Proposed title arrangement would create a celebrity pro-am and move tournament to April.
By BOB HARIG
Published July 26, 2003
Outback is negotiating to become the title sponsor of Tampa's long-running Champions Tour tournament at the TPC of Tampa Bay.
As part of the proposed arrangement the format would change to a celebrity pro-am event like the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour, and it could move from its annual February date to April, possibly the week before the Masters.
"I can confirm that Outback Steakhouse and the tour are in discussions, but there is no deal yet," said Bill Horne, president and CEO of Outback Sports, a subsidiary of the restaurant chain. "I do know that the tour is very, very eager to keep the event in Tampa and use Outback as a primary candidate to make that happen."
Horne referred other questions to Outback CEO Chris Sullivan, who was unavailable for comment.
Any changes to the format or dates require the approval of the PGA Tour's policy board. A new sponsor is needed because Verizon did not renew its contract after this year's event in February, which Bruce Fleisher won.
But given Outback's stature as a nationally recognized brand, coupled with its area roots and company headquarters in Tampa, any alterations appear to be a formality. The Champions Tour's popularity has waned in recent years with the aging of stars such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, and the tour does not want to lose one of its marquee tournaments and venues.
Outback has been involved with the event, known as the Verizon Classic, with sponsorship deals over the years. Outback Sports is one of the leading suppliers of temporary luxury suites that are becoming more popular at golf tournaments. The company also is the title sponsor of the annual New Year's Day college football bowl game at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, the Outback Bowl.
"Having a Champions Tour event in Tampa next year is a very, very high priority," said Ric Clarson, PGA Tour vice president of business development. "We're doing everything we can to form a long-term partnership to secure the event. ... We're optimistic that we're going to get something concluded and have an announcement in the very near future."
Clarson said he "could not confirm or deny" Outback's involvement, but that talks with a potential replacement for Verizon have been ongoing.
Peter Jacobsen Productions, which manages three Champions Tour events as well as other golf events, has been working to put the deal together and could serve in a consulting role.
Peter Jacobsen, 49, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour (and the 36-hole leader at the Greater Hartford Open), turns 50 in March and will join the Champions Tour. His company is involved in the day-to-day operation of several tournaments, and he has several links to Florida.
Although his company is based in his hometown of Portland, Ore., Jacobsen has bought a home in Bonita Springs and will open an office in Naples. One of his associates, Ed Kiernan, was tournament director of the Verizon Classic in 1999-2000.
Kiernan, vice president of business development, did not confirm or deny Outback's involvement.
The local tournament has been one of the top events on the 50-and-over circuit since its inception in 1988 at Tampa Palms. In 1992 the tournament moved to the TPC, where huge crowds have been a staple. Golf greats such as Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson have frequented the tournament.
But its only sponsor since the event began in 1988, Verizon (formerly GTE), told tournament officials last year that it would not renew.
Pro Links Sports' contract with Verizon expired on April 30, and tournament director David Porter resigned his position last month to take a job with the Father-Son Challenge in Orlando. Pro Links, which runs several senior events, has been looking for a title sponsor to replace Verizon for more than a year.
