Bearing Point to replace Nissan as sponsor at Riviera

Nissan, which has sponsored the Nissan Open for 21 years, is driving off. In 2008, Bearing Point will replace Nissan as the title sponsor of the PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club.

No official announcement has been made of the change in sponsors, and officials from the PGA Tour would not comment.

Bearing Point, a management and technology consulting company based in McLean, Va., is believed to have a contract with the PGA Tour through 2010.

This is Bearing Point’s first time sponsoring a professional event, although it has an endorsement association with Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson, who has not been a regular at Riviera, added the $5.1-million tournament to his schedule this year and lost to Charles Howell III in a playoff. Mickelson could be expected to add Riviera to his regular schedule.

“I hate to see Nissan go, but I’m excited about Bearing Point coming in,” said Michael Yamaki, Riviera’s general manager. “I hope they pay attention to the type of marketing you need to make it in Los Angeles.”

Yamaki said that when Nissan announced it was moving its corporate office from Torrance to Nashville, he believed a change in title sponsorship was inevitable.

Next year’s tournament, to be played Feb. 14-17 at Riviera, is the 82nd edition of the event, which began in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open.

In 1971, it became the Glen Campbell Los Angeles Open. Nissan came on board as a presenting sponsor in 1987 and became the title sponsor in 1989.

--Thomas Bonk