World Golf Hall of Famer Hale Irwin Joins 2008 Bank of America Championship Field
For Immediate Release, June 9, 2008:
CONCORD, Mass., June 9, 2008 —World Golf Hall of Famer Hale Irwin, who ranks first on the 2008 Champions Tour all time money leader list, has committed to competing in this year’s Bank of America Championship, which he already has won twice. Irwin’s commitment maintains at six the number of World Golf Hall of Fame members competing this year, considering Ray Floyd’s recent withdrawal because of continuing knee problems.
Irwin’s Bank of America Championship wins came in 1997 and 1998. In 1997, he birdied the final two holes to finish at 13-under, 203, a two stroke lead over Jerry McGee and Bob Wynn. In 1998, he defended his championship by carding a 15-under, 201, beating Jay Siegel by two strokes. He has competed nine times at the Bank of America Championship, missed winning his third consecutive tournament in 1999 on the second playoff hole and has won more money, $644,332, at the tournament than any other competitor.
On the Champions Tour, Irwin’s is a career of “mosts,” including most career victories (45), most consecutive years winning at least one tournament (11), most consecutive years winning multiple tournaments, most years (12) and most consecutive years (11) in the top 10 on the money list and most consecutive $2 million seasons. He also has won seven major titles on the Champions Tour, including the Senior PGA Championship (1996, 1997, 1998, 2004), Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship (1999) and U.S. Senior Open (1998, 2000). His 20 PGA Tour victories include three U.S. Opens (1974, 1979, 1990). He played on the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1991, the last of his five Ryder Cup appearances, and he was the U.S. captain of the inaugural Presidents Cup, which was won by the Americans.
In addition to Irwin, the other World Golf Hall of Fame members who will compete in the 2008 Bank of America Championship are Isao Aoki, Tom Kite, Gary Player, Nick Price and Curtis Strange. Top Champions Tour 2008 money leaders in this year’s field include Jay Haas (1), winner of the 2007 Bank of America Championship, Scott Hoch (3), Denis Watson (5), Loren Roberts (6), John Cook (7), Mark Wiebe (8), Price (9), Andy Bean (10), Brad Bryant (11), Jeff Sluman (13), Lonnie Nielsen (14), Scott Simpson (15), Craig Stadler (16), Tim Simpson (17), Jerry Pate (18), Tom Jenkins (19) and Kite (20).
The 28th annual Bank of America Championship will be played June 17-22 at Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord. The tournament is a 54-hole stroke play, PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour event. Seventy-eight Champions Tour pros will compete for a purse of $1.65 million and first prize of $247,500.
Bank of America Championship tournament week starts June 17, and in addition to golf clinics featuring Champions Tour pros, four championship pro-ams and three rounds of championship golf, the week will include activities for the whole family, including the Tastes of the Tour Pavilion, Family Fun Zone, Amica Insurance Autograph Avenue, Putt 4 Life Fan Putting Challenge and CBS Radio Tournament Treasures Expo Pavilion.
The Bank of America Championship is the longest running 54-hole event on the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour and has donated more than $4.8 million to local charities in the past 27 years. Fans can get tournament information, including descriptions of activities, gate times, tee times and volunteer opportunities and may purchase tickets by calling 1-866-559-GOLF or visiting the tournament’s website at www.bankofamericachampionship.com. Good-any-one-day tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Kids 15 and under accompanied by an adult will be admitted free of charge, and active duty military personnel will be admitted free of charge on Military Appreciation Day, Friday, June 20.
Contact:
Nick Ingala, Bank of America Championship, Office, 508-238-2800, njingala@comcast.net
