Barclays pledges $50,000 donation to PGA TOUR's Birdies for the Brave

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Barclays announced a $50,000 donation to PGA TOUR's "Birdies for the Brave" as part of the "Chips for Charity" event aboard former USS Intrepid at Pier 86 in New York City. Professional golfer and three-time Masters Champion Phil Mickelson, Barclays PLC President Robert E. Diamond Jr. and special guests took part in this kick-off for The Barclays, the first event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, August 24-29, at the historic Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.

RELATED

Round 1 Tee Times
Get tickets

As part of "Chips for Charity," Mickelson, Diamond and guests including wounded veteran Sgt. Jeff Combs of the United States Marine Corps participated in a golf skills challenge, hitting golf balls off the flight deck of the former USS Intrepid to a target in the Hudson River. Barclays pledged a donation for every ball landing in the target, for a total of $50,000.

A PGA TOUR Charities, Inc. program, Birdies for the Brave is the PGA TOUR's primary vehicle for supporting the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Since 2005, the TOUR has joined with PGA TOUR players and corporate partners to raise millions of dollars for military home front groups that directly serve military men and women lost or seriously injured in performance of their duty, through fundraising events at TPC clubs nationwide.

Birdies for the Brave was originally created by TOUR player Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, to support troops injured during combat. For each birdie or eagle made by Phil throughout the season, a contribution of $100 for a birdie or $500 for an eagle is made to Homes For Our Troops and Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Other initiatives to honor the the U.S. Armed Forces during The Barlcays include a Military Appreciation Day; free admission to the tournament for all active, retired and reserve military personel and their dependents; a Patriots' Outpost presented by Barclays Capital on site for all military; and various honorary roles for military personnel during the tournament.

As is the policy at many PGA TOUR events, The Barclays is proud to continue the tradition of offering complimentary admission for active duty, retired and reserve military personnel and their dependents with valid IDs (Tuesday-Sunday). Free tickets can be downloaded by visiting www.thebarclaysgolf.comand following the link for "2010 Tickets." A valid CAC ID must be presented with the ticket at the gate in order to gain entry to The Barclays.

In addition, The Barclays is hosting Military Appreciation Day on Wednesday, August 25. The day will include a ceremony in front of the 18th green between the morning and afternoon pro-am (approximately 12:45 p.m.) with the West Point Drill Team, Color Guard and Glee Club. PGA TOUR players Rory Sabbatini and Jimmy Walker will host at meet & greet from 2-3 p.m. in the Patriots' Outpost.

Military Appreciation Day will also include 54 military members serving as caddies for each TOUR pro as they play the 18th hole of the pro-am in the morning and the afternoon.

These caddies will be hosted in the Patriots' Outpost presented by Barclays Capital throughout the day, which is open Wednesday through Sunday to all active, retired, and reserved military and their dependents. The Patriots' Outpost is a hospitality tent located adjacent to the 18th tee that offers military members free refreshments and a place to relax during the tournament. Food is provided by Chick-Fil-A, Whole Foods, Nature Valley, Jelly Belly and Applebee's. BAE Systems is also a supporting sponsor of the Birdies for the Brave Patriots' Outpost.

During the first and second rounds of The Barclays, official starters on both No. 1 and No. 10 will be members of the military, giving these men and women a unique way to experience The Barclays -- and meet the best players of the PGA TOUR.

For the third round, The Barclays will bus in cadets from West Point and host a reception in their honor in the Patriots' Outpost.

The Barclays returns to Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., after a one-year visit to Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J., in 2009. Steve Stricker won The Barclays in 2007 during the first year of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Vijay Singh claimed The Barclays in 2008, outlasting Sergio Garcia in a playoff, while Heath Slocum edged four of the game's biggest names, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington, to capture The Barclays by one stroke last year at Liberty National. In 2009, The Barclays donated $1 million to local charities, bringing the total amount raised since 1967 to more than $38 million.

Tickets to The Barclays 2010 can be purchased by visiting www.thebarclaysgolf.com and can also be purchased in the pro shop at Paramus Golf Club.