'Opening Drive for the FedExCup' launches at Mercedes Championship

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KAPALUA, MAUI, HAWAII -- The PGA TOUR is hosting its first-ever opening ceremony to celebrate the "Opening Drive for the FedExCup," which begins tomorrow when the first tee shot is struck at the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship. The 2008 season will tee off with a Hawaii-themed ceremony and new Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre serving as honorary starter on Thursday, Jan. 3, at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.

Mark Rolfing (WireImage)

The Opening Drive will be televised live by GOLF CHANNEL during a special one-hour show at 3 p.m. ET, and will also be available at PGATOUR.COM shortly thereafter as on-demand video content along with highlights of the tournament. GOLF CHANNEL's primetime coverage of the tournament is 6-10:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 6-10 p.m. ET on Sunday.

In addition, the PGA TOUR Network on XM Satellite Radio will broadcast 24 hours of live coverage on XM 146, Thursday through Saturday from 5-11 p.m. and Sunday from 4-10 p.m. ET. XM's play-by-play coverage is available at PGATOUR.COM for consumption via the Internet as well.

Mark Rolfing of GOLF CHANNEL will emcee the Opening Drive Ceremony, which will take place on No. 1 tee approximately 20 minutes prior to the estimated 10:45 a.m. HT first tee time. Four King's Guard Drill Team members from the Iolani Palace will perform as representatives from Mercedes-Benz present the tournament trophy, and spectators and players will participate in a traditional Hawaiian blessing led by Kapalua Resort's Hawaiian cultural advisor Clifford Nae'ole.

Following a presentation of colors by the King's Guard, the ceremony will continue with the playing of the "The Star-Spangled Banner" by award-winning recording artist Jake Shimabukuro. A fifth-generation Japanese American, Shimabukuro has been called the "Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele." He has performed at Wrigley Field and toured with Jimmy Buffett.

Torre, who won four World Series titles as manager of the New York Yankees and who is a property owner at Kapalua, will serve as honorary starter and announce the Mercedes-Benz Championship's first pairing. Stephen Ames, winner of the last official event in 2007 -- the Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart -- will hit the first tee shot of the 2008 season.

The sport's first season-long competition, the FedExCup, began its journey last year at Kapalua and culminated with Tiger Woods raising the trophy at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. The 2008 FedExCup will once again kick off this week at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, where Mercedes is celebrating its 15th year as title sponsor of this prestigious event and 10th year on the island of Maui.