AKRON — The Kaulig Companies Championship signs are up around Firestone Country Club and Matt Kaulig admits to taking an extra look.

“It’s pretty awesome and surreal,” he said. “I have a lot of companies I have my name on. It’s nothing like Trump or trying to do anything like that. Now to see it on a golf tournament, the Kaulig Companies Championship, is really cool and it is very surreal.”

The tournament, a major on the PGA Tour Champions schedule, will be held July 13-16 at Firestone County Club’s famed South Course.

“It will take a couple of years, even for the community to get used to the new name,” Kaulig said. “That’s just what happens with names, it will be synonymous with Firestone and the Kaulig Companies Championship.”

Kaulig, a former University of Akron quarterback and a member at the Firestone Country Club, signed a four-year agreement to be the title sponsor through 2026.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this championship,” he said. “We’ve been playing 70 years of tournament golf here at Firestone. We decided to get involved just because we love Akron and love Northeast Ohio. When the tournament sponsorship became available, we had to jump all over it.”

Defending champion Jerry Kelly will be among the top 50-and-over golfers from across the world who will be playing in the tournament.

“Anytime you get a new company in, they are going to do everything they can to put their stamp on the golf tournament and try to elevate it,” Kelly said. “I don’t know how they can elevate it, but I heard some of the things and they’re doing everything they can.”

Don Padgett III, the tournament’s executive director, said the new partnership with Kaulig Companies brings new opportunities.

“Our golf tournament is going to have something for everyone,” he said. “We’re going to see legends of the game up close.”

Padgett said Champions rookie Stewart Cink committed to the tournament last week. He won at Firestone in 2004.

There also will be a 15,000-square-foot fan area behind the driving range with various activities for all ages. Not to mention concerts after each round at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame stage and “Saturday the Vindys will be back by popular demand,” Padgett said.

There will be a viewing deck on the 16th green.

“When the pros make a birdie, it’s half-price beers,” he said. “People will be rooting for some putts do drop for sure.”

The tournament raised more than $900,000 for charities of Northeast Ohio last year and Kaulig expects that to double this year.

“I’ve been surprised at all the support that the community is giving,” he said. “There’s a lot of people stepping up through sponsorship and want to be involved that haven’t been involved in years and wanted an opportunity to get involved.

“They know there’s a lot more excitement now, especially after COVID. We’re trying to bring new energy into Firestone and into the golf tournament.”

Golf notes

¯ NBA star Steph Curry is expected to be at Firestone to receive the 2023 Ambassador of Golf award on July 8.

It will be sort of a homecoming for Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA MVP who was born at Akron General.

His Underrated Golf Tour will bring 96 junior golfers from across the country to Akron for an event on Firestone South July 6-8.

¯ Kaulig, who said he has a 19 handicap, doesn’t play as much golf as he would like with his schedule.

“I play really every Monday at charity events,” he said. “It’s a great way to spend your Monday.”

He also golfs some Wednesdays at Firestone.

“I get out and have fun,” Kaulig said. “I don’t know if I’d golf if I couldn’t drink beer and smoke cigars when I was doing it. I have a good time, love the game.”

¯ Kaulig Racing fields three cars in the NASCAR Cup Series, two of them full-time, and three in the Xfinity Series.

A.J. Allmendinger drives in both series for Kaulig Racing.

“He’s a big golfer, I think he’s a five handicap,” Kaulig said. “His treat everytime he wins is to go to a big-time golf course. This year we’ve been to Pinehurst and Sawgrass.”

¯ What is Kaulig’s most expensive sport?

“I would say racing. By a lot.”