The INTERNATIONAL

CASTLE ROCK, CO--- It's not unexpected to see the best players from around the world compete during The INTERNATIONAL at Castle Pines Golf Club.   But at this year's event, August 7-13, the names are piling up quickly and, literally, they span the globe. The only continent not represented in the 2006 field is Antarctica - and the world has yet to see a professional golfer emerge from the coldest place on earth.   
From a much warmer climate, Colombian Camilo Villegas, a hot commodity on the PGA TOUR these days, tops the list of foreign stars ready to tackle the 7,619-yard layout.  In just 18 starts, Villegas has had three top-ten finishes already this year, and has earned an amazing $1,405,755, placing him 27th on the PGA TOUR money list.
For the first time in the Tournament's 20-year history, China will be represented in the field with, not one, but two players.  Zhang Lian-Wei and Liang Wen Chong are among the country's finest players.  Zhang, who was the leading Chinese player on the Asian Tour Final Order of Merit in 2005, holds the distinction of being the first Chinese player to compete on the PGA TOUR at the 2004 Masters. In 2006, Liang overtook Zhang, his friend and mentor, and is currently China's highest ranked player.  He is ranked in the top-60 on the Japanese and Asian Tour Money lists.   
Australia's Jason Day, an 18-year old phenom, will also make his first appearance as a professional at Castle Pines.  Day, who names fellow Australian Adam Scott as his mentor, has won back-to-back Queensland Amateur Championships in 2004 and 2005. 
 Back for his second appearance at Castle Pines is South African Charl Schwartzel.  He is currently ranked 40th on the European Tour Order of Merit.  In his previous showing at the 2005 INTERNATIONAL, Schwartzel earned -4 points, missing the cut on Friday. 
In addition, a number of other foreign-born members of the PGA TOUR have committed to play in this year's event.  The list includes Daisuke Maruyama and Ryuji Imada from Japan; Australians Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy, Rodney Pampling and John Senden; Daniel Chopra, Richard Johnson and Carl Pettersson from Sweden; Arjun Atwal from India, South Africans Tim Clark and Retief Goosen; Bernhard Langer from Germany; Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal and Justin Rose and Brian Davis from England. 
   To purchase tickets to The INTERNATIONAL, call 888-755-1986, or visit www.golfintl.com. 
  

Media inquiries should be directed to Jonna Busack at 303-814-6287 or via e-mail at jbusack@golfintl.com.  Presenting Sponsors of The INTERNATIONAL are Great West Healthcare, Sun Microsystems, ADT Security Services, CIBER and First Data.  Coors is a Contributing Sponsor.