Barclays to Sponsor PGA Tour's Westchester Event

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem Tuesday announced that Barclays, an international financial services group engaged primarily in banking, investment banking and investment management, has signed a six-year agreement to serve as title sponsor of the PGA TOUR's tournament at Westchester Country Club -- the former Buick Classic -- beginning with the June 2005 event. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“More than anytime in our history, sponsoring a high profile event like the Barclays Classic makes sense,” said Robert E. Diamond, Jr., chief executive officer of Barclays Capital and chairman of Barclays Global Investors. “We will soon have three businesses in the U.S. that will benefit from the increased name awareness that this event will bring -- Barclays Capital, the investment banking division with its U.S. headquarters in New York; Barclays Global Investors, the asset management business with its global headquarters in San Francisco; and Juniper Financial Corporation, the credit card company whose acquisition Barclays PLC announced in August, with closing expected later this year. Each of Barclays businesses in the U.S. has a first-rate story to tell and this association with the PGA TOUR will help communicate that story.”

“The PGA TOUR is delighted that Barclays has agreed to sponsor one of our most respected and well-established golf tournaments,” said Finchem. “We are very pleased that a major international company like Barclays has agreed to make such a significant commitment to the event and the greater New York area community.”

"I am thrilled that Barclays, who have been so supportive of me, are going to be the sponsor of the Barclays Classic," said PGA TOUR player Darren Clarke, a member of the European Ryder Cup team. "Westchester Country Club is one of the best courses we play on the PGA TOUR, and it is exciting news that Barclays is aligning itself with such an excellent event."

“We are excited about this new relationship with Barclays and we look forward to continuing the long-standing tradition of the TOUR’s event at Westchester Country Club,” said Peter Mele, executive director of the Barclays Classic. “With Barclays’ support, we look forward to welcoming the world’s best players and their families back next June for another world-class event.”