PGA Tour's biggest spender becomes title sponsor of famous European event

FedEx, the PGA Tour's biggest spender, will become the title sponsor of the French Open. 

The news was announced via a release from the DP World Tour on 5 February.

Held annually at Le Golf National, the stage of the 2018 Ryder Cup, the tournament is the oldest national open in continental Europe. 

FedEx will assume the sponsorship position for the 106th edition of the French Open over 10-13 October. 

Past champions include Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, José María Olazábal, Sir Nick Faldo, Byron Nelson and Walter Hagen.

The tournament now occupies a prime position in the DP World Tour's new look Back 9, where players will be competing in nine of the Tour's most historic tournaments and national opens from August to October to try and qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour playoffs. 

FedEx has a long-standing relationship with the PGA Tour dating back to 1986 with its sponsorship of the annual tournament in Memphis at TPC Southwind, currently the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

FedEx expanded its involvement with the PGA Tour in 2002 by becoming an official marketing partner and then added the umbrella sponsorship position of the PGA Tour's season long FedExCup competition in 2007, which concludes with the FedExCup playoffs each August.

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the DP World Tour, said: "The Open de France is one of our oldest and most prestigious events, played on an iconic former Ryder Cup venue in Le Golf National.

"It will be a perfect platform for FedEx to showcase their global logistics capabilities to the sort of international audience that the DP World Tour attracts."

Pelley will be leaving his role April to return to his native Canada. His new job will see him lead the powerhouse Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment. 

Added PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan: "Today's announcement is another example of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour working together for the benefit of men's professional golf."

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