RBC, Boeing on board for at least 1 more year as Heritage sponsors

The PGA Tour’s annual visit to Harbour Town is assured of at least one more year under RBC and Boeing’s sponsorship and likely more, signing a one-year extension earlier this year with an eye on a longer renewal that would keep the event on solid footing.

John Taft, CEO of RBC’s U.S. wealth management unit, slipped the news into his brief remarks during Monday’s traditional opening ceremony on Harbour Town’s 18th green.

“We will be back again in 2017,” Taft said before turning to U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham, who previously had reminded the crowd about the tournament’s earlier fight to keep its place on the PGA Tour calendar. “Senator Graham, you do not have to worry.”

Simon Fraser, chairman of the Heritage Classic Foundation, said afterward that an extension was signed over a month ago with both RBC and Boeing Co., allowing everything to remain in place for 2017 as they focus on the event’s long-term future.

“It hasn’t been an issue,” Fraser said. “We’re having conversations. ... There’s always moving parts, and (RBC has) two events. So they have to coordinate their renewals for two events. But everything’s on course.”

Said Mike Zavada, vice president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes: “We’re working on it. We’ve had a great partnership with RBC and with the tournament and we look forward to the future.”

This marks the fifth year that RBC and Boeing have served as title and presenting sponsors, rescuing the event from a crisis that saw the foundation reach into its reserves in 2011 to put on a sponsor-less edition.

“We’ll be here,” said Boeing Co. vice president Raymond Conner. “We feel strong about the tournament. We feel strong about the community of South Carolina and being a part of it. We feel strong about giving back to the community.”

Senior editor David Lauderdale contributed to this report.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 5:40 PM with the headline "RBC, Boeing on board for at least 1 more year as Heritage sponsors."