Kaulig Companies supplants Bridgestone as Senior Players sponsor
![Kaulig Companies, owned by Matt Kaulig, will be taking over the sponsorship of the Senior PGA Championship at Firestone Country Club in 2023 with a contract that runs through 2026. [Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/2022/02/10/USATODAY/usatsports/3d79846490c942faa41c0c008e78aecf.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Kaulig Companies will supplant Bridgestone as the title sponsor of the Senior Players Championship with a four-year agreement starting in 2023.
The new sponsorship deal will keep the PGA Tour Champions event at Akron’s Firestone Country Club through at least 2026. A field of 78 competes for a $3 million purse in the 72-hole tournament.
The announcement was made during Wednesday’s media day for the 2022 Bridgestone Senior Players, set for July 7-10.
The 2023 tournament, which will mark 70 years of professional golf at Firestone, will be held July 13-16. The official name will be released later.
Kaulig Companies Limited is the single-member family office (SFO) for Executive Chairman Matt Kaulig and his immediate family. Its diverse businesses include sports and entertainment, marketing and event management, private equity, real estate, investment advisory services, and philanthropy, with a focus on children and families. Its sports interests include Kaulig Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series team.
“At Kaulig Companies, we continuously look for ways to better our community, and it is an honor to partner with PGA Tour Champions to sponsor one of their flagship events,” Kaulig said in a statement. “Being able to support the city of Akron, along with the tournament’s impressive track record of giving back to local charities — many of the same that we give back to through Kaulig Giving — made it an easy decision for our team to sign on as the title sponsor. We look forward to building upon the tournament’s success, and for an exciting four years ahead.”
In partnership with Northern Ohio Golf Charities, professional golf tournaments at Firestone have given over $30 million to area causes. Akron Children’s Hospital, the LeBron James Family Foundation, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, First Tee of Greater Akron, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General Challenge Golf Program, Summa Health and United Way Summit/Medina are among those supported.
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“The team at Kaulig Companies is proud to partner with PGA Tour Champions and we look forward to sponsoring such an iconic event in Northeast Ohio,” Tim Clepper, President and CEO of Kaulig Companies, said in a statement. “Hosting a professional golf tournament creates a positive impact on the local community, in addition to our economy, and we are thrilled to be part of the next chapter with the PGA Tour Champions team.”
Firestone Country Club hosted the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational from 2006-2018 and Tiger Woods became an eight-time winner before the event moved to Memphis, Tennessee, under the sponsorship of FedEx. With Bridgestone’s continued support, Akron was then awarded one of the Champions Tour’s five senior majors. Steve Stricker (2021), Jerry Kelly (2020) and Retief Goosen (2019) have captured titles at the iconic South Course.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kaulig Companies to the PGA Tour Champions family,” PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady said in a statement. “This title sponsorship is another example of Kaulig Companies’ long-standing commitment and support for the local community.
“We are grateful for Matt Kaulig and Tim Clepper’s role in ensuring this event will maintain its position each season as one of the truly special tournaments on our schedule. We are grateful to Bridgestone for its support of this tournament through the years, and we look forward to celebrating their contributions at this year’s event.”
Marla Ridenour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.
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