West Virginia hosts largest tournament in Tour history

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BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- The Nationwide Tour makes history this week with the playing of its first $1 million tournament, the Nationwide Tour Players Cup in West Virginia, July 10-13.

The tournament in West Virginia began in 2004.

The Pete Dye Golf Club is the host venue where the current 144 leading money winners will compete for the single largest first prize, $180,000, in the Nationwide Tour's 19-year history. The tournament begins on Thursday.

"With the magnitude of the tournament and the purse that accompanies it, this truly is a historic week for the Nationwide Tour," said Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee. "The players are keyed up, in a very positive way, for the Nationwide Tour Players Cup. With $1 million on the line and $180,000 to the champion, a win this week could have an immeasurable impact on the career of the player who receives the trophy on Sunday."

The stakes will be even higher this week coming off the recent Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic and its $800,099 purse. At season's end, the top-25 money winners will receive their PGA TOUR cards for 2009, with the leading money winner securing fully-exempt status and a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship.

"We are thrilled that the PGA TOUR has selected West Virginia to host its first-ever $1 million tournament," said Nationwide Tour Players Cup Tournament Director Tim McNeely. "West Virginia and the Pete Dye Golf Club look forward to hosting the players and this milestone Nationwide Tour event. It's a wonderful opportunity to show golf fans and Golf Channel viewers how special the Pete Dye Golf Club is and how much the state of West Virginia has to offer."

The Nationwide Tour Players Cup has been embraced by the entire state of West Virginia starting with Governor Joe Manchin and first lady Gayle Manchin. Governor Manchin is scheduled to participate in today's pro-am that will kick off the milestone event.

The tournament trophy was created by Fred Wilkinson Jr., a third generation glassmaker from Moundsville, W. Va., who won the Nationwide Tour Players Cup's statewide trophy-design competition hosted by the West Virginia Division of Tourism.

The Players Cup is the second of a five-tournament swing offering big purses that will have a significant impact on "The 25." The Tour travels from West Virginia to Springfield, Mo., next week for the $600,000 Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper. The Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational, played July 24-27 in Nationwide's hometown of Columbus, Ohio, offers a $750,000 prize fund with the added element of current college first-team All-Americans in the field. The $700,000 Cox Classic presented by Chevrolet in Omaha, Neb., will be played July 31 -- Aug. 3.

The Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, in November will conclude the year. It will also offer a $1 million purse and $180,000 first prize, putting the cap on what will arguably be the biggest year in Nationwide Tour history.

This first $1 million Nationwide Tour event comes in the 554th start in Tour history. The largest previous first prize of $148,248 came at this year's Moonah Classic in Australia in February.