The PGA Tour has officially released Oneflight International as a co-title sponsor for the Myrtle Beach Classic. The decision comes just weeks after the private jet charter company halted all flight operations. According to Yahoo Sports, Price is now looking for another title partner to stop at South Carolina. The break-up marks a sudden change for the Denver-based event, which is expected to help fund purses and bring celebrity attention to the pro-am.
Visit Myrtle Beach is pursuing the only title sponsor as the tournament remains on the schedule. Steve Mays, who was named the new tournament director on Thursday, confirmed that the financial stakes of the players will not change. “We’re going to move forward with the Myrtle Beach Classic with Visit Myrtle Beach as our title sponsor. There’s no change to the purse or the tournament,” Mays said, according to WMBF. The event is still scheduled to return to Dunes Golf and Beach Club from May 13-16, 2027.
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Lawsuits Reveal Financial Crime
The separation case is part of a series of federal lawsuits filed against Oneflight and its founder, Ferren Rajput. Three separate lawsuits allege the company engaged in a Ponzi-like scheme. The United States District Court for the District of Colorado has accepted these lawsuits. One filing by Five-Star Audiovisual Inc. states that Oneflight abruptly suspended services around Sept. 16. without notice. Five-Star claims the company has $223,000 of its funds earmarked for future flights.
A separate case filed by Jeremy Ricks of California makes the accusations even more serious. The filing alleges that Oneflight “used the customer’s funds to service obligations to previous customers and to conduct marketing and sponsorship payments for various groups, including the PGA Tour and the McLaren F1 team.”
Another claim is that the firm is retaining $800,000 in cash payments and promotional credits for future use. A former ABC 15 reporter stated that these sponsors are “the hallmark of a Ponzi Scheme.” The company urged customers to return large, nonrefundable flight-hour deposits the firm was unable to deliver.
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New Leadership Steps in
Amid the bidding turmoil, the tournament secured a new leadership to take it through 2027. SPORTFIVE, the organization that operates the event, announced Steve Mays as its new tournament director, effective immediately. Mays brings 30 years of leadership experience to the role.
Mays succeeded Darren Nelson and will now oversee the planning, operations and growth of the tournament. He expresses his pride in taking the job. “My career is growing in Myrtle Beach golf, and it’s an honor to take on this role,” Mays said, according to WPDE. He noted that the event has become a vital part of the local community and a showcase for the region. The Prosperity 2027 event focuses on the fan experience and local business participation continues to be its priority. The tournament has previously featured stars like Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell, but those appearances were funded through Oneflight’s links to their 2025 championship.
The removal of Oneflight does not diminish the quality of the competition. The bag remains at around $4 million, a figure that guarantees the top-tier talent will travel to the Grand Strand. The split from the PGA Tour was confirmed on Thursday, ending a partnership that began in 2025, while also marking the loss of co-title sponsors, the continuation of the event provided by Visit Myrtle Beach. Former champions such as Chris Gotterup, Ryan Fox, and Brandt Snedeker have already shown that the course at The Dunes provides a serious championship test.
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For fans, the casino is great. The schedule, venue, and prize money remain intact. The focus now shifts to how to manage the tournament without the celebrity that Oneflight provided. However, with a seasoned director like Mays at the helm, the organization appears poised to move past controversy. The legal battles related to Oneflight are expected to continue in federal court, but golf itself will proceed as planned.
Then step on the calendar
The Myrtle Classic is scheduled to return to Dunes Golf and Beach Club for its next course. The tournament will take place from 13-16 May 2027. This date marks the official return of the event under a new leadership structure and a single-roll arrangement. No other changes to the format or field have been announced at this time.