CDW Renews with PGA TOUR as “Official Technology Partner”

Company also extends sponsorship of LPGA Champion Paula Creamer

VERNON HILLS, Ill. & PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The PGA TOUR and CDW, a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government, education and healthcare, today announced a four-year extension of their marketing relationship that extends CDW’s role as the “Official Technology Partner of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour” through 2016.

“Over the next few years, we will leverage this relationship to plan and execute our IT strategy, which includes enhancing the on-site fan experience, augmenting disaster recovery plans and increasing network security.”

The agreement includes exclusive sponsorship of the PGA TOUR’s ShotLink^® real-time scoring system, branding on the TOUR’s scoreboards at tournaments, and business-to-business hospitality and customer engagement at TOUR events. CDW will also provide a broad range of IT products and services to advance the TOUR’s operations for players and staff, as well as to improve the experience for golf fans.

“CDW has become a valued strategic partner regarding our technology plans,” said Steve Evans, senior vice president of Information Systems for the PGA TOUR. “Over the next few years, we will leverage this relationship to plan and execute our IT strategy, which includes enhancing the on-site fan experience, augmenting disaster recovery plans and increasing network security.”

In addition, the PGA TOUR plans to work with CDW to design and implement solutions to enable server/desktop virtualization and optimize its data network to provide staff and golf fans with speedy access to the TOUR’s extensive digital media archive of film, video and photographs. The PGA TOUR also plans to make ShotLink Intelligence^SM Powered by CDW, a program that provides ShotLink data to professors and graduate students for research, available as a cloud option for the academic community.

“Our continued relationship with the PGA TOUR provides the ideal platform for CDW to showcase our capabilities as a leading technology solutions provider,” said Matt Troka, senior vice president, Product and Partner Management at CDW. “Designing and implementing complex projects like the ShotLink tracking system and the TOUR’s digital media library is made possible by our experienced, highly-certified coworkers and a network of technology products, services and partners that are unmatched in the industry.”

“Since the outset of our marketing relationship with CDW in 2008, the TOUR has taken full advantage of CDW’s expertise to improve and enhance our technological capabilities to the benefit of our staff, players and fans,” said Tom Wade, global commercial officer of the PGA TOUR. “We are delighted to announce this extension and look forward to continuing our collaboration with CDW over the coming years.”

Furthering its presence in professional golf, CDW also renewed its sponsorship with nine-time LPGA Tour Champion Paula Creamer. This sponsorship is effective through 2015.

About CDW

CDW is a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government, education and healthcare. Ranked No. 31 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies and No. 270 on the FORTUNE 500, CDW was founded in 1984 and employs more than 6,800 coworkers. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the company generated net sales of $10.1 billion. For more information, visit www.CDW.com.

About PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada.

The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 945 million households in 225 countries and territories in 32 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2012, tournaments across all Tours generated more than $122 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to more than $1.8 billion.

The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.com, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.