Mercedes extend sponsorship by another 4 years

The Mercedes Championships will be the PGA Tour's season-opening event through at least 2006.

Tournament sponsor Mercedes-Benz USA, Kapalua Land Company, the PGA Tour and ESPN on Friday announced a four-year contract extension to keep the event at the Plantation Course.

The agreement includes keeping the tournament as the tour's season-opening event, with its exclusive winners-only format.

In 1999, the Mercedes Championships moved to the Plantation Course from La Costa Country Club in Carlsbad, California. La Costa had hosted the event each year since 1969.

It has not always been the season-opener. Last year, the season began in Melbourne, Australia with the watered-down World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship.

Mercedes-Benz has been the title sponsor of the tournament since 1994.

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