SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Adding more big names to what is shaping up to be one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history, the Reno-Tahoe Open today announced that Tim Herron and Shaun Micheel have committed to compete in the 13th annual tournament at Montrêux Golf & Country Club, Aug. 1-7. Both are returning to the tournament for a seventh time and join other talented players including long-driver John Daly, former world No. 1 David Duval, two-time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen and 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir.
Ranking 87th in the FedExCup standings with 411 points, fan favorite Tim Herron has made nine of 19 cuts in 2011 with two top 10 finishes, including a T3 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic and a T4 at The Heritage. Herron has won four times on the PGA TOUR since turning pro in 1993, with his most recent victory coming at the 2006 Bank of America Colonial tournament. Often attracting large galleries, Herron, with his love for fans and relaxed demeanor, is one of the most well-liked players on TOUR and a favorite among pro-am participants. In 1999, Herron collected his most impressive result in a major with a solo sixth place finish at the U.S. Open. In addition, Herron, commonly known as “Lumpy,” comes from a family of professional golfers: both his grandfather and father played in the U.S. Open in 1934 and 1963, respectively.
“I really love getting out on the course and interacting with fans because they are the ones that keep these tournaments going,” said Herron. “People say I always look like I’m having a good time and that’s because I am. I’m excited to return to the Reno-Tahoe Open where hopefully I can continue with the success that I have had there previously.”
Shaun Micheel, who has made five of six cuts at the Reno-Tahoe Open, is best known for his impressive win at the 2003 PGA Championship. Ranked 169th in the world at the time, Micheel, one of the biggest underdogs ever to win a major, birdied four out of the last five holes, including his famous approach shot on the 18th hole, to win his first and only PGA TOUR event by two strokes. Micheel is also one of just two players ever to score a double-eagle at the U.S. Open, one of the rarest occurrences in golf, after he holed his second shot from 239 yards away on the par-5 6th hole during the final round in 2010. On TOUR this year, Micheel has made eight of 19 cuts and currently ranks 178th in FedExCup standings.
“I am looking forward to getting back out to Montrêux for the Reno-Tahoe Open,” said Micheel. “I have a consistent record of making the cut and this year, I’d like to take it one step further and earn my second PGA TOUR win.”
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.
