Ford Motor Co. is steering into the world of women's professional golf as the newly minted title sponsor for the LPGA Tour event in Phoenix, announced as the Ford Championship presented by KCC, a pivot that's driving excitement as the tournament gears up for a March tee-off. Set to be held at the Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert from March 28 to March 31, the tournament will host 144 golfers competing for a $2 million purse. "We're super grateful for Ford's support, and to have a global brand like Ford in the LPGA family is really important for us," LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan stated, as per an ABC15 report.
The financial specifics remain under wraps. However, after the 2024 event wraps up, Ford and the LPGA plan to reassess their pairing, Brandon Nix, Ford's Phoenix regional manager, and Marcoux Samaan relayed they are fully invested in and will scrutinize the success of the relationship—it's more than just a mere sponsorship, according to a Phoenix Business Journal account. The synergy between Ford and the LPGA stemmed from efforts by Tim Hovik of San Tan Ford, who is no stranger to supporting professional golf in the Valley and has facilitated sponsorships that consist of more than money, with golf pro Mina Harigae noting Hovik's provision of a vehicle as part of his backing.
Ford's agreement with the LPGA in Arizona is a strategic drive to boost female athletes' profile in golf, aiming to cultivate a new breed of enthusiasts. "To elevate the visibility of female athletes in the golfing world and inspire a new generation of fans," Lisa Materazzo, Ford's global chief marketing officer, expressed in a statement obtained by the Phoenix Business Journal. Enthusiasm from golf aficionados in Arizona also fuels this corporate engagement, with Marcoux Samaan remarking on the heavy turnout and enthusiasm demonstrated by Phoenix's fans whenever the LPGA places its tee in the desert.
The event is already seeing action off the greens with tickets on sale and special passes for the San Tan Club for fans seeking premium views and services. It's part of a larger tee-off in Arizona, with the Carlisle Group swinging in another event on the Epson Tour, noted for having the heftiest purse. Local businesses such as San Tan Ford consider these LPGA ties beyond just promotional stunts; they reckon them crucial investments in sports and community, reflected in Hovik's vision that teed up the larger relationship which now sees one of the "largest and most recognizable brands on the planet" taking a shot with women's golf, "Relationships like this with San Tan Ford are what allow me and my fellow players to pursue a dream on the Tour and also drive cool cars," Harigae conveyed, highlighting the significance of the partnership in a statement according to the Phoenix Business Journal.
