AT&T Classic Blog

“The absence of a title sponsor at this point has necessitated the move in order to solidify the schedule for the future,” PGA tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a release.

The tournament, previously known as the BellSouth Classic, was sponsored for several years by AT&T after the company took over BellSouth.

The tournament was founded in 1967 as the Atlanta Classic. From 1967–96, it was played at the Atlanta Country Club in Marietta. Since 1997, it has been played at the TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth.

The final Classic was held the week of May 12-18 this year and was captured by first-time winner Ryuji Imada in a playoff over Kenny Perry.

Ryuji Imada has captured his first career PGA title by exorcising some personal demons at TPC Sugarloaf.

Imada defeated Kenny Perry in a one-hole playoff last night to win the US$5.5m (€3.5m) AT&T Classic.

It was the first victory in three-plus seasons on tour for Imada, who lost this event to Zach Johnson in a play-off last year.

After leading through 36 and 54 holes here last season, Imada struggled on the final day before entering the play-off, when he hooked his second shot into the water en route to a heartbreaking loss.

Ironically, Imada won in eerily similar fashion over Perry, whose second play-off shot found the water.

After cautiously laying his second shot within 131 feet of the pin, Imada needed a pair of putts to move within four feet of the hole. He sank his final putt to edge Perry, who needed to make a 14-footer to force a second play-off hole.