Kodak Challenge, TOUR cards on the line this week

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The Children's Miracle Network Classic, the final event in the PGA TOUR Fall Series, kicks off this week at Walt Disney World Resort's Palm and Magnolia Courses with a field that includes seven 2009 PGA TOUR winners and 11 major championship winners including David Toms, David Duval, Zach Johnson and defending champion Davis Love, III. Additionally, the Kodak Challenge will be decided in the first-of-its-kind competition for TOUR players that offers $1 million to the winner.

Love, who returns to defend his 2008 Children's Miracle Network Classic victory, headlines a field of participants that includes six 2009 TOUR winners: Michael Bradley (Puerto Rico Open); Heath Slocum (The Barclays); Brian Gay (Verizon Heritage and St. Jude Classic); Zach Johnson (Sony Open in Hawaii and Valero Texas Open); John Rollins (Legends Reno-Tahoe Open) and Bo Van Pelt (U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee).

Major champions at the 2009 Viking Classic include Toms (2001 PGA Championship); Duval (2001 British Open); Johnson (2007 Masters); Love (1997 PGA Championship); Rich Beem (2002 PGA Championship); Mark Calcavecchia (1989 British Open); Steve Elkington (1995 PGA Championship); Todd Hamilton (2003 British Open); Lee Janzen (1993 and 1998 U.S. Open); Tom Lehman (1996 British Open); and Corey Pavin (1995 U.S. Open).

Others expected to compete include 2008 U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate and 2009 U.S. Open runner-up Ricky Barnes.

As the only event remaining in the 2009 PGA TOUR season, late-season drama will be on display at the Children's Miracle Network Classic as players will be battling to finish the top 125 on the PGA TOUR official money list to earn their playing privileges for 2010. Players will also be vying to move into the top 30 on the final money list to ensure an automatic trip to the Masters and U.S. Open in 2010.

The first of four rounds begins on Thursday, November 12.

In addition to watching exciting golf action, spectators can sip, sample and savor elaborate dishes, unique wines and select beers, along the fairways of Disney's Magnolia Golf Course during the inaugural Wine & Dine Walk.

The Wine & Dine Walk runs Friday through Sunday of tournament week, with food, beer and wine stations positioned on key holes along the back nine of the Magnolia course, offering fans the best flavors of New England, Africa and India cuisine. They will feature entrees from some of Disney's newest and most popular restaurants, including The Wave (Disney's Contemporary Resort), Sanaa (Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas -- Kidani Village) and The Turf Club Bar and Grill (Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa). The wine, beer and cuisine offerings will range from $3.25 to $7.50. For more information, visit www.childrensmiraclenetworkclassic.com.

The Kodak Challenge is gearing up for its climactic finish, as the competition that celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR continues with the 485-yard, par-4 17th hole at the Magnolia Course. Players must play at least 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to compete for $1 million and the Kodak Challenge title. A player's lowest score relative to par on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. Streelman leads the Kodak Challenge at 16-under by two strokes over Bo Van Pelt.

A unique Fall Series "Smile & Win" spotter promotion will award instant prizes to fans wearing Kodak lanyards throughout the course at Magnolia Golf Course. The free lanyards can be picked up at the Kodak Fan Photo Zone on No. 17. Winners will be randomly spotted throughout the tournament.

The primary charity of the tournament is the Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Children's Miracle Network has grown dramatically since its founding in 1983, from a televised fundraiser in a small studio to one of the world's leading children's charities helping 17 million kids each year.

The 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals are there 24 hours a day to help kids of every age and background overcome every imaginable disease and injury -- from asthma and broken bones to cancer, heart defects, pediatric AIDS, muscular dystrophy and serious injuries. These children's hospitals are also on the front lines of preventing disease and injury through research, education and outreach programs that keep millions of kids out of the hospital each year.