MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The PGA TOUR, on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, today announced FedEx will become the title sponsor for the newly-named World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, which will move to Memphis, Tennessee, and TPC Southwind beginning with the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season. FedEx will assume title sponsorship of the event currently known as the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, which has been staged in Akron, Ohio, since 1999.
The World Golf Championships consistently attract the most elite and global fields of the year, with 45-50 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking teeing it up in the four annual events. With Memphis’ hometown event taking on a new identity as a World Golf Championships event, fans will be treated to the brightest stars in the game like Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and more on an annual basis.
“The World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational is a significant milestone not only for FedEx and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, but also the larger Memphis community,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior vice president of Integrated Marketing and Communications for FedEx. “We are proud to continue our title sponsorship to benefit St. Jude, and we look forward to the many opportunities and positive economic impact a World Golf Championship event will bring to the city.”
“We are thrilled FedEx has signed on as the title sponsor of this World Golf Championships event. We look forward to working with FedEx and continuing to grow a tournament that it has supported for 30 years and carries one of the most impactful charitable stories on the PGA TOUR,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “The PGA TOUR has had a front row seat to witnessing the impact the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has made on countless lives. We are proud to align one of our truly elite tournaments with two brands that are both globally recognized and an integral part of the Memphis community.”
Both the 2018 FedEx St. Jude Classic and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational will be contested as scheduled before the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational replaces the FedEx St. Jude Classic as Memphis’ PGA TOUR event. The dates for the 2019 tournament have yet to be determined.
The PGA TOUR has held a tournament in Memphis every year since 1958 with Colonial Country Club playing host until the event moved permanently to TPC Southwind in 1989. FedEx first became the title sponsor in 1986 and has supported the tournament ever since. FedEx has been involved with the FedEx St. Jude Classic for more than 30 years and has helped raise more than $38 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Past champions at TPC Southwind who have also won a World Golf Championships event include Dustin Johnson (2012), Jeff Maggert (2006) and David Toms (2003, 2004). Daniel Berger is the current two-time champion at TPC Southwind, having successfully defended his title in 2017 for his second career PGA TOUR victory.
The WGC-FedEx St. Jude will be one of four World Golf Championships events on the 2018-19 PGA TOUR schedule sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours. The other World Golf Championships are the Mexico Championship (Mexico City, Mexico), the Dell Technologies Match Play (Austin, Texas) and the HSBC Champions (Shanghai, China). The World Golf Championships collectively have generated more than $60 million for global charities since 1999.
Tickets information to the 2019 World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude will become available following the conclusion of the 2018 FedEx St. Jude Classic. For more information on the 2019 WGC-FedEx St. Jude, please visit www.WorldGolfChampionships.com.