Nationwide Forms Team to Extend Its PGA Presence
Nationwide has drafted a team of golf rookies to extend its title sponsorship of the PGA’s 2006 Nationwide Tour.
The insurance and financial services company has formed Team Nationwide with a roster of 19 players from last year’s tour. A dedicated Web site lets fans track the players’ performances this season as they move up in the PGA circuit. The overlay gives Nationwide a little more mileage out of its ongoing sponsorship of the annual tour that feeds new players into the PGA.
Last year, the company extended its sponsorship through 2012; it has sponsored the tour since 2003.
Nationwide’s site, Nationwide.com/TeamNationWide, posts player bios, videos, contests and details on the players’ performance on the PGA Tour, as well as information on the new crop of players competing in the 2007 Nationwide Tour.
The players on Team Nationwide also will appear at Nationwide-sponsored events and in its marketing materials to consumers and internal communications to Nationwide staffers.
The Team Nationwide campaign kicks off with a sweepstakes awarding a trip for two to the 2008 Sony Open in Honolulu next January. That grand-prize package includes a meeting with Team Nationwide players, and a spot to play in the Sony Open’s pro-am tournament. The sweeps runs through Nov. 6, hosted by Nationwide and The Golf Channel, via Skycastle Entertainment.
Team Nationwide lets the company take some credit for nurturing rookie golfers.
“This year, Nationwide Tour alumni playing on the PGA Tour are once again proving the impact this tour has on the next level,” said Jim Lyski, Nationwide’s chief marketing officer, in a statement. “Team Nationwide will make it easier for the average golf fan to follow up-and-coming players on the PGA Tour.”
The Team Nationwide roster includes Ken Duke, Cliff Kresge, Craig Bowden, Tripp Isenhour, Jeff Quinney, Boo Weekley, Jason Dufner, Brandt Snedeker, Craig Kanada, Andrew Buckle, Doug LaBelle II, Gavin Coles, Michael Putnam, Jarrod Lyle, Michael Sim, Paul Sheehan, John Merrick, Bryce Molder and Jim Rutledge.
OnSport negotiated the deals and handles the Team Nationwide program.
