GM ends Buick Open sponsorship

The termination had been expected because the cash strapped auto maker anticipates dumping as many as 13,000 jobs by the end of the 2009 calendar year, part of an ongoing structuring procedure.

"Its a sad day to have to announce that news," Larry Peck, national promotions manager for Buick-GMC, told the Detroit News in a statement late Tuesday.

"Difficult decisions have to be made in restructuring, and this is a result of that. For the golf fans of southeast Michigan, I hope they can see it's nothing against them, specifically. It's a PGA Tour evaluation of all the contracts with them."

World No. 1 and three-time champion Tiger Woods won GM's final Buick Open last Sunday, beating runners-up Roland Thatcher, Greg Chalmers and John Senden by three shots.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.