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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 3, 2007 - 37 37 Sports Oakville Beaver 2007 United Way of Oakville Campaign Total amount raised OUR GOAL $ 20% 2.25 million United Way For more info: 905-845-5571 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2007 Canadian Open lands new title sponsor, RBC By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Canadian Open got a major boost just eight months before the national golf championship returns to Oakville's Glen Abbey Golf Club. The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) announced Thursday afternoon that Royal Bank of Canada has agreed to become the title sponsor of the PGA Tour event through 2012. The tournament, returning to Oakville July 21-27, will be known as the RBC Canadian Open. "It's certainly been a long journey but we were always committed to spending the time necessary to find the "With this partnership, perfect partner to lead our legendary I think we have the national open championship for years to come," said Scott Simmons, executive ability to invest the funds director of the RCGA. "This union that are necessary to makes the event better instantly." shore up some of the "We want it to be as good as it can be," areas that needed some said Jim Little, the chief brand and communications officer for RBC. "We want it help. This is a good event to be one the truly great sports events in bordering on great. Canada. We want it to be a premier event We are going to make it on the PGA Tour and we are committed a great event." to partnering to make that happen." The 2007 Canadian Open at Angus RCGA executive director Glen in Markham went ahead without a Scott Simmons title sponsor and the RCGA lost approximately $3-million on the event. Despite the financial losses, RCGA president Garry West said he "couldn't conceive of us not having a Canadian Open." How much would the tournament, first staged in 1904, have been affected the next two years at Glen Abbey without a title sponsor? "Luckily, we'll never know," said Charles Lorimer, vice-president of sales and marketing for ClubLink, which bought Glen Abbey from the RCGA in 1999. Lorimer said the announcement is good news for everyone involved in staging the tournament. "It's certainly going to enhance the whole profile of the event. With RBC leveraging its brand through the sponsorship, it's going to expose the Open, and Glen Abbey in the process," Lorimer said. "It's certainly positive for ClubLink and positive for Oakville." The RCGA and RBC agreed not to release the financial details of the agreement. However, at the very least, it should guarantee that the RCGA doesn't end up in the red again. Although the RCGA will now have more money at its disposal, neither Simmons or Little would divulge specifics of how they intend to improve the event, just that a joint marketing committee has been established "With this partnership I think we have the ability to invest the funds that are necessary to maybe shore up some of the areas that needed some help before but in no way am I saying this has not been a good D.W. DORKEN/ RCGA BANKING ON A NEW PARTNER: RBC's Jim Little is flanked by RCGA president Garry West (left) and RCGA executive director Scott Simmons (right) after announcing RBC will be the new title sponsor for the Canadian Open. Oakville's Glen Abbey Golf Club will play host to the next two events. event," Simmons said. "This is a good event, bordering on great. We are going to make it a great event by investing in the right places." PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem joined the news conference, held at the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at the RCGA's Oakville office, by teleconference. "The RCGA has been a valued partner of the PGA Tour for a number of years," he said, "and the Canadian Open, as the fourth-oldest tournament on tour, has been an integral part of our schedule." Not all Canadians have agreed since the Canadian Open was moved to July, a week after the British Open. That has led many big-name players to skip the event. Little said the deal makes sense for RBC as it allows the bank to market itself not only in Canada, but also in the U.S. because of network television coverage. Little provided the only hint of where money might be spent when he was asked if a weak field would be counterproductive to RBC's goals of promoting its brand in the U.S. because it would hurt viewership south of the border. "I think you just answered the question," he said. RBC had been in negotiations with the RCGA for several months, although the company's name rarely came up in public discussions of a title sponsor. LG Electronics had been rumoured to be the front runner, even as late as Thursday morning. Welcome to Spice Your Kitchen. Making Your Cooking Fun & Easy ing Fu · Knives and Garnishing Tools · Spice Racks · Small Appliances · Cookware and Tableware · Linens, Aprons and Mitts · Bakeware · Barware · Espresso Makers and Accessories Hours: Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday CLOSED River Glen Mews Plaza 2530 6th Line, Oakville (905) 257-3500