Grant Thornton Inks Golf Partnership Trio: PGA TOUR; THE PLAYERS Championship; and Pro Golfer Rickie Fowler
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2017-12-06
Rickie Fowler (Photo/Grant Thornton)
CHICAGO, Illinois — Grant Thornton LLP and the PGA TOUR have established dual five-year partnership agreements: one as a Proud Partner of THE PLAYERS Championship; and a second as an Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR. In addition, Grant Thornton has signed a separate partnership with professional golfer Rickie Fowler, who won THE PLAYERS in 2015 and clinched another victory this past weekend at the Hero World Challenge.
The partnerships with the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS will provide Grant Thornton with premier positioning during THE PLAYERS telecast on the Golf Channel and NBC – alongside Morgan Stanley and Optum, as the three exclusive Proud Partners. Grant Thornton will have a broad presence on the course and through hospitality venues when the championship is held at TPC Sawgrass the week of May 7-13, 2018. The firm will extend the partnership nationally at select PGA TOUR events.
“Grant Thornton is the kind of acclaimed organization that aligns with the vision and values of the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Moreover, as a Proud Partner of THE PLAYERS, Grant Thornton will help support the continued growth and charitable impact of the event as we strive to present a showcase of excellence for players, guests and fans from around the world.”
Teaming with Rickie Fowler
Grant Thornton has also signed a partnership with Rickie Fowler, the seventh-ranked golfer in the world.
Fowler, who is known for his thoughtful and innovative approach on and off the course, will be sporting Grant Thornton’s logo on his right chest in all competitive rounds on the PGA TOUR, and in other professional appearances – beginning in 2018. He is scheduled to appear in the firm’s national advertising campaign next year.
“Rickie Fowler is one of the most respected and transformational athletes in the world today, not to mention the game of golf,” said Mike McGuire, chief executive officer of Grant Thornton LLP. “Nobody is better at challenging convention and being transformational.”
According to John Harmeling, chief marketing officer at Grant Thornton: “In chorus with our sponsorships of the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship, Rickie is a perfect fit for our ‘Status Go’ brand positioning – challenging the status quo in a forward-thinking, modern, and difference-making way.”
Fowler echoes this sentiment, saying that “Grant Thornton is a leader in professional services; I’m really drawn to the firm’s ‘Status Go’ approach. It lets them work for clients in an unexpected way to solve problems, stand out and win.”
For more information on Grant Thornton and its three golf partnerships, visit www.grantthornton.com
About Grant Thornton LLP
Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton, which has revenues in excess of $1.7 billion and operates 59 offices, works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations.
“Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions.
About THE PLAYERS Championship
THE PLAYERS Championship annually combines the best field in golf with the world-class venue that is THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Morgan Stanley, Optum and Grant Thornton are the exclusive Proud Partners of THE PLAYERS for 2018. Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $92 million since the event moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, including a record $8.7 million generated in 2017. In April 2011, THE PLAYERS announced a new charitable focus, committing to generate $50 million for youth-related charities over 10 years. For more on THE PLAYERS and the surrounding area, visit THEPLAYERS.com or floridashistoriccoast.com. Ticket options are available at 844-868-7465.
About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the leading global platform in professional golf, showcasing the highest expression of excellence, both on and off the course. The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, grow and protect the game of golf and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.
The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 25 countries (84 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1.1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2016, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $166 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.46 billion.
The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.