[Nutpoode]

The banks avoid a lawsuit by honoring their multi-year sponsorship contract for the event. There was so much negative press about the Northern Trust Open that many banks may see any advertising as a negative rather than a positive. This is especially so considering that Northern Trust was not in financial straights when they accepted TARP money, did so only at the government's request to loosen the credit market, and sought to return the money as soon as they got bad press for abiding by their contract.

I don't expect many banks to renew their sponsorship contracts; I think we will see a lot of "final" events, such as the Buick Open.