AKRON, Ohio - A new era begins today for elite professional golf in Ohio as the world’s greatest golfers tee off for the first World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at historic Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. This is the first year the Bridgestone brand will serve as the title sponsor for this prestigious PGA TOUR event. Bridgestone has a five-year agreement with the World Golf Championships series, which includes umbrella sponsorship for the international series and title sponsorship of the Bridgestone Invitational. The agreement spans 2006-2010.

“Our company has been a part of the Akron community for more than a century so this is an extremely proud moment for us,” said Mark A. Emkes, Chairman and CEO, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. “To have the Bridgestone Invitational played at Firestone Country Club is a tremendous showcase for our two brands and a wonderful connection with our heritage and to our future. We’re delighted to work with the International Federation of PGA Tours and the City of Akron to continue to make this a world class event.”

Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of tires and other rubber products. The company also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products, and sporting goods. Bridgestone first began making golf balls in 1935 and has a long and distinguished history in the sport. After becoming the leading golf equipment supplier to the Japanese market, Bridgestone entered the U.S. market in 1983, marketing its products under the Precept brand.

Beginning last year, the company introduced the Bridgestone Golf brand to America as a premium Tour brand, with PGA TOUR players Stuart Appleby, Nick Price, Shigeki Maruyama and Fred Couples representing the Bridgestone brand.

“It is very exciting for Bridgestone Golf to have our name on such an important PGA event,” said Hisashi Kawano, President of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd.

“At Bridgestone we have a passion for excellence, and our golf equipment, like our tires and other rubber products, is known for premium performance and precision. This will be a terrific showcase for our products and our great players. We wish our Bridgestone golfers and the rest of the competitors the best of luck in what promises to be another thrilling tournament,” Kawano concluded.

Since 1984, the tournament at Firestone Country Club has donated more than $16 million to local charities in the Akron area. The Bridgestone Invitational is continuing this tradition of giving and providing meaningful support to local charities through the Northeast Ohio Golf Charities.

The Bridgestone Invitational became a part of the World Golf Championships in 1999 (formerly known as the NEC Invitational). The World Golf Championships feature elite players in a variety of competitive formats at venues around the world. Since the series debut in 1999, World Golf Championships have been held in eight countries.

The Bridgestone group of companies partnering to sponsor the Bridgestone Invitational are: Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., Bridgestone Golf, Inc. and Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.