Freedom 55 Financial Gets Presenting Sponsorship of TOUR Championship of Canada

PGA TOUR Canada has announced that Freedom 55 Financial has been confirmed as the presenting sponsor of the TOUR Championship of Canada. 

The TOUR Championship of Canada, doctor PGA TOUR Canada’s marquee event, will be conducted by Golf Canada. The tournament will see the culmination of the race for five Web.com Tour cards earned by the top five on the Order of Merit September 9-15 at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ont.

“We’re delighted to solidify the Tour Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial as the season finale for 2013,” said PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday. “With a quality organization like Freedom 55 Financial, an experienced host in Golf Canada and a tremendous golf course at Sunningdale, we have all the right pieces in place for an outstanding finish to our inaugural season.”

Headquartered in London, Ont., Freedom 55 Financial, a division of London Life Insurance Company, has joined as presenting sponsor in part of a multi-year agreement that will see the event stay in the London area for years to come.

“We’re proud to be a part of this high-profile sports event,” said Mike Cunneen, Senior Vice-President, Freedom 55 Financial. “PGA TOUR Canada is a great fit with our brand values of inspiring freedom, confidence and optimism for the future. This Tour inspires competitive golfers and fans alike across the country.

“It’s also exciting London has been selected as host of the TOUR Championship of Canada,” said Cunneen. London Life has been a key part of the city’s business community for more than 135 years.

The event will feature a unique partnership between PGA TOUR Canada and Golf Canada, with Canada’s National Sport Organization and governing body serving as the event operator for the season-ending TOUR Championship. Golf Canada has more than a century of expertise running national golf championships including the RBC Canadian Open, CN Canadian Women’s Open and Canada’s National Amateur Championships.

“Golf Canada is very proud to be evolving our longstanding partnership with the PGA TOUR and becoming the host organization for the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “Some of Canada’s best and brightest PGA TOUR prospects will be competing at this event, and we are honoured to be a part of the excitement surrounding the PGA TOUR’s continued support of the game in Canada. We are also pleased to bring professional golf to Sunningdale and the tremendous golf community in the London area.”

The 132-player field at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial will be based off the 2013 Order of Merit, with the top 132 players through the first seven events gaining entry.

London, a city known for its support of local professional and community-based sports events, sees men’s professional golf return for the first time since 1998, when 2011 THE PLAYERS Champion Tim Clark of South Africa claimed victory at the Canadian PGA Championship at Forest City National Golf Club.

“On behalf of the management team and members at Sunningdale, we are thrilled to be hosting PGA TOUR Canada’s marquee event. We’re confident that players, sponsors and guests will have a great experience at our facility,” said Sunningdale General Manager John Adams. “The players will enjoy the golf course, and everyone will enjoy the hospitality at Sunningdale. We have an experienced, veteran management team and we’re looking forward to what is going to be a very successful event.”

The PGA TOUR Canada season will kick off June 3-9 at the Times Colonist Island Savings Open in Victoria, BC, heading coast-to-coast and concluding at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial.