SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Pro-Am opportunities limited as tournament time approaches
The Reno-Tahoe Open today added four more players to its field list, which is shaping up as one of the strongest in its12-year history, with the announcement of three-time PGA TOUR winners Chris DiMarco and Kirk Triplett , who also took home the trophy in 2003, PGA Championship winner Steve Elkington, and two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal. Currently, the Reno-Tahoe Open has commitments from eight major championship winners with a combined 11 major wins, and a field of 41 PGA TOUR winners with a total 127 TOUR victories. And with just a few spots left in its Wednesday Pro-Am tournament, golf fans are scrambling at the chance to play with this outstanding field of professional golfers.
“With eight past major champions and 41 PGA TOUR winners, this is arguably the best field that the Reno-Tahoe Open has ever seen,” said Jana Smoley, executive director of the Reno-Tahoe Open. “And while it’s exciting for spectators to watch, it’s an even more so for our pro-am players who have the opportunity to play with past tournament winners and PGA TOUR champions. Going into our 13th year with such a strong field, it’s great to know that we can give our fans and sponsors such a memorable experience.”
Returning to the Reno-Tahoe Open for just the second time in his career, Jose Maria Olazabal, has won six times on the PGA TOUR highlighted by victories at the 1994 and 1999 Masters. Placing in the top 10 at all four majors during his career, Olazabal spent more than 300 weeks in the top 10 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009. Recently Olazabal was named Captain for the 2012 European Ryder Cup team after playing in the matches seven times and winning with the European Team three times.
PGA Championship winner and 10-time PGA TOUR victor, Steve Elkington, has played in 558 PGA TOUR events and has made the cut an outstanding 400 times, putting him at 52nd in career earnings. Elkington is also one of the most accurate players on TOUR, ranking 14th in driving accuracy and fifth in putting from inside five feet. Elkington has visited the Reno-Tahoe Open six times in the past, making the cut in every appearance with his best result a T6 in 2007.
Three-time PGA TOUR winner Chris DiMarco comes to the Reno-Tahoe Open ranking 95th in FedExCup standings, making 11 out of 22 cuts in 2011 with a scoring average of 70.80. Although DiMarco has never won a major, he has three second place finishes in three different majors and has been a member of two President’s Cup teams and two Ryder Cup teams.
Former University of Nevada, Reno golfer Kirk Triplett has three wins on the PGA Tour; the Nissan Open in 2000, the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2003, and the Chrysler Classic of Tucson in 2006. Triplett was a member of the winning U.S. Presidents Cup team in 2000 and has been featured in the top 50 on the OWGR.
With arguably the strongest field the Reno-Tahoe Open has ever seen, pro-am foursomes are going quickly with golfers from around the region hoping to get a chance to play one of the PGA TOUR’s toughest courses alongside one of its best players. Just three spots remain for Wednesday’s Pro-Am, while Monday is sold out, with fan favorites including John Daly, Mike Weir, Tim Herron and David Duval set to play in one of 52 foursomes which are assigned by lottery during the pairings party at the Eldorado Resort Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 6:30 p.m. The private event is hosted by none other than NFL star Herm Edwards and PGA TOUR professional Scott McCarron, host of the Reno-Tahoe Open. Wednesday Pro-Am foursomes are $16,500 and also include gift bags for each participant.
For more information on pro-am opportunities or to sign up to play in the pro-am visit www.RenoTahoeOpen.com or call 775-322-3900.
For more information on the 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open at Montrêux, including ticket sales, vacation packages, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.RenoTahoeOpen.com or contact the tournament office at 775-322-3900.
The 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open at Montrêux, an official PGA TOUR event, takes place Aug. 1 – 7, 2011 at Montrêux Golf & Country Club in Reno, Nev. The tournament is a full-field stop during the PGA TOUR Regular Season and is part of the FedExCup series, a points competition for PGA TOUR professionals. The internationally-televised tournament brings in millions of dollars in coverage for the Reno-Tahoe region through its affiliation with The Golf Channel as it follows 132 PGA TOUR professionals competing for a share of the tournament’s $3 million purse. The Reno-Tahoe Open is operated and managed by the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation, comprised of key sponsors including Eldorado Hotel Reno, Montrêux Development Group and NV Energy.
