Concert, celebrities, Kodak, great golf on tap in Vegas

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Badz/PGA TOUR

Last year, Marc Turnesa broke through for his first win in Vegas and enjoyed all the fanfare that came with it.

Oct. 13, 2009

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, the second event in the PGA TOUR Fall Series, kicks off this week at TPC Summerlin as host Justin Timberlake welcomes a strong field and a number of celebrities for the TOUR's annual Las Vegas tournament. Additionally, the Kodak Challenge race tightens as only four events remain in the first-of-its-kind competition for TOUR players that offers $1 million to the winner.

The 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open field is headlined by four players who appeared in last week's Presidents Cup at Harding Park in San Francisco: Jim Furyk (2-2-1), Anthony Kim (3-1-0) and Hunter Mahan (2-1-1) from the victorious United States squad, and Tim Clark (2-2-1) from the International team. Furyk looks for his fourth victory at the PGA TOUR's Las Vegas event. He has played especially well this fall, with three top-10s in the PGA TOUR Playoffs and a fourth-place finish in the final FedExCup standings.

Joining Furyk are eight other players who finished among the top 30 in the final FedExCup standings in 2009: Heath Slocum (8); Nick Watney (12); Steve Marino (15); David Toms (19); Marc Leishman (20); Brian Gay (21); Jerry Kelly (22); and Mahan (27).

A total of 11 players in the field won at least one PGA TOUR event in 2009: Michael Bradley (Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular); Gay (Verizon Heritage and St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx); Nathan Green (RBC Canadian Open); Jerry Kelly (Zurich Classic of New Orleans); Matt Kuchar (Turning Stone Resort Championship); Ryan Moore (Wyndham Championship), Rory Sabbatini (HP Byron Nelson Championship); Slocum (The Barclays); Bo Van Pelt (U.S. Bank Championship); Watney (Buick Invitational); and Mark Wilson (Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun).

Davis Love III, winner of 20 PGA TOUR events, looks to win his second Fall Series event in as many years, having captured the 2008 Children's Miracle Network Classic. Others expected to compete include 2008 U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, and UNLV graduates Chad Campbell, Charley Hoffman, Bill Lunde, Moore and Chris Riley.

The first of four rounds begins on Thursday, Oct. 15.

The Kodak Challenge is gearing up for its climactic finish with 23 players within three strokes of leader Kevin Streelman. With just four events remaining in the 30-tournament series, the competition that celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR continues with the 560-yard, par-5 16th hole at TPC Summerlin.

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. Through 26 events, Streelman leads the Kodak Challenge at 13 under by one stroke over J.J. Henry, Jason Gore and Nathan Green. Eight players are tied at 11 under.

One of the many highlights of the week will be the Celebrity Pro-Am hosted by Timberlake on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at TPC Summerlin. The celebrity players expected to participate include Oscar de La Hoya, Greg Maddux, Daniel Negreanu, Kevin Dillon, Alice Cooper, Kenny G, Natalie Gulbis, George Lopez, Alfonso Ribeiro, Chris Kirkpatrick, Josh Kelley and Phil Hellmuth.

Timberlake will headline the JT and Friends concert at The Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Oct. 17. Proceeds will benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Acts on the concert bill include Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Ciara and TLC.

Some of the best viewing on the course is located at "THE HILL," a luxury 22,000 square foot entertainment pavilion overlooking the 16th, 17th and 18th holes and granting stunning views of the course and Red Rock Canyon. In true Vegas fashion, guests that purchase this special ticket package can enjoy the best seat in the house to watch the players as they try to maneuver TPC Summerlin's exciting finishing holes. Guests here can enjoy a lively and comfortable atmosphere resplendent with seating areas, tables and large plasma screen televisions for keeping up with all of their sporting interests.

A unique Fall Series "Smile & Win" spotter promotion will award instant prizes to fans wearing Kodak lanyards throughout the course at TPC Summerlin. The free lanyards can be picked up at the Kodak Fan Photo Zone, located near the 16th green from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the tournament. Winners will be randomly spotted throughout the tournament. A variety of instant prizes will include Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Cameras, PGA TOUR and tournament merchandise, and one lucky grand prize winner will receive a Viking Cooking School Package. Viking is the title sponsor of the fourth event in the PGA TOUR Fall Series, the Viking Classic from Oct. 26-Nov. 1. The Kodak Photo Zone also gives fans the opportunity to pose for and receive a free souvenir photo.