Deere & Company, PGA TOUR Agree To Six-Year Extension

John Deere Classic to run through 2016

MOLINE, Illinois, Deere & Company and the PGA TOUR today announced a six-year extension of Deere’s title sponsorship of the John Deere Classic, as well as a two-year extension of its official marketing agreement with the TOUR, continuing both through 2016.

The announcements were made jointly by Jim Field, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Deere, and Rick George, Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR, during a press conference at Deere & Company World Headquarters in Moline.

“Sponsorship of the John Deere Classic has been beneficial for our business,” said Field. "Not only are we able to highlight our excellent equipment and services to a global audience but more importantly, raise millions of dollars for charity in the Quad City area.

“In addition, this agreement gives us an opportunity to extend our agreement as the Official Equipment Supplier; Official Landscape Product Supplier; and Official Golf Course Equipment Leasing Company for the PGA TOUR,” Field added.

John Deere has been title sponsor of its hometown tournament since 1998. The John Deere Classic has an estimated yearly economic impact of more than $25 million on the Quad Cities area, and since 1998 has generated $30 million for charity. Last month, 500 checks totaling $4.63 million were delivered to local charities from the 2009 tournament.

“We are extremely pleased that Deere & Company will continue its title sponsorship of the John Deere Classic, which continues to have such a tremendous economic and charitable impact upon the Quad Cities area,” George said. "Although the tournament is not held in one of the major markets on TOUR, it continues to be one of the leaders in charitable giving, which speaks volumes for the work that is done by tournament director Clair Peterson and his staff, plus the impact of Deere’s sponsorship and its overall support.

“We’re also excited to extend our multi-faceted marketing partnership, which in large part provides a great benefit to our TPC facilities through the use of John Deere equipment,” George added.

A marketing partner of the TOUR since 1998, Deere will remain the Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier of the PGA TOUR. John Deere equipment is used at all TOUR-owned Tournament Players Club golf courses through the partnership, including TPC Deere Run, host site of the John Deere Classic since 2000. John Deere Credit also will continue as the Official Golf Course Equipment Leasing Company of the PGA TOUR and John Deere Landscape as the Official Landscape Product Supplier of the PGA TOUR.

TPC Deere Run, which was developed in partnership between the TOUR and Deere & Company, is located in Silvis, IL, two miles from Deere’s World Headquarters.

“We are very pleased that John Deere has extended the relationship that began in 1998 with what was then an unprecedented nine-year agreement,” Peterson said.

“Since then, John Deere has proven to be one of the great title sponsors on TOUR. It has helped us present an event like it presents its products – with quality, class and integrity. Knowing that the event will remain and flourish through 2016 will also allow the scores of local supporters and thousands of volunteers to plan proactively for the future. Most important, it guarantees the tournament’s charity dollars will continue to flow to the more than 500 organizations that benefit from the John Deere Classic each year.”