PGA Tour ditches tournament sponsor amid serious fraud allegations

The PGA Tour has dropped ONEflight International as co-title sponsor of the Myrtle Beach Classic following fraud allegations against the private jet charter company.

The split comes weeks after the Denver-based firm suspended all flight operations. 

It now faces multiple federal lawsuits over allegations of financial misconduct.

Visit Myrtle Beach will remain the tournament's sole title sponsor for 2027. 

The event is scheduled for May 13-16 at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in South Carolina.

New tournament director Steve Mays confirmed the split would not affect the event's prize money.

"We're gonna move forward as the Myrtle Beach Classic with Visit Myrtle Beach as our title sponsor. There'll be no change to the purse or to the tournament," Mays told WMBF.

ONEflight joined Visit Myrtle Beach as a co-title sponsor in February 2025. 

The partnership helped fund the tournament's purse and brought celebrity guests to the pro-am.

The company suspended flight operations around September 16. 

It said it would review its operations and financial position.

Several federal lawsuits have since been filed against ONEflight and its founder, Ferren Rajput.

The complaints allege the company took large, non-refundable deposits for flight hours it could not deliver. 

One lawsuit claims ONEflight owes Five-Star Audiovisual Inc. $223,000 intended for future flights.

Another alleges the company used customer funds to pay earlier customers and finance marketing and sponsorship deals, including those involving the PGA Tour and McLaren's Formula One team.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Despite the controversy, tournament organisers say the event will proceed as planned. 

The purse will remain at approximately $4m, with no changes announced to the schedule or venue.

SPORTFIVE, which operates the tournament, appointed Mays as director this week. 

He brings 30 years of experience in golf and tourism on the Grand Strand.

Mays said his priorities were improving the fan experience and strengthening ties with local businesses.

ONEflight previously helped bring celebrities, including Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell, to the tournament's pro-am. 

Brandt Snedeker won the 2026 Myrtle Beach Classic. 

The Myrtle Beach Classic will return from May 13-16. 

Organisers are now looking for a replacement co-title sponsor as the legal cases against ONEflight continue.