Insurance and financial services firm Nationwide has extended its presenting sponsor deal with PGA Tour golf event the Memorial Tournament.
Nationwide has agreed a six-year renewal of its association with the event. The new deal becomes effective next year and will cover the 2016 to 2021 editions of the tournament. The event, which was founded by golfing great Jack Nicklaus in 1976, will retain its official title of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide for the duration of the deal.
Nationwide’s increased backing will enable the Memorial Tournament to next year up its total prize fund to $8.5m (€7.8m) from $6.2m.
“Sponsoring a nationally renowned tournament like the Memorial allows Nationwide to connect with golf fans here in Columbus and across the country,” Steve Rasmussen, Nationwide’s chief executive, said. “More importantly, our affiliation with this tournament shines a national spotlight on the life-changing work being done at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and helps raise much-needed funds to ensure they can continue to positively impact the lives of countless children and their families.”
The firm has been a partner of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio since 2007. Through its Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation Alliance, the Memorial Tournament this year raised a record-breaking $1.6m for the hospital.
The 2016 tournament will take place at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio from May 30 until June 5. Sweden’s David Lingmerth (pictured) is the reigning champion.