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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA TOUR and LendingTree.com have entered into a multi-year official marketing partnership whereby the nation's leading online lending exchange receives exclusive designation as the "Official Mortgage and Home Lending Partner of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour."

This marks the first significant sports sponsorship for LendingTree.com, which plans to leverage the relationship through an integrated consumer promotion that offers PGA TOUR-related rewards to consumers. Beginning in March, those who start their loan request from a unique LendingTree/PGA TOUR web site may be eligible to receive PGA TOUR rewards after closing on a refinance, purchase mortgage or home equity loan.

"LendingTree is excited to be an official partner of the PGA TOUR," said Bob Harris, chief marketing officer, LendingTree.com. "The level of competition on the PGA TOUR and the passion of PGA TOUR fans is a great fit for LendingTree and our belief that 'When Banks Compete, You Win.'"

"We are extremely pleased to announce this partnership with such a dynamic, fast-growing company, and proud that LendingTree has selected the PGA TOUR for its first major venture into sports sponsorship," said Tom Wade, chief marketing officer for the PGA TOUR. "We are particularly excited about the level of activation LendingTree is pursuing through the consumer program in order to reach an important demographic audience for its business."

The LendingTree promotion will launch in March. Based on the amount of the loan, customers will have the choice of receiving dollar credit through the TOUR's new e-commerce site on PGATOUR.com, or credit for multiple rounds of golf through the PGA TOUR Ticket to Golf!, a PGA TOUR-branded, pre-paid ticket that provides access to more than 2,000 golf courses throughout the country.

The promotion will be supported through network and cable television advertising, as well as on PGATOUR.com and advertising in select publications.

Mullen, LendingTree.com's advertising, media and sports marketing agency negotiated the PGA TOUR two-year partnership and will manage activation of the relationship.