Tampa Bay Pro-Am

 
 
Nick Price Commits to Play at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am
 
January 29, 2007

TAMPA, FL, December 19, 2006 - Nick Price has officially committed to play in the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, February 12-18 at the TPC Tampa Bay.  This will be the second straight appearance on the Champions Tour for Price after becoming eligible just prior to the Allianz Championship the week before in Boca Raton, FL. 
Price won 18 tournaments on the PGA TOUR including the 1992 PGA Championship, the 1993 PLAYERS Championship and the 1994 British Open and PGA Championship.  In addition, Price has claimed 24 international victories.
"We're thrilled to have Nick be part of our tournament in his first year," said Amy Hawk, Tournament Director of the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.  "He is an exciting addition to the Champions Tour and we are pleased he has decided to play here in Tampa this year. We look forward to Tampa Bay coming out to watch him and many others compete in February," Hawk concluded.
Price's 18 victories on the PGA TOUR include:
1983 World Series of Golf,
1991 GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic, Canadian Open 
1992 PGA Championship, H.E.B. Texas Open 
1993 THE PLAYERS Championship, Canon Greater Hartford Open, Sprint Western Open,  Federal Express St. Jude Classic
1994 Honda Classic, Southwestern Bell Colonial,  Motorola Western Open, British Open Championship,  PGA Championship,  Bell Canadian Open
1997 MCI Classic
1998 FedEx St. Jude Classic
2002 MasterCard Colonial.
About the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am & Tournament Format
The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am is the first-ever winner of the Inaugural Champions Tour President's Award that is given to the event that best exemplifies the Champions Tour commitment to presenting its product, charity and involvement in the community.
In its first three years, the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am Foundation, Inc. raised over $1,870,000 through corporate sponsorships and other charitable donations.  Since its inception 19 years ago, this tournament has contributed over $6.8 million to Tampa Bay area charities.
This year's charities are: Blooming Place for Kids, Derrick Brooks Charities, LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care, Tampa General Hospital Foundation and The Children's Home.
The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am Charity Foundation Inc. is a 501 C 3 not-for-profit organization founded in October of 2003.
The tournament format includes a full 76-player Champions Tour field.   In addition, 76 amateurs and celebrities will have the opportunity to play under actual tournament conditions throughout the weekend.  The Champions Tour players will compete with each other in the normal scoring format.  On Friday & Saturday - One (1) amateur with one (1) professional will play in a team format (76 twosomes).  Team scoring will be one best ball of two.  The pairing will remain the same throughout the competition.  On Sunday, 16 pro-am teams will advance based on low score.  Of the 16 amateurs, five (5) are guaranteed to be celebrities.  Starting times will be made based on the professionals score in the competition. 
The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am will be played at the TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, FL, February 12-18, 2007 and will be aired on The Golf Channel (Friday) and NBC Sports (Saturday and Sunday).

Champions Tour Facts
- There are now two new Champions Tour events in Florida that now comprise the five Florida events (Allianz Championship, Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, ACE Group Classic, GINN Championship @ Hammock Beach and the Boeing Championship at Sandestin) in February, March & May.
- Part of a 29/30 event schedule (Mexico still pending)
- 35 hours minimum of original broadcast exposure for the state of Florida over five weeks
- Nick Price to make his debut at Allianz Championship and Mark O'Meara is scheduled at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am
- Question: Will Tom Watson finally nab a professional win in the State now he has a course of his own design to compete on the Conservatory Course in Palm Coast, FL?


About The Champions Tour

The Champions Tour is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older.  Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it started with just four events and purses totaling $475,000.  The Champions Tour will feature a minimum of 29 official Charles Schwab Cup events offering $54.1 million in prize money in 2007 and its highest average purse ever of $1.86 million.  The Champions Tour's primary purpose is to provide significant competitive and earnings opportunities for players age 50 and older; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.  In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, Champions Tour events also generate significant sums of money for charity.  The commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem.  Rick George is president of the Champions Tour.  TOUR headquarters is in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  Our web site address is PGATOUR.com.