The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is flexing is mustering trans-Atlantic marketing muscle as the PGA of America’s first official patron.
The PGA Official Patron program will designate category-exclusive product and service providers to the PGA of America, along with promotional benefits at the organization’s championship, Ryder Cup and other events. So the two-year pact makes RBS the official bank of the PGA of America and its championship event.
In its inaugural season as a PGA patron, RBS will be the sole presenting sponsor of the PGA Championship History exhibit, a mobile pavilion of photos and videos about the history of that seminal championship event. On-site debut of the exhibit will be during the upcoming PGA Championship on Aug. 6-12 at Southern Hills Country Cup in Tulsa, Okla.
The RBS has been a patron of the British Open Championship as part of its 100-year affiliation with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. RBA also supports the PGA’s First Tee initiative to encourage youth participation in the sport and has relationships with pro golf stars Jack Nicklaus, Luke Donald and Paula Creamer as RBS ambassadors.
PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka said in a statement the pact marked “a historic new chapter of partnership” for the PGA.