List of Sponsor Withdrawals From PGA Grows

Another sponsor, American Honda Motor Co., has withdrawn its television commercials from the PGA Championship because the host Shoal Creek Country Club has no black members.

ABC said its lost ad revenue is nearing $2 million.

Earlier, Toyota, IBM, Anheuser-Busch and Lincoln-Mercury said they were dropping plans to run commercials either on ABC, which will televise the final two rounds; or ESPN, which will cover the first two. Delta Airlines said it would reduce its commercial involvement.

And it still appears that the tournament will be picketed despite a request by Birmingham’s black mayor, Richard Arrington, not to stage protests.

Leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference said promises by Shoal Creek’s governors that the private club will consider blacks as members were too late to head off demonstrations during the Aug. 9-12 tournament.