Craig Stadler, the 2004 Champions Tour Player of the Year and leading money winner, has committed to play this year's Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, it was announced Tuesday by Executive Director Tim Iley.

Stadler, the winner of five tournaments on the Champions Tour last year, will be making his second appearance in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf having turned 50 in June 2003. In his first appearance last year, Stadler finished T4. He is already an eight-time winner on the Champions Tour and won 13 times, including the 1982 Masters, during a PGA TOUR career that dates back to 1977. In 2005, "The Walrus" has finished T7 in the Champions Tour 25th anniversary celebration season-opening Master Card Championship, and T9 and T14, respectively, in the PGA TOUR's Sony Open in Hawaii and Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Also entering to play in the Legends stroke-play division are three former University of Florida standouts, Andy Bean, Gary Koch and Bob Murphy.

Bean, who grew up on Jekyll Island, Ga., won 11 PGA TOUR titles and played in the Ryder Cup in 1979 and 1987. Entering his third year on the Champions Tour, he jumped from No. 59 in 2003 to No. 24 on last year's final money list.

Koch, of Tampa, Fla., won six PGA TOUR events before joining the Champions Tour in 2003. He finished 41st on last year's money list with his best finishes being a playoff loss to Stadler at The ACE Group Classic and a T2 at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. The NBC broadcaster won the 2003 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf/Raphael division with partner, Roger Maltbie.

Murphy, the 1965 U.S. Amateur champion, won five PGA TOUR events and was a member of the 1975 U.S. Ryder Cup team in a career that began in 1968. A fellow broadcaster with Koch at NBC, he owns 11 Champions Tour titles. Murphy competed in the Raphael team division last year with Andy North, finishing fourth.

The following teams committed to play in the Raphael team division for players age 50-69:

Tommy Aaron (1973 Masters) and Bob Lunn (six PGA TOUR wins)

Homero Blancas (one PGA TOUR win) and Butch Baird (two PGA TOUR wins)

Tom Shaw (four PGA TOUR wins) and Bobby Nichols (11 PGA TOUR wins)

Early entries to the Demaret team division for players age 70+ include:

Al Balding (four PGA TOUR wins) and Bob Toski (five PGA TOUR wins)

Dow Finsterwald (12 PGA TOUR wins, including 1958 PGA Championship) and Bob Rosburg (seven PGA TOUR wins, including 1959 PGA Championship)

Billy Maxwell (eight PGA TOUR wins) and Doug Ford (19 PGA TOUR wins, including 1957 Masters)

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf are $60 for a weeklong pass ($50 for age 60+) and single day tickets are only $25. They are on sale at participating Kroger supermarkets throughout Savannah, Ga. and Waycross, Ga. and Hilton Head and Beaufort, S.C. They may also be purchased by calling toll free, 877-942-1123 or visiting the tournament’s Web site at www.libertymutuallegends.pgatour.com.