For a while, the financial commitment required for Kaulig Companies to become the title sponsor of the PGA Tour Champions’ Senior Players Championship was daunting.
“On first blush, people would say, ‘Oh, let’s pass because, you know, it costs some money,’” said Tim Clepper, president and CEO of Kaulig Companies.
But then Clepper and Executive Chairman Matt Kaulig thought about the memories they’d already made at Firestone Country Club.
Kaulig, 49, a Cincinnati native, played quarterback at the University of Akron from 1992-95, married a Zips cheerleader, and put his corporate headquarters in the area. He was a tournament volunteer during his UA days, driving a van at the prestigious PGA Tour event.
“My earliest thing was Davis Love III was in our vehicle and we just thought that was the coolest thing ever,” Kaulig said.
Clepper, 47, brought his sons when they were babies, remembering the day Zach Johnson flipped his 3-year-old a golf ball. While a student at Kent State, he and his father made it “our thing” to attend the Bridgestone Invitational, won by Tiger Woods eight times.
“It’s these kind of memories that we have in our own backyard that we’re excited to take to the next level,” Clepper said
The event’s philanthropic goals, shared by Kaulig Companies, sealed the deal.
It was announced Wednesday that Kaulig Companies will supplant Bridgestone as the title sponsor of the Senior Players Championship with a four-year agreement starting in 2023.
Kaulig Companies’ sponsorship will keep the event at Firestone through at least 2026. Bridgestone will continue to be a partner in the event, according to Miller Brady, president of PGA Tour Champions.
The announcement was made during media day for the 2022 Bridgestone Senior Players, set for July 7-10, 2022. Among those attending were Akron mayor Dan Horrigan and Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro.
This year, a field of 79 will compete for a $3 million purse in the 72-hole event. The 2023 tournament will be held July 13-16.
Don Padgett III, executive director of the Bridgestone Senior Players, said Kaulig Companies will be only the third title sponsor in seven decades of tournament golf at Firestone, joining NEC and Bridgestone.
“And when we say 70 years, we’re the fourth longest-running venue of consecutive professional golf in the country,” Padgett said. “The other venues are Augusta National, Pebble Beach and Colonial in Ft. Worth, so that’s pretty good company to be in.”
Through Northern Ohio Golf Charities, professional golf at Firestone has given over $30 million to area causes. Clepper said Akron’s I Promise School, founded by LeBron James, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are among the 150 charities Kaulig Companies have supported. Kaulig said he and his wife Lisa will serve as chairs of Akron Children’s Hospital’s Walk for Babies this year.
Clepper and Kaulig had no idea they were signing on for the 70th anniversary in 2023.
“That’s a huge deal,” Clepper said.
“When Don said that today, 70 straight years, it is special and it’s a responsibility that we take very seriously,” Kaulig said. “Bridgestone has been unbelievable for the community and for this tournament over the last 16 years. We want to take it to another level and be great and make Akron proud.”
Firestone hosted the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational from 2006-2018 before the event moved to Memphis, Tennessee, under the sponsorship of FedEx. With Bridgestone’s continued support, Akron was then awarded one of the Champions Tour’s five senior majors. Steve Stricker (2021), Jerry Kelly (2020), and Retief Goosen (2019) have captured titles at the iconic South Course.
Kaulig Companies Limited is the single-member family office (SFO) for Kaulig and his immediate family. Its business platforms include sports and entertainment, marketing and event management, private equity, real estate and investment advisory services.
Its sports interests include Kaulig Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series team. Now it will expand its footprint into golf.
“If it was a golf tournament in Florida, I don’t think it would have as much interest,” Kaulig said. “We do like sports, the excitement of sports, and what it can do for us. We have NASCAR and that’s all about sponsorship and your logoed up everywhere. Just to have our name as the title sponsor, the name of the golf tournament right here in Akron is really special to us.”
Clepper sees broad marketing opportunities with the relationships Kaulig Companies has developed.
“We can bring partners together, new partners here to this event, which will ultimately help us raise money for the charities in the community,” Clepper said. “Ultimately this is a charity event and the more brands and friends and fans that we can bring to this tournament, the more money we can raise, the more money we can give back.”
