DATE=APRIL 11, 2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=GOLF TOURNEY SPONSORS

NUMBER=2-288579

BYLINE=PARKE BREWER

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The first major golf tournament of the year -- The Masters -- is being played through Sunday in Augusta, Georgia. But as that widely followed event takes place, the Professional Golfers Association (P-G-A) is dealing with the possibility of losing 13 tournament sponsors for 2003. V-O-A Sports Editor Parke Brewer reports.

TEXT: Twenty-seven golf tour events have new contracts or new sponsors for next year, but eight tournaments are without sponsors for 2003, and seven others are in limbo, according to a new survey released by Golf World magazine.

Mike Stachura is with Golf World's associate publication Golf Digest, and he told V-O-A Sports the P-G-A does not appear to be concerned.

// STACHURA ACT //

The Tour maintains that this is a temporary situation, that it will be resolved, they will have sponsors for those events next year. Let's remember that the Tour has tremendous cash reserves. So, for the most part, these tournaments are not going away.

// END ACT //

Stachura believes the P-G-A will be able to put some kind of sponsorship agreements together for the tournaments that need them.

// STACHURA ACT //

I think they're going to have to develop new partnership-type deals, where you may have several sponsors for one event, but, I think, frankly, that's the cost of doing business.

// END ACT //

The golf tour's television contract was signed before last September's terrorist attacks. Some companies are withdrawing tournament sponsorships because of economic trouble or because they are re-evaluating their marketing strategies.

Stachura adds that the P-G-A has always had the ability to deal with these kinds of issues. He said golf is a good marketing tool, and the P-G-A tour will attract more sponsors, but the sponsors might pay a lower rate. (SIGNED)

NEB/SPTS/PARKE/BYRD/TW