Luke Donald, Morgan Pressel and Fred Couples join Team RBC
Tour pros to be RBC brand ambassadors across PGA TOUR, Champions
and LPGA Tours
ORLANDO, FL, January 28, 2010 — RBC today announced
that PGA TOUR professionals Fred Couples, Luke Donald, and
LPGA standout Morgan Pressel have joined Anthony Kim, Stephen
Ames and Mike Weir, formally launching "Team RBC"
as part of the bank's expanded commitment to golf as a global
brand and marketing platform.
RBC becomes the official banking and financial services partner
for each athlete and, as part of Team RBC, all players will
carry RBC branded golf bags and will be featured in RBC marketing
and advertising planned for the U.S., Canada, and international
markets.
"Creating Team RBC reflects our decision to make a long-term
strategic investment in golf that will build the RBC brand
in key geographic and demographic markets, particularly as
we grow our business presence in the U.S., U.K. and the Caribbean,"
said Jim Little, RBC Chief Brand and Communications Officer.
"Each member of Team RBC is there to help our businesses
advance specific aspects of their marketing and brand objectives
- whether with targeted client segments or in specific regions."
"As a player who competes globally I think it's fantastic
that RBC has expanded their footprint in golf both here and
in the U.K.," Luke Donald said. "I first met the
RBC folks last year at the Masters and they were great hosts
when I was in Canada in July for the RBC Canadian Open. This
is a really positive development for the game and I am proud
to be a part of it."
"I couldn't be more excited to be joining with RBC,"
Fred Couples said. "RBC has taken a big step into the
golf world, and I'm happy to be part of their team of players.
I have been a client of RBC for some time already, and they
are a great worldwide company to work with. I am looking forward
to helping RBC with all their promotional plans."
"There's nobody in golf as committed as they seem to
be right now and I think it's good for our sport," Morgan
Pressel said. "To be included among players of this caliber
is an honor. I'm looking forward to meeting their people in
various markets and representing them when my season begins
in a couple of weeks."
Earlier today, RBC announced it had become a PGA of America
Official Patron and the Official Bank of The PGA Championship,
Sr. PGA Championship, Grand Slam of Golf and Proud Supporter
of the Ryder Cup. With a significant presence on network and
cable television through this relationship, as well as its
PGA TOUR title sponsor ship of the RBC Canadian Open July
19-25, plans are already in place to fully integrate the athlete
partnerships into a new advertising campaign.
"As we define our footprint in the game of golf we are
thrilled that these six players will represent the RBC brand
on and off the course," Little said. "They are all
great champions, great people and caring individuals who share
RBC's commitment to charity and building better communities.
We are looking forward to a fantastic season with them on
board."
RBC in Golf
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries
operate under the master brand name RBC. We proudly support
golf around the world through high profile relationships with
the PGA TOUR, the PGA of America and Royal Canadian Golf Association
(rcga). We are the Official Banking and Financial Services
partner of touring professionals Anthony Kim, Mike Weir, Luke
Donald, Stephen Ames, Fred Couples, and Morgan Pressel. We
are the Official Bank of the PGA of America and title sponsor
of the RBC Canadian Open. We support emerging Canadian golfers
through the RCGA's grassroots developmental programming, their
Canadian Amateur Golf Championships and high performance national
team. Outside of golf, RBC supports all levels of amateur
sport and is the Premier National Partner of the 2010 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games. RBC is one of North America's
leading diversified financial services companies and among
the largest banks in the world, as measured by market capitalization.
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For more information, please contact:
Gillian McArdle, RBC Media Relations, 647-400-8464
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