Humana pulls sponsorship for PGA championship

The PGA TOUR announced Monday that 2015 will mark Humana’s final year as title sponsor of the Humana Challenge.

We have confirmed with Chris Smith from the PGA Tour that the Desert Classic Charities and the Clinton Foundation are currently in active discussions with a number of prospects to become title sponsor in 2016.

Tournament director Bob Marra says the future of the tournament is secure and the PGA TOUR is confident that a sponsor will be found to replace Humana.

In a news release, Marra says Humana, which became title sponsor of the former Bob Hope Classic in 2012, is committed to working with the PGA TOUR, Clinton Foundation and the tournament to ensure a smooth and successful transition to the next title sponsor.

“We are proud of the work we’ve done, and continue to do, to make the Humana Challenge a successful event, especially when it comes to the health and well-being elements of the tournament and our impact on the Coachella Valley,” said Tom Noland, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at Humana. “We remain excited that the partnership we formed with the TOUR, the Clinton Foundation and Desert Classic Charities helped to maintain the historic tournament and we expect the 2015 event to be one of the best ever.”

Noland cited the current national health care environment and a shift in the company’s business priorities as reasons for discontinuing the tournament sponsorship after the 2015 Humana Challenge.

This news isn’t the only challenge for the Humana Challenge. In early July, the tournament recently cut ties with PGA West in La Quinta, the long-standing course-host for the championship.