Eight Winners of Golf's Majors to Play in McGladrey Classic

/PRNewswire/ -- Unarguably, golf's Majors – the Masters, U.S. Open Championship, The Open Championship (commonly referred to as the British Open) and PGA Championship – draw the elite of the elite professional players.

The McGladrey Classic, an official PGA TOUR event, will host eight previous Major winners October 6 – 10 at Sea Island Golf Club, Saint Simons Island, Georgia. In addition to previously committed players Davis Love III, Zach Johnson and Lucas Glover, players Trevor Immelman, David Duval, David Toms, Justin Leonard and Lee Janzen will play the Seaside course, ranked one of the top 100 courses in the U.S. by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest.

Immelman won the Masters, Duval and Leonard the British Open, and Toms the PGA Championship. Love, Duval and Leonard also won The Players Championship, often referred to as the 5th Major. Another 5th Major winner, Henrik Stenson, has committed to play in The McGladrey Classic.

"Davis and I are extremely excited to introduce the PGA TOUR family to Georgia's beautiful Golden Isles. It's our dream to create an event that mirrors all our community is renowned for – its rich culture, storied past and extraordinary hospitality," said tournament executive director Mark Love. "We believe that when players and spectators come once, it will quickly become their annual Seaside tradition."

Tickets can be purchased online at www.mcgladreyclassic.com. Friday, September 24 is the last day to purchase tickets to be mailed. Tickets purchased after Friday can be picked up at Will Call, located in the event parking area at McKinnon Airport, near the Sea Island Golf Club entrance.

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Special Olympics Georgia to Raise Funds Through THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola's TICKETS Fore CHARITY(TM) Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) will be able to reach more people with intellectual disabilities for sports programs and networking for their family members through money raised from THE TOUR Championship's TICKETS Fore CHARITY(TM) program. THE TOUR Championship, the finale of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedEx Cup gives Atlanta charities the opportunity to participate in TICKETS Fore CHARITY -- a fundraising initiative designed to improve the quality of life in the communities where PGA TOUR tournaments are held. THE TOUR Championship features the top 30 players on the PGA TOUR, September 23-27th at East Lake Golf Club.

Through TICKETS Fore CHARITY, SOGA will sell tournament tickets to benefit the organization. All net proceeds go to charity: 50 percent to SOGA and 50 percent to the East Lake Foundation, one of THE TOUR Championship's primary charities.

"Special Olympics appreciates the opportunity extended by The Barclays to participate in this wonderful fundraising endeavor," said Georgia Milton-Sheats, SOGA CEO. "It's now up to us to rally our supporters and volunteers to generate the dollars that will help us continue to make a difference in the community. "

"This is an incredible opportunity to raise unlimited funds for the participating charity and there are absolutely no costs to the organization," said THE TOUR Championship's Executive Director Todd Rhinehart. "Fans will get to witness the very best the PGA TOUR has to offer and generate revenue for charities throughout greater Atlanta in a time when charities need help more than ever. We'd like to invite the community to join us in enhancing and enriching lives by participating in TICKETS Fore CHARITY."

Tickets available through TICKETS Fore CHARITY cost $150 for a weekly grounds ticket book - good Wednesday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 27.

Tickets may be purchased at www.theplayofffinale.com. Select SOG from the list of participating organizations. Enter charity code SOG in the TICKETS Fore CHARITY box. For more information, contact Chelsea Stewart at 404.378.8687 or at ChelseaStewart@pgatourhq.com.

Proceeds from THE TOUR Championship will benefit other local charities as well as the East Lake Foundation, (www.eastlakefoundation.com). This non-profit organization was founded in 1995 to build a better future through education, affordable housing, job readiness and connections with the broader community. In 2008, THE TOUR Championship donated $1.4 million to charities, bringing the total amount raised since 1998 to more than $9 million.

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Nationwide Tour Returning to Athens in 2010 with new site: The Athens Classic at UGA will benefit need-based scholarships for UGA students

The University of Georgia and the PGA TOUR announced today that professional golf will remain in the Athens area for a fifth straight year – but with a new venue and host organization. The Nationwide Tour’s “Athens Classic at UGA” will be played at the UGA Golf Course and operated by the University’s Auxiliary Services Department. All proceeds from the event will support need-based scholarships for UGA students through the Arch Foundation.

“The University of Georgia is proud to be the host of the Athens Classic at UGA, and especially glad that the tournament will stay in the Athens area,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “This has been a great event for the community, and we look forward to teeing off next April and raising money for need-based scholarships.”

The tournament will build upon the success of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic, held from 2006-2009 at Jennings Mill Country Club. The event, which has boasted very strong community support and crowds, has showcased many UGA alumni over the years including Chip Beck, Matt Peterson, Brendon Todd, Justin Bolli, Ryan Hybl, Erik Compton, Bubba Watson, Chris Kirk, Franklin Langham, Tommy Tolles, Tim Simpson, David Denham, Scott Parel, Kevin Kisner and the Nationwide Tour’s first million dollar earner, Paul Claxton.

Although the 2010 Nationwide Tour schedule will not be finalized until the fall, it is expected that the Athens Classic at UGA will continue to be played some time in April.

"Athens has been very supportive of the Nationwide Tour since we first came here in 2006," said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. "We are confident the association with the University of Georgia and its wonderful UGA Golf Course will take the Classic to new levels of impact and interest among sponsors and Bulldog fans. We look forward to many great tournaments in the future and adding to the already impressive list of UGA golfers who have played their way on to the Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR. In addition, we wish to thank the Athens Regional Foundation for bringing the Nationwide Tour to Athens and the many contributions they have made to the community through the tournament the last four years.”

As the Athens Classic at UGA will be a continuation of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic, tournament records will be maintained. Patrick Sheehan won the 2009 event in a playoff over Michael Sim after both finished regulation play at 14-under par.

UGA joins only a handful of institutions of higher education to host a Nationwide Tour event since the Tour’s inception in 1990. Events have been held at Seven Oaks GC in Hamilton, N.Y. (Colgate University), Finkbine GC in Iowa City, Iowa (University of Iowa), Yale GC in New Haven, Conn. (Yale University) and the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque, N.M. (University of New Mexico). The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio has hosted the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational at its Scarlet Course since 2007.

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