Johnny! Silverado To Host PGA Tour Five More Years
/Ron Kroichick with a few details on today's PGA Tour telecast announcement: Frys.com is out and Safeway is in for five years of lightly-viewed fall golf. (SportsTVRatings says opening day of the 2015-16 PGA Tour season averaged 193,000 viewers Thursday).
The story suggests the Frys.com folks are still interested in hosting at The Institute, the ultra-exclusive club they've created near the tournament's old host, Cordevalle. I'm not sure anyone is on the edge of their seat to see that one, but nice to know they still care.
**The full press release:
Safeway joins PGA TOUR as title sponsor of Napa tournament
Safeway Open to remain at Silverado Resort and Spa through 2020
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. and NAPA, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2015) – The PGA TOUR announced today that Safeway is the new title sponsor of the Safeway Open, formerly known as the Frys.com Open. The five-year agreement runs through 2020 with the PGA TOUR event remaining at Silverado Resort and Spa for the duration.
The Safeway Open dates back to 2007, with the event moving from CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin to Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa in 2014. With its present location, the event has become a popular stop for players, their families and fans, a credit to the allure of the Napa Valley and Silverado Resort and Spa. The tournament will continue to bring top PGA TOUR competition to Northern California and further its charitable and economic efforts in the local community, thanks to the long-term commitment of Safeway and World Golf Hall of Fame member Johnny Miller, partner of Silverado Resort and Spa.
“We are delighted to have Safeway involved with the PGA TOUR starting in 2016,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “We have had a tremendous partnership with Albertsons, Safeway’s parent company, on the Web.com Tour, with the Albertsons Boise Open generating more than $1 million for local charities each of the last nine years. The Safeway Open will have a similar model in place to help build on what is already a well-established event in Napa.
“We’d like to thank John Fry, Kathy Kolder and everyone at Fry’s for their tremendous support as title sponsor of the event since its inception in 2007. Thanks to their involvement, the event has become a pivotal stop in the season-long race for the FedExCup and has raised more than $6 million for charity in the last eight years.”
“We are honored to partner with the PGA TOUR, Silverado Resort and Spa, the Lagardère Sports events team and the legendary Johnny Miller in staging a first-class event that showcases the beauty of the Napa Valley and world-class golf on the PGA TOUR,” said Robert Miller, chairman and chief executive officer of Albertsons, parent company of Safeway. “With 244 Safeway stores in Northern California, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of others by giving back to local and regional charities in the area through the net proceeds of the tournament. Our five-year commitment as the title sponsor of the Safeway Open gives us the perfect platform to continue to grow our giving in the communities we serve our customers.”
Silverado Resort and Spa hosted the PGA TOUR from 1968-80, producing a prestigious list of winners including Jack Nicklaus (1969), Ben Crenshaw (1980), Tom Watson (1978) and two-time winner and tournament host, Johnny Miller (1974-75). In addition, Silverado was a Champions Tour venue from 1989-2002.
“This is great news,” said Johnny Miller, the 2014 tournament honoree. “A big thanks to Bob Miller and Safeway for their commitment to keep this wonderful PGA TOUR golf tradition going in Napa. I am thrilled the tournament will remain at Silverado where I lived for many years with my family on the North course and have developed so many special life-long friends and memories.”
