FORT WORTH – The historic Colonial golf tournament in Fort Worth has a new name, officials announced on Wednesday.
The PGA TOUR event held at Colonial Country Club since 1946 will now be called the Fort Worth Invitational, scheduled to be held May 21-27 of this year.
The name change comes after local companies American Airlines, AT&T, XTO Energy, Inc., and Burlington Northern Santa Fe signed on as sponsors to save the tournament.
“We are so grateful to the Fort Worth community for stepping in with their support of the Fort Worth Invitational,” Tournament Chairman Rob Hood said. “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.”
Last year the tournament generated $13 million for charitable organizations.
“We are thrilled, and think it very appropriate, that this year’s tournament will be named the Fort Worth Invitational,” Rob Doby, president of Colonial Country Club, said. “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.”
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price has played a huge part in helping save the event.
“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,” Mayor Price said.
Last year's title sponsor, Dean and Deluca, pulled out after the 2017 tournament, creating some uncertainty about the event's future.
“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,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines Doug Parker said.
The tournament typically costs $11 million to hold. Sources tell WFAA that the event is close to having 80 percent of that total covered.
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