New name for Colonial’s PGA event: Fort Worth Invitational

Fort Worth Invitational logo

Fort Worth Invitational

Colonial Country Club

Sponsors: American Airlines, AT&T, XTO Energy Inc. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe

May 21-27

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www.colonialnit.com/

It’s now the Fort Worth Invitational.

After several months of struggling with a title sponsor, the historic PGA TOUR event held annually since 1946 at Colonial Country has been renamed the Fort Worth Invitational for 2018, officials announced today.

“We are thrilled, and think it very appropriate, that this year’s tournament will be named the Fort Worth Invitational,” said Rob Doby, president of Colonial Country Club. “The City of Fort Worth, the business community and our fans have played a huge role over many decades in making this event what it is today. It is as much their tournament as it is the members of Colonial Country Club.”

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The dilemma for the storied tournament began when title sponsor Dean & Deluca told tournament officials and the PGA last year it may not be able to meet its financial obligations for this year and the remainder of a six-year contract that is in its third year. That sent city leaders and Colonial officials scrambling to line up sponsorships. Officials have put together a foursome of local companies: American Airlines, AT&T, XTO Energy Inc. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, who have committed to support the tournament this year. Others in the business community have also pledged support for the tournament.

“The Colonial is an institution in the North Texas community. Fort Worth is American’s home, and with 31,000 team members who call the Dallas-Fort Worth area their home as well, we are delighted to partner with other companies in the area to support the tournament in 2018,” said Doug Parker, chairman and CEO, American Airlines, in a news release.

Matthew Rose, executive chairman of BNSF Railway, added: “The Colonial is a Fort Worth institution and we are pleased to join with the community to ensure the future of this signature event.”

Last year, the tournament generated a tournament-record $13 million to charitable organizations in the area. The tournament is also important in providing the city a forum to market itself, something the recent Economic Development plan noted was lacking. One of the goals of the new plan is to elevate the profile of Fort Worth at regional, national and international levels.

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“The Colonial golf tournament has been part of the fabric of our great City for over 70 years. I am thrilled that we all get to celebrate the City, its citizens and our business community this May at the Fort Worth Invitational,” said Mayor Betsy Price, City of Fort Worth.

District 7 City Councilman Dennis Shingleton said the city was pleased that Colonial officials will use the city’s name in the tournament title this year.

“In the absence of a title sponsor they wanted to recognize the special relationship of this tournament and the city of Fort Worth,” said Shingleton. “That’s very flattering to the city.”

He said that in the next 30, 60 or 90 days the tournament hopes to land a long term title sponsor.

Meanwhile, tournament officials are glad to have the event’s status – and name – settled, at least for this year.

“We are so grateful to the Fort Worth community for stepping in with their support of the Fort Worth Invitational,” said Tournament Chairman Rob Hood. “It speaks to the special nature of Fort Worth and its people. Thanks to this incredible support, the members of Colonial Country Club and more than 1,500 loyal volunteers will deliver the same great world-class event to which our fans, sponsors and PGA TOUR professionals are accustomed. As we look to 2019 and beyond, we will continue to work with the PGA TOUR in securing a title sponsor to ensure the event will be a part of the PGA TOUR schedule for many years to come.”

Dean & DeLuca, a specialty foods retailer with more than 20 stores nationally and worldwide, was in the third year of a six-year sponsorship contract. Thailand-based property developer Pace Development Corp. Plc bought Dean & DeLuca in 2014 for $140 million. Last year it sold the cafes, markets and e-commerce business outside the United States to Thai retailer Central Group for $50 million, according to the Reuters news agency. Pace has continued with the ownership of operations in the United States, but has apparently cut back on some expansion plans, including plans for a location in Plano.