HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The PGA TOUR, Friends of Hawaii Charities and Sony Corporation announced Tuesday that Sony has agreed to extend its title sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii through 2010. Sony has been the title sponsor of the official PGA TOUR event since 1999 with the previous agreement running until 2006.

“It is our great pleasure to extend our sponsorship for the Sony Open in Hawaii,” said Sony Corporation Senior Vice President Masao Morita. “This event has grown in stature over the years and we believe that Sony’s association has greatly enhanced our brand. We are proud of the contribution that Sony Open in Hawaii makes to the local community and we look forward to continued success in the future.”

The Governor of the State of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, stated she was pleased with the announcement of the extension. Lingle has been very supportive of the event since Sony took over the sponsorship in 1999.

First held in 1965, the Sony Open in Hawaii is the TOUR’s first full-field event of the season. Vijay Singh is the reigning champion. Winners since Sony assumed title sponsorship have been Jeff Sluman (1999), Paul Azinger (2000), Brad Faxon (2001), Jerry Kelly (2002) and Ernie Els (2003-2004).

“Since Sony became title sponsor in 1999, the Sony Open in Hawaii has grown in stature and has increased its charitable contributions dramatically,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “We are very pleased that Sony Corporation has extended its sponsorship for four more years.”

“Sony Corporation’s commitment to extend its title sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii to 2010 makes Hawaii’s not-for-profit organizations the biggest winners of all,” said Anthony R. Guerrero, president, Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. “This year we reached the milestone of distributing $1 million to Hawaii charities, totaling over $5 million in grant distributions in seven short years. This was largely made possible through the support of our title sponsor, Sony Corporation and charity partner The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. We are grateful for their continued commitment to Hawaii through Friends of Hawaii Charities.”

The Sony Open in Hawaii has generated millions of dollars for the Hawaiian economy and raises money and awareness for some of Hawaii’s most notable causes. Sony has worked with the Friends of Hawaii Charities on this annual fundraising event since the organization was first founded in 1998. Since that time, the Sony Open in Hawaii has grown into the largest charity sporting event in the Hawaiian Islands, raising more than $5 million to ensure that women and children throughout Hawaii receive the critical health and social services they need.

In a related announcement earlier this month, Sony confirmed a sponsorship contract with Michelle Wie, who is confirmed to compete in the Sony Open in Hawaii next year.