FUTURES Players Championship,” said Nancy Henderson, the Duramed FUTURES Tour’s chief operating officer. “It’s wonderful that they have recognized the value of our circuit and will now have an extended presence throughout the season.”
The new partnership enables Anheuser-Busch to reach active lifestyle golf fans who reside in Duramed FUTURES Tour tournament host cities, as well as around the world via http://www.duramedfuturestour.com. Key terms of the agreement include displaying the Michelob ULTRA logo on tournament signage as well as on the Duramed FUTURES Tour Mobile Office trailer that travels to every tournament. Additionally, Anheuser-Busch will have the opportunity to provide product and promotional items for various events and functions on Tour as well as to co-promote between the Greater Richmond Duramed FUTURES Classic and the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill on the LPGA Tour schedule.
“We are looking forward to continuing to grow the Michelob ULTRA brand among active golf fans around the country,” said Dan McHugh, vice president, Media, Sponsorship and Activation, Anheuser-Busch. “It’s a natural fit for us to partner with the Duramed FUTURES Tour, considering how closely the two tours now function. They are developing the future stars of the LPGA Tour and we are happy to be a part of it.”
A total of 514 Duramed FUTURES Tour alums have attained LPGA membership since 1981, and own a total of 345 LPGA victories and 37 major championships. Players from 31 nations will compete this season for nearly $1.8 million in prize money, with the top-10 season money winners earning 2010 LPGA membership.
The Michelob ULTRA Duramed FUTURES Players Championship is the Tour’s only 72-hole tournament. Staged in Decatur, Ill., the event is in its 25th year and has boasted such former champions as current world number one and Rolex Player of the Year, Lorena Ochoa, who made the tournament her first professional win in 2002.
About the Duramed FUTURES Tour
The Duramed FUTURES Tour, the LPGA’s official developmental tour, is in its 29th competitive season. The Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. The top 10 money winners each season earn automatic memberships on the LPGA Tour for the following season. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Duramed FUTURES Tour players have won a total of 345 LPGA titles, including 37 major championships. The Tour is playing for a record season purse of nearly $1.8 million this year.
Duramed FUTURES Tour events have contributed more than $4.5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. For more information, visit http://www.duramedfuturestour.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
The LPGA features a membership comprised of world-class LPGA Tour professionals and dedicated Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP). Today’s LPGA Tour features the most talented global group of professional athletes who, in 2009, will compete in a minimum of 30 official money events in 10 countries with total prize money of more than $54 million. In addition to its dynamic Tour members, 1,200 certified LPGA T&CP members serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions, and oversee programs aimed at increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf. The LPGA’s Vision is to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the best golf professionals in the world. Its Mission is to be a leader in the world of sports, to promote economic empowerment for all members, and to serve as role models on and off the course. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to http://www.LPGA.com.
About Anheuser-Busch
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009. Anheuser Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world’s largest recyclers of aluminum cans. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit http://www.anheuser-busch.com.
Media Contact:
Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour, 386-274-6216 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Michael Bulthaus, Anheuser-Busch, 314-577-9671 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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