The Barclays

 
 
Rudolph Giuliani Named 2003 Buick Classic Honorary Chairman
 
June 3, 2003

June 3, 2003
HARRISON, N.Y. -- Tournament officials announced today that former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has agreed to serve as the honorary chairman of the Buick Classic, June 16-22 at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y.

"We are so pleased that Mayor Giuliani has agreed to serve as our tournament chairman," said Peter Mele, executive director. "He has been a staunch supporter of this tournament for many years and has played a leadership role in growing the game of golf and providing more accessibility for all New Yorkers."

Rudolph Giuliani, the 107th mayor of New York City, was born in Brooklyn, graduated from Manhattan College and then attended New York University law school. He joined the U.S. Attorney's office, eventually rising to the post of U.S. Attorney for New York in 1983. He defeated Democrat David Dinkins in the elections of 1993 and was reelected in 1997. Term limits prevented Giuliani from running again in 2001. He was succeeded as mayor by Michael Bloomberg in 2002. Giuliani was widely praised for his leadership after the terrorist attacks of Sept, 11, 2001, and at the end of that year, he was named Time magazine's Person of the Year.

This year's Buick Classic features defending champion Chris Smith and two-time Buick Classic champion Ernie Els, as well as Vijay Singh and the resurgent Fred Couples.

Last year, the Buick Classic contributed more than $1 million to the New York United Hospital Medical Center and other area healthcare organizations, and also donated $500,000 to FDNY and NYPD charities, bringing the total to more than $32 million since 1967. Overall, the PGA TOUR has contributed more than $700 million to charities on the local, state and national levels since 1938, the first year such records were kept.

The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide significant competitive and earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.