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John Deere Classic Introduces New Tournament Logo
Contact Ken Golden
Manager, Public Relations
Deere & Company
309-765-5678
or Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
John Deere Classic
847-698-1801
MOLINE, Ill. (April 15, 2003)
- Deere & Company and the John Deere
Classic today unveiled a new logo for the Quad Cities-based PGA TOUR
event with a design that incorporates the traditional green-and-yellow "leaping
deer" corporate logo of title-sponsor John Deere. The new tournament
logo appears only seven weeks after the company extended its title sponsorship
of the professional golf event through 2010.
"By integrating the company's universally recognizable "leaping deer" icon into the tournament logo, we provide an even closer association between the company and this popular golf event," said Curt Linke, Deere's vice president of corporate communications. "Since Deere became the tournament's title sponsor, the Classic, as expected, has become clearly identified with the John Deere name. A logo change at this time reflects what now has become the national identity of the Classic."
Tournament director Clair Peterson said, "We decided to change the tournament logo now so that John Deere would benefit immediately from the increased exposure the tournament's main icon will give the company this year and in the future."
In addition to being title sponsor until 2010, John Deere is the Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier to the PGA TOUR's Tournament Players Club network of some 25 golf courses. John Deere Landscapes also is the Official Landscape Products Supplier and John Deere Credit is the Official Golf Course Equipment Leasing Company of the PGA TOUR. The latter three agreements run through 2014.
This year's $3.5 million John Deere Classic is scheduled for Sept. 8-14 at the magnificent Tournament Players Club at Deere Run, which Golf Digest recently ranked the 42nd best public-access golf course in the United States. Since 1993, the Classic has raised more than $7 million for local charities.