Japanese online fashion retailer Zozo will title sponsor the first annual, official PGA Tour tournament in Japan when it launches next year.
Under the six-year deal, the tournament will be called the Zozo Championship and boast a Japan-record purse of $9.75m (€8.6m).
The event will be co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, and will debut during the week of October 21, 2019, during the opening segment of the 2019-20 PGA Tour FedExCup season.
Zozo chief executive Yusaku Maezawa said in statement that the brand was celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and has launched a private fashion brand Zozo, designed and distributed by the company.
“Just like golf has the power to motivate and connect people all over the world, regardless of nationality, gender, age or body shape, we hope to grow our private brand Zozo into a brand that is loved all over the world, regardless of big, small, tall or short,” Maezawa said.
The Zozo Championship will become part of the Tour’s swing through Asia, joining The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges in Korea and the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in China.
The CIMB Classic in Malaysia will no longer be on the PGA Tour schedule. CIMB is realigning its sponsorship with the Tour.
For more on PGA Tour deals read: Wyndham and FedEx raise PGA Tour’s prize money game