Feeling the need to constantly train their forces, particularly in archery, it was, so to speak, a burr in the saddle of Scottish King James II that his able-bodied men would choose to invest their time in less purposeful pursuits like, golf.

So, in 1457, he banned the playing of game, along with football (soccer), opting to force his subjects to engage in activities that would hopefully result in the protection of his kingdom, rather than wasting time with something as trivial as golf. Perhaps the King’s time would have been better spent on the golf course, as the golf gods apparently got the last word.

As an ardent supporter of the mechanized arms of the day, the King bolstered his forces with massive and powerful cannons to be used to reduce the castle walls of his enemies to rubble.

The golf-ban-making King met his demise soon after his golf ban, as he made the mistake of stationing himself too close to one of his cannons during yet another battle against the enemies of the Crown.

The art of loading a cannon with gun powder, lighting it, and using its explosive power to blast a projectile in the direction of your enemies is a gamey proposition to say the least.

Well, for King James II, this reality hit home, quite literally. You see, the cannon misfired, blowing itself to bits along with King James II. None-the-less, King James’ successors apparently saw the wisdom of his golf ban (not withstanding the risk of earning the wrath of the golf gods) as it continued to be reiterated and upheld by both his son and grandson, until such time as its practicality could not stand in the way of the game that is very much a part of the Scottish identity.

In 1502, King James IV signed the Treaty of Glasgow, intended to insure ever-lasting peace with England (which, ultimately, it didn’t). He also clearly possessed a practical romanticism, as he married Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VI, the man who signed the Treaty on England’s behalf.

Apparently, secure in the fact that a lasting peace had been achieved, it is interesting to note that it was King James IV himself who was one of the first to take to the links, on March 29, 1506, in a match against the Earl of Bothwell, perhaps contributing to the game’s Scottish lineage as a ‘Royal’ game.

Their match took place on royal hunting grounds that are now the home to the Sterling Golf Club. No record was kept for who won the match, but my money is on the King.

Perhaps most interesting of all is the fact that the Scottish ban on golf has never officially been lifted.

Bradley was solid off the tee at TPC Four Seasons ranking 7th for distance and T-10th for accuracy for a combined total driving rank of 3rd.  Keegan made birdie or better on 3 out of every 4 par 5’s played for the week ranking T-1st for par 5 birdie or better percentage (75%).

Dates: May 14-20, 2012
Where: TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas; Irving, TX
Par/Yards: 35-35—70/7,166
Field: 156; Format: 72-hole stroke play
Defending Champion: Keegan Bradley
FedExCup: 500 points to winner; Purse: $6,500,000;
Winner’s Share: $1,170,000
Twitter: @hpbnc
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hpbnc

How the HP Byron Nelson Championship was won in 2011
After entering the final round trailing Ryan Palmer by four strokes, Keegan Bradley carded a 2-under 68 to finish regulation tied with Palmer at 3-under 277. He then two-putted for par from 54’ 6” to defeat Palmer on the first hole of a playoff to win the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship, winning his first-career playoff and becoming the first rookie winner of the event.

More on Keegan Bradley and the HP Byron Nelson Championship

• Bradley’s score of 3-under-par was the highest in relation to par at the event since Bruce Lietzke’s 1-over-par score in 1981. His winning score was the highest in relation to par in a “non-major” since David Duval’s 3-under winning score at the 1999 PLAYERS Championship.
• Bradley’s win was the seventh consecutive on TOUR in 2011 decided in a playoff or by one stroke (dating to the Valero Texas Open). It was the 20^th playoff at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
• Bradley notched his first-career win at the age of 24 years, 11 months and 22 days. He later added the PGA Championship at the age of 25 years, 2 months and 7 days.
• Bradley became the second consecutive player to win the event in his first start (Jason Day-2010) and the event’s first-ever rookie winner.
• In 2012, Bradley will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the HP Byron Nelson Championship since Tom Watson won three in a row from 1978-80.

Highlights of Matt Kuchar’s victory at THE PLAYERS:

• Fourth career PGA TOUR title in 266^th start at the age of 33 years, 10 months and 23 days;
• Earned 600 FedExCup points to move to No. 6 in the season-long points race;
• Five-year PGA TOUR exemption through 2017;
• Three-year exemption to the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and British Open;
• Moved to fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking;
• Moved to third in U.S. Ryder Cup standings;

FedExCup and the HP Byron Nelson Championship
Ten players inside the top 30 in the FedExCup standings are in the field. Phil Mickelson (4) leads a group of four players inside the top 10, joined by Carl Pettersson (5), Matt Kuchar (6) and Johnson Wagner (7). Last year, Keegan Bradley carried his win at the event to an eventual 20^th place finish in the FedExCup.

Together, Anything’s Possible at the HP Byron Nelson Championship
As the PGA TOUR nears the $2 billion mark in charitable giving, the HP Byron Nelson Championship remains a leader in giving back to communities, raising $5.15 million in 2011 alone. Over the last 44 years, the HP Byron Nelson Championship has raised more than $121 million to help children & families in the area. Net proceeds from the event support the work of Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers.

A glance at the field

• 10 of the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings are in the field: Phil Mickelson (4); Carl Pettersson (5); Matt Kuchar (6); Johnson Wagner (7); Jason Dufner (12); John Huh (19); Keegan Bradley (21); Ernie Els (24); Louis Oosthuizen (28); Robert Garrigus (30).
• Seven of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are in the field: Matt Kuchar (5); Phil Mickelson (10); Adam Scott (13); Louis Oosthuizen (14); Jason Day (16); Jason Dufner (21); Keegan Bradley (22).
• Nine former HP Byron Nelson Championship winners: Keegan Bradley (2011), Jason Day (2010), Rory Sabbatini (2009), Adam Scott (2008), Scott Verplank (2007), Brett Wetterich (2006), Vijay Singh (2003), Phil Mickelson (1996) and Ernie Els (1995).
• Five PGA TOUR winners in 2012: Johnson Wagner (Sony Open in Hawaii), Phil Mickelson (AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am), John Huh (Mayakoba Golf Classic), Carl Pettersson (RBC Heritage), Jason Dufner (Zurich Classic of New Orleans), Matt Kuchar (THE PLAYERS).

• 1995 HP Byron Nelson Championship winner Ernie Els will make his first visit to the event since a T13 in 2006. He owns four top-10 finishes in eight starts (1-1995, T4-2002, T7-2004, T10-2005).
• Phil Mickelson will be making his 14^th start at the HP Byron Nelson Championship and first since a T3 finish in 2007. His win in 1996 is one of four top-10 finishes at the event (1-1996, T6-1998, T2-2000, T3-2007).

Miscellaneous Tournament Notes

• Past champion and Dallas resident Scott Verplank withdrew early this week from the HP Byron Nelson Championship due to a lingering left wrist injury that also forced a WD during THE PLAYERS. Verplank has made 25 starts at the HP Byron Nelson Championship — just three players have more starts (28 — Lanny Wadkins and Tom Watson; 27 — Ben Crenshaw) — and he had not missed the event since 1993.
• The 2011 champion Keegan Bradley is one of just six past winners of the HP Byron Nelson Championship in the last 17 years unable to record all four rounds in the 60s (Bradley-2011, Jason Day-2010, Adam Scott-2008, Brett Wetterich-2006, Sergio Garcia-2004 and Jesper Parnevik-2000.
• The course record of 61 has been posted on four occasions: Billy Mayfair (1993), Charlie Rymer (1996), Justin Leonard (2001) and Cameron Beckman (2010).
• The tournament scoring record of 261 was set by Rory Sabbatini in 2009.
• Only two have won the tournament in wire-to-wire fashion – Mark Hayes in 1976 and Tom Watson in 1980. (Note: Complete first-round scores are not available for the inaugural event in 1944, which was won by Byron Nelson).
• Dating to 2000, there have been seven international-born winners of the championship (2000-Jesper Parnevik, 2002-Shigeki Maruyama, 2003-Vijay Singh, 2004-Sergio Garcia, 2008-Adam Scott, 2009-Rory Sabbatini, 2010-Jason Day).
• Just seven players (eight total wins) have carried the opening-day lead on to victory: Jason Day (2010), Scott Simpson (1993), Tom Watson (1979, 1980), Mark Hayes (1976), Chi Chi Rodriguez (1972), Earl Stewart (1961) and Don January (1956).

2012 PGA TOUR Highlights

• Johnson Wagner was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for January thanks to a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii and two other top 10s.
• In 2012, victors have come back from deficits of seven (Brandt Snedeker/Farmers Insurance Open), eight (Kyle Stanley/Waste Management Phoenix Open), six (Phil Mickelson/AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am) and seven (John Huh/Mayakoba Golf Classic).
• With his 40^th career PGA TOUR victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Phil Mickelson is now ninth all-time in PGA TOUR wins, surpassing Cary Middlecoff and Tom Watson. Walter Hagen is eighth with 45 victories.
• With his playoff victory at the 2012 Mayakoba Golf Classic, rookie John Huh (21 years, 9 months, 5 days) became the youngest winner on TOUR since Rory McIlroy won the 2010 Wells Fargo Championship at the age of 20 years, 11 months, 28 days.
• Phil Mickelson was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for February thanks to a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and a runner-up finish at the Northern Trust Open.
• Americans won the first nine events of the 2012 PGA TOUR season before Rory McIlroy captured The Honda Classic. The last time Americans had a victory streak that long was during the 1991 season when U.S. players won the first 11 events until Ian Woosnam of Wales broke the streak with a win at the USF&G Classic, now known as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
• With his victory at The Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy moved to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, taking over the top spot from Luke Donald. McIlroy (22 years, 10 months) became the second-youngest player to achieve the top spot. Only Tiger Woods was younger, moving into the No. 1 position on June 15, 1997 at the age of 21 years, 24 weeks. Two weeks after giving up his World No. 1 ranking, reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Luke Donald re-gained the top spot after a four-way playoff victory at the Transitions Championship. McIlroy reclaimed the top spot after the RBC Heritage, Donald again after a third-place finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and currently McIlroy after a playoff loss to Rickie Fowler at the Wells Fargo Championship.
• Rory McIlroy became the third World No. 1 to also lead the FedExCup, joining Luke Donald (2011) and Tiger Woods (2007, 2008, 2009).
• England’s Justin Rose became the first European winner of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, edging Bubba Watson by one stroke.
• Through the THE PLAYERS, six of the 21 (seven total wins) winners on the PGA TOUR have been under the age of 30: Kyle Stanley, Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan, John Huh, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler. In 2011, 16 players under the age of 30 accounted for 18 victories.
• Through the THE PLAYERS, 14 of the 20 PGA TOUR winners in 2012 were inside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of January 1: Steve Stricker (6); Brandt Snedeker (38); Phil Mickelson (14); Bill Haas (27); Hunter Mahan/2 (19); Rory McIlroy (3); Justin Rose (18); Luke Donald (1); Tiger Woods (23); Bubba Watson (21); Jason Dufner (33); Rickie Fowler (32); Matt Kuchar (11).
• With his Shell Houston Open win, Hunter Mahan now has five career wins, matching Dustin Johnson for most wins by a player under the age of 30. Current list of players with three or more wins: Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson (5), Bill Haas (4), Sean O’Hair (4), Anthony Kim (3). Haas won for the fourth time earlier this year at the Northern Trust Open in playoff over Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.
• With his win at the Shell Houston Open, Hunter Mahan moved atop the FedExCup standings, the fifth player to lead during 2012. Mahan is one of three players (Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson) to play at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola every year since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007.
• Justin Rose was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for March thanks to a victory at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship and a T5 at the Honda Classic.
• Bubba Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen on the second hole of sudden death to win the first major championship of 2012 at the Masters Tournament. Along with T18 as the defending champion at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, he was named TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for April.
• Matt Kuchar captured THE PLAYERS by two strokes over four players to move to fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking.

2012 PGA TOUR Fact Sheet

• The 2012 season marks the sixth year of the FedExCup, a season-long points race of 37 events over the course of 33 weeks, followed by four PGA TOUR Playoffs events to determine the FedExCup champion: The Barclays (Dustin Johnson), Deutsche Bank Championship (Webb Simpson), BMW Championship (Justin Rose), TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (Bill Haas). Last year, Haas joined Jim Furyk (2010), Tiger Woods (2009 and 2007) and Vijay Singh (2008) as winners of the season-long FedExCup competition.

• The 45-event season concludes with the PGA TOUR Fall Series, a four-event series which begins with the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and concludes with the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. Additional 2012 fall events include the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions (China) and CIMB Asia Pacific Classic (Malaysia).
• As of May 7, 28 of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking were 2012 PGA TOUR members (Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari).
• Including temporary members Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) and Peter Hanson (Sweden), there are 77 active international players from 21 countries that are members of the PGA TOUR in 2012.

• At the beginning of the year, 18 of 26 rookies were under the age of 30, with eight of those under the age of 25. The youngest is Seung-yul Noh, who was 20 years, 7 months and 10 days on January 1.

• Notable graduates from the Nationwide Tour include two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, Billy Hurley III who recently completed his military obligation after his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Final of Four-Leg Texas Swing
The HP Byron Nelson Championship is the third of four legs of the Texas Swing on the PGA TOUR, with Hunter Mahan wining the Shell Houston Open and Ben Curtis winning the Valero Texas Open. No player has ever won the Texas Grand Slam, but a number of players, many of them Hall of Famers, have won three titles. Here are the players who have won three of the four Texas events along with the missing link:

Remembering Byron Nelson
The HP Byron Nelson Championship celebrates the life and legacy of Byron Nelson, one of the game’s most respected and revered individuals.

• Nelson reached the pinnacle of his golfing career in 1945, winning 18 tournaments, including a record 11-tournament winning streak that will likely stand the test of time.
• Throughout his relatively brief career, he won 54 times, including the 1939 U.S. Open, 1937 and 1942 Masters Tournaments, and the 1940 and 1945 PGA Championships.
• Above and beyond his accomplishments on the golf course, Nelson (who passed away in 2006) is universally regarded as one of the game’s true gentlemen.
• The tournament has several ways of honoring Nelson:
  • The Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Awards, which recognizes the achievements of junior golfers around the world.
  • The Byron Nelson Prize sponsored by the T. Boone Pickens Foundation, awarded each year to a person or organization in the golf world who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and philanthropy. Past winners of the Byron Nelson Prize include Tom Lehman (2007), Ken Venturi (2008), Arnold Palmer (2009), Tom Watson (2010), Deane Beman (2011) and this year’s recipient Nancy Lopez. Lopez is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and has been named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year twice. She owns 48 career wins on the LPGA Tour.
  • Each year the Salesmanship Club makes a $100,000 contribution to the charity of the Prize recipient’s choice. Lopez has chosen AIM for the Handicapped to receive the charitable contribution.

The HP Byron Nelson Championship is one of the TOUR’s longest running events
The HP Byron Nelson Championship, the first PGA TOUR event to be named in honor of a professional golfer, has one of the richest golf traditions in the game. The tournament has been conducting TOUR events since 1944, making the Dallas-area tournament the TOUR’s ninth-oldest event (see chart below). The only breaks since that year came in 1947-55, 1963 and 1965. The inaugural tournament in 1944 was played at Lakewood Country Club, with Byron Nelson recording a phenomenal 10-stroke win over his nearest challenger Harold “Jud” McSpaden. Nelson’s victory that year was the beginning of a two-year stretch in which the Hall of Famer won 26 tournaments, including the amazing streak of 11 straight wins in 1945.

—2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
—2012 The Memorial Tournament
—2012 AT&T National
—2012 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
—2012 PGA Championship

A spot in the following 2013 events in order of play:
—2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions
—2013 Humana Challenge Classic
—2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational
—2013 Masters
—2013 RBC Heritage
—2013 PLAYERS
—2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
—2013 The Memorial Tournament
—2013 U.S. Open
—2013 AT&T National
—2013 British Open
—2013 PGA Championship

If a U.S. player, app. 1,710,000 points towards making the 2013 Presidents Cup team. If a U.S. Player, app. 1,710 points towards making the 2012 Ryder Cup team

How THE PLAYERS was won in 2011
K.J. Choi defeated David Toms with a par-3 on No. 17, the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, to win THE PLAYERS.  With the victory, Choi became the first Korean and first Asian-born winner in the 38-year history of the event.  The playoff between K.J. Choi and David Toms was just the fourth in the 38-year history of THE PLAYERS and first since Sergio Garcia defeated Paul Goydos with a par-3 on No. 17 (first playoff hole) in 2008.

More on K.J. Choi and THE PLAYERS 2011

• The victory was the eighth of Choi’s career and first since the 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii, a span of 74 starts on the PGA TOUR since his last victory.
• The playoff appearance was the first of Choi’s career in his 296^th start on TOUR.
• Choi holed a birdie putt from 10 feet, 4 inch birdie putt on No. 17 in regulation during the final round, becoming just the ninth PLAYERS champion to birdie No. 17 in the final round in the 38-year history of THE PLAYERS and first since Craig Perks in 2002.
• With Choi’s victory in 2011, International players have now won THE PLAYERS in seven of the last 10 years and 12 times in the history of the event.
• Entering 2011, Choi’s best result in nine previous appearances at THE PLAYERS was a T16 in 2006.
• Choi played the back nine at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in 10-under for the week with 10 birdies and one eagle offset by just two bogeys (No. 15 – R2, No. 11 – R4).
• David Toms converted a 17 foot, 2 inch birdie putt on No. 18 in regulation to force the playoff with Choi. The birdie was just the fourth on the finishing hole during the final round. No. 18 was the most difficult hole at TPC Sawgrass during THE PLAYERS 2011, playing to a stroke average of 4.313 and yielding only 45 birdies for the week.
• Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who held the 54-hole lead at 12-under 204, struggled to a final round 79 and finished T33. Since THE PLAYERS moved to TPC Sawgrass in 1982, only 11-of-30 54-hole leaders have gone on to victory.

A glance at the field

Below is a quick look at what is traditionally one of the strongest fields in golf each year

• There are 49 of the top 50 in the FedExCup standings are in the field, including all of the top 10:
• There are nine former PLAYERS champions in the field – Davis Love III (1992, 2003), K.J. Choi (2011), Tim Clark (2010), Sergio Garcia (2008), Justin Leonard (1998), Phil Mickelson (2007), Adam Scott (2004), Henrik Stenson (2009) and Tiger Woods (2001).
• Of the 145 players in the field, 101 have combined for 502 PGA TOUR career victories.

Twenty-one major championship winners in the field: Tiger Woods (14), Phil Mickelson (4), Vijay Singh (3), Ernie Els (3), Padraig Harrington (3), Angel Cabrera (2), Retief Goosen (2), Keegan Bradley, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, Lucas Glover, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen and David Toms.

2012 PGA TOUR highlights through 20 events:

• Luke Donald and Matt Kuchar each have a PGA TOUR best 24 top-10 finishes since the start of the 2010 season. During that time, Donald has finished in the top 10 52.2 percent of the time (24-of-46) while Kuchar has finished in the top 10 in 40.7 percent (24-of-59) of his starts
• PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis
  • January – Johnson Wagner
  • February – Phil Mickelson
  • March – Justin Rose
• In 2012, winners have come back from deficits of seven (Brandt Snedeker/Farmers Insurance Open), eight (Kyle Stanley/Waste Management Phoenix Open), six (Phil Mickelson/AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am) and seven (John Huh/Mayakoba Golf Classic).
• With his 40^th career PGA TOUR victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, 2007 PLAYERS champion Phil Mickelson is now ninth all-time in PGA TOUR wins, surpassing Cary Middlecoff and Tom Watson. Walter Hagen is eighth with 45 victories.
• Rookie John Huh is the only PGA TOUR rookie to win in 2012, claiming the Mayakoba Golf Classic in an eight-hole playoff over Robert Allenby. At the age of 21 years, 9 months and 5 days, Huh became the youngest winner on TOUR since Rory McIlroy at the 2010 Wells Fargo Championship (20 years, 11 months, 28 days).
• Phil Mickelson was voted PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for February after a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and a runner-up finish at the Northern Trust Open.
• Americans won the first nine events of the 2012 PGA TOUR season before Rory McIlroy captured The Honda Classic. The last time Americans had a victory streak that long was during the 1991 season when U.S. players won the first 11 events before Ian Woosnam of Wales won the USF&G Classic, now known as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Americans have won 16-of-21 events on TOUR in 2012.
• With his victory at The Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy moved to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, taking over the top spot from Luke Donald. McIlroy (22 years, 10 months) became the second-youngest player to achieve the top spot. Only Tiger Woods was younger, moving to No. 1 on June 15, 1997 at the age of 21 years, 24 weeks. Donald re-gained the No. 1 position two weeks later with a victory at the Transitions Championship, and McIlroy moved back to No. 1 after his runner-up finish last week at the Wells Fargo Championship.
• McIlroy became the third World No. 1 to also lead the FedExCup, joining Luke Donald (2011) and Tiger Woods (2007, 2008, 2009).
• England’s Justin Rose became the first European to win the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, edging Bubba Watson by one stroke.
• Through the Wells Fargo Championship, only six of the 19 (seven total victories) winners on the PGA TOUR have been under the age of 30: Kyle Stanley, Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan, John Huh, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler. In 2011, 16 players under the age of 30 accounted for 18 victories.
• With his victory at the Shell Houston Open, Hunter Mahan (who turns 30 next week on May 17) now has five PGA TOUR victories, tied with Dustin Johnson for most by a player in their 20s. The current list of players in their 20s with three or more victories: Hunter Mahan (5), Dustin Johnson (5), Bill Haas (4), Sean O’Hair (4) and Anthony Kim (3).
• Hunter Mahan has led the FedExCup standing since collecting his second victory of the season at the Shell Houston Open. Five different players have led the season-long points standings in 2012.
• American Bubba Watson claimed the first major championship of the season at the Masters Tournament with a playoff victory over South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.
• Rickie Fowler won his first PGA TOUR event in a sudden-death playoff last week against Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points at the Wells Fargo Championship.

THE PLAYERS Key Storylines and Notes

Thrilling competition in 2012 on the PGA TOUR leads up to THE PLAYERS

The PGA TOUR season has been a weekly showcase of exciting competition with a wide-range of champions and storylines. With early-season champions like Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods in addition to Rickie Fowler’s maiden PGA TOUR win at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship combined with multiple victories by current FedExCup points leader Hunter Mahan, the lead up to THE PLAYERS has never been more dramatic.

Mahan maintains position atop FedExCup points list

The only multiple winner on the PGA TOUR in 2012, Hunter Mahan (World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, Shell Houston Open) enters THE PLAYERS having led the FedExCup points list for the last six weeks. Mahan enjoys a slim 23-point advantage over Masters champion Bubba Watson.

Mahan returns to THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass after producing his best result at THE PLAYERS in 2011, a T6. Last year’s performance was Mahan’s first top 10 in six-career appearances. He carded rounds of 70-67-73-69 and finished four strokes out of the playoff between K.J. Choi and David Toms.

Mahan’s four victories since the start of the 2010 season are tied for second-most on TOUR, trailing only Steve Stricker’s five:

Player                                     Wins since start of 2010

Steve Stricker                                           5

Hunter Mahan                                            4

Bill Haas                                                    4

Justin Rose                                               4

Bubba Watson                                          4

Six players tied                                         3

Strong International presence again at THE PLAYERS 2012

A total of 52 players from 19 countries outside of the United States are in the field for THE PLAYERS 2012 and will look to continue the recent trend of players from outside the United States finding success at TPC Sawgrass.  Highlighted by defending champion K.J. Choi of Korea, seven of the last 10 winners of THE PLAYERS are International players. A total of 12 International players have won THE PLAYERS IN THE 38-year history of the event.

Australia leads the way with 10 players in the field. England has seven representatives in the field, including Transitions Championship winner Luke Donald. Tim Clark, winner of THE PLAYERS in 2010, is one of six South Africans in the field, joining World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els and Masters runner-up Louis Oosthuizen. Korea also has six players in the field while Sweden has five, including 2009 PLAYERS champion Henrik Stenson.

Northern Ireland, Canada, Spain and Argentina each have two players in the field. The other countries represented with one player each are India, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Germany, Colombia, Venezuela, Fiji, Italy, Japan and Scotland.

Local players Every, Cauley highlight first-timers at THE PLAYERS

Sixteen players will arrive at TPC Sawgrass to compete in THE PLAYERS for the first time in 2012, including Jacksonville native Bud Cauley and Jacksonville Beach resident Matt Every. Cauley becomes the first player to participate in the Junior PLAYERS Championship to qualify for THE PLAYERS.  Joining Cauley and Every, who both qualified via the 2012 FedExCup points list, are David Hearn, John Huh, J.J. Killeen, Sung Kang, David Mathis, Scott Stallings, Kyle Stanley, Michael Thompson, Cameron Tringale, Sang-Moon Bae, Simon Dyson, Colt Knost, Harris English and Graham DeLaet.

Of the group mentioned above, Huh (Mayakoba Golf Classic) and Stanley (Waste Management Phoenix Open) have already won on the PGA TOUR in 2012. Stallings claimed the 2011 Greenbrier Classic while Tringale has posted four top 10s already in 2012. Mathis won the 2010 Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open on the Nationwide Tour at Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass.

Other than Jack Nicklaus, who won THE PLAYERS in its inaugural year in 1974, only Hal Sutton (1983) and Craig Perks (2002) have won the event in their first appearance.

From the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open to THE PLAYERS in six months

The second-annual Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open, the penultimate event on the 2011 Nationwide Tour schedule, was held at Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass last October. There are six players who competed in the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open that not only went on to earn PGA TOUR cards for 2011, but have played their way into THE PLAYERS. Here’s a look at those players, how they earned their PGA TOUR card, how they qualified for THE PLAYERS and where they finished last fall at the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open.

Player                      Exempt Status                PLAYERS Criteria                          WDJO Finish

Bud Cauley               Top 125 (Non-Member)     FedExCup points                                    T26

Harris English           T13 Q-School                    FedExCup points                                    MC

Matt Every                NWT #18                           FedExCup points                                    T38

Ken Duke                  NWT#7                              FedExCup points                                    T26

J.J. Killeen                NWT #1                             Nationwide Tour Money Leader             MC

John Mallinger          NWT#14                            FedExCup points                                    T26

Noteworthy players in the field

Lee Westwood – Lee Westwood returns to THE PLAYERS after a one-year absence in 2011. In his last start in 2010, Westwood held the 54-hole lead at 14-under-par but struggled to a final-round 74 and finished T4. In nine appearances at THE PLAYERS, Westwood has posted three top 10s with the T4 in 2010 his best finish. In his last start on the PGA TOUR, Westwood finished T3 at the Masters, his seventh top-three finish in a major championship since the start of the 2008 season.

Phil Mickelson – Winner of THE PLAYERS in 2007, Phil Mickelson moved to ninth all-time with his 40^th PGA TOUR victory earlier this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Mickelson has not finished in the top 10 and only posted two rounds in the 60s (66 – R3 2010, 69 – R3 2011) since his victory in 2007. In addition to his victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Mickelson also finished runner-up at the Northern Trust Open.    

Tiger Woods – Tiger Woods claimed his first PGA TOUR victory since the 2009 BMW Championship earlier this year at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Winner of THE PLAYERS in 2001, Woods has posted just one top 10 at TPC Sawgrass since his victory, a solo 8^th in 2009. Woods has been forced to withdraw from THE PLAYERS in each of the last two years due to injury.

Rory McIlroy – A winner earlier this year at The Honda Classic, his third PGA TOUR title since the start of the 2010 season, Rory McIlroy returns to THE PLAYERS after a one-year absence in 2011. In search of his first made cut at TPC Sawgrass, McIlroy has not broken par in four-career rounds at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. In addition to his victory at The Honda Classic, McIlroy was runner-up to Hunter Mahan at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and to Rickie Fowler at last week’s Wells Fargo Championships, as well as third at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

Steve Stricker – Making just his eighth start of the season, Steve Stricker enters THE PLAYERS with the longest current streak of consecutive cuts made on the PGA TOUR with 49. Stricker earned his fifth victory since the start of 2010, most on TOUR, when he captured the Hyundai Tournament of Champions to start the season. He picked up a solo 6^th in his last start at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In 15 starts at THE PLAYERS, Stricker has just one top 10, a T6 in 1999. 

Jason Dufner – Jason Dufner arrives at THE PLAYERS fresh off his first PGA TOUR victory two weeks ago at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, besting Ernie Els in a playoff. Dufner, who got married last week and did not play the Wells Fargo Championship, recorded his best finish at THE PLAYERS in 2011, a T6.

Miscellaneous PLAYERS statistics

Best scoring average on the 17th hole of players in the field (minimum of 8 rounds):

Player                         Scoring Avg. Rounds          Birdies

McNeill, George           2.62                 8                      3

Wagner, Johnson        2.70                 10                    3

Kaymer, Martin            2.75                 12                    4

Allenby, Robert           2.84                 52                    13

Levin, Spencer            2.87                 8                      1

Stroud, Chris               2.87                 8                      2

Stadler, Kevin              2.90                 10                    2

Most birdies on the 17th hole of players in the field:

Player                         Scoring Avg. Rounds          Birdies

Love III, Davis              3.13                 87                    18

Mickelson, Phil 3.21                 64                    14

Allenby, Robert           2.84                 52                    13

Furyk, Jim                    3.05                 58                    13

Leonard, Justin           2.91                 58                    11

Singh, Vijay                 3.07                 66                    11

Toms, David                3.00                 56                    11

Cink, Stewart              2.95                 45                    10

Below are the years with the most birdies at THE PLAYERS since 1983:

Year                Birdies

1996                1,618

2011                1,607

2004                1,580

1994                1,572

2010                1,560

2005                1,559

1993                1,512

2009                1,502

1987                1,489

1992                1,452

Balls in the water on the par-3 17^th hole since 2003:

Of the players in the field, nobody has hit their first tee shot in the water on No. 17 more than Aaron Baddeley and Heath Slocum (both have 7). Phil Mickelson has hit six tee shots in the water.  Please note: stat is since 2002.

Paul Azinger, in 1987, is the only player to birdie the 17^th hole in all four rounds of a single PLAYERS Championship. Brian Gay (2011) is the last player to birdie No. 17 in each of the first three rounds.

“We’ve been thinking about this for a couple of months now,” Steinberg said last Friday night as reported by Bob Harig of ESPN.com. “We wanted to have a little bit more direct interaction with fans, and they’ve been very good to him over the years. We’re probably a little bit behind with social media and this is a way to do that.”

While Steinberg may feel that the fans have been good to Tiger over the years, it would come as little surprise to anyone that the Tiger camp clearly doesn’t feel the same love from the media.  Last month, Tiger’s teacher, Sean Foley told me, “”I realize it is 2012 and we have dotcoms, and you have to write five articles a day, and you run out of things to write about, but we should be in a position where we are trying to help and lift up and support a player like Tiger Woods instead of tearing him down, because everyone in the golf industry is better off because of his existence.”

The concept is plausible, but consider it from the foldout seats in the media pool.  Since Tiger’s breakthrough victory at the Masters in 1997, the ranks of golf writers has diminished by a greater percentage than at any time in the history of the modern game.  Is this in any way Tiger’s fault, of course not, it is a reflection of the world of media today.  Information is available so fast and it is so easily disseminated that while we can get our news while we drive, eat, work, drink, workout, etc., it is a little bit concerning to know that the voices that are crafting what we are receiving are getting more and more thinned out and less and less journalistically vetted.  Again, none of this is due to anything Tiger has done, but it is a bit of a stretch to expect golf writers to feel indebted to Tiger or any other player when they live on the razor’s edge of redundancy.

Foley went on to say, “I know everyone has a job to do, and I get it, but if it is about the game of golf, Tiger Woods is an extremely important part of the game, and I think everyone understands that. It has just gotten to the point where the tearing down of Tiger as a person and a golfer has become just too much. I think it is just out of hand.”

To that point, there is merit.  While Tiger is not a victim of the media image of who he is, rather he is the result of the image he projects; the relationship between Tiger and the media has always been a rocky one.  Since his earliest days, Tiger has always been a very guarded person and since Tiger’s scandal, there has been a discernable shift in the manner in which Tiger has been dealt. For years, dealing with Tiger was carefully orchestrated and tightly controlled and if you fell on Tiger’s bad side or were deemed to be associated with a less-than-important media outlet, one-on-one access was close to impossible – “…everyone’s got a job to do,” be damned.  To balance that, Tiger’s team would rightfully point out that to accommodate every media request is impossible, so Tiger has long made himself available via press conferences, as much or more so than any other golfer.  So, when Tiger’s world collapsed, those that had been pushed to the sidelines pounced on the wounded prey.  To this more recent development the question should fairly be asked how and why have the rules changed?  Wouldn’t Journalism 101 have taught that media are to keep personal agendas, slights and “get even” reporting out of the public discourse?  Apparently, gone are the days when you had no idea if a particular journalist liked or disliked the subject upon which he or she was reporting.  Now, when it comes to Tiger, you can almost keep a scorecard, labeling one side “Good Guys,” and the other “Bad Guys,” depending upon which side of the “Red-State, Blue-State-like” atmosphere that seems to surround everything Tiger Woods you stand on.

“It’s just a chance to have him interact more with fans,” Steinberg stressed to Harig when pressed on why Tiger would pass up the media.  Sounds simple enough, but I don’t think that is what is at play here.  I really like that Tiger is connecting with his fans in this way.  I think that if Tiger wants to speak directly with his fans and answer selected questions they have submitted, he should do so with regularity, but I also feel that he should continue to participate in his regular pre-tournament press conferences.  If Tiger’s camp had not tethered his not speaking with the media to his video taped Q & A with fans, then I don’t think there were be much of a story here.  Instead, I think this entire effort was a shot across the bow of the media to demonstrate that Tiger doesn’t need them to take his message directly to the people.  This entire effort was a dry run.  To that extent, I think it was a success.  Tiger spoke about what he wanted to discuss with whom he wished to discuss it without any other agendas at play other then his own.  Oh, and to the criticism of the quality of the questions that were picked, they were no worse than many of the dumb questions I’ve heard Tiger answer in countless press conferences over the years.  Finally, those that called Tiger’s video efforts as compelling as a ‘hostage video,’ they were right too, however, if you’ve ever sat through a pre-tournament press conference then you know that they are not exactly like watching a Broadway play.

So where does all of this lead?  I believe the bottom line in this latest Tiger episode is that everyone has overreacted, both on the Tiger side and on the media side.  If Tiger wants to “interact” more with fans, good for him.  The integrity of his intent will prove itself based on how committed he remains to the effort (I’ve continuously said that if Tiger really wants to ‘give something back’ to the fans, then he should come play at the Travelers, John Deere, McGladrey, etc. on a rotating basis and allow fans and tournaments that dearly need his support to get a glimpse every few years.  Maybe the first step in such a move was playing in the Frys.com tournament last Fall, let’s hope so).  I also think Tiger should continue to speak to the media, even if he may feel they are agenda laden and/or mean spirited (in some cases, there is no doubt that some are).  For better or worse, any person that benefits from their public image and profits from associating themselves with products or services that they then want the public to go out and buy has an obligation to address the free press.  Taking one’s message directly to the people is great, but unless balanced with a media dissertation you do a disservice to the public and to yourself when your voice is the sound of one hand clapping.

Sean is right, Tiger is still the cornerstone of golf by the measure of fan interest, but at the same time, too much of golf is dominated by talk of Tiger Woods.   There has been a fundamental breakdown in trust (if it ever existed) and the only way to get that back is to talk it out.

Watch the Q&A video by clicking here

Bobby Jones could well be the game’s ultimate icon. He is renowned for his remaining an amateur (a point of significance that means more from a modern perspective than it was in his day when being a professional golfer did not equate to what it means today) and for accomplishing the game’s ultimate feat, winning the “Impregnable Quadrilateral,” the Grand Slam, in 1930. This latter feat is looked upon by many as the event that carried Jones up onto the shoulders of public consciousness, but in reality, an incident from five years prior did as much to promote his near mythical legend as anything else he ever did in his legendary career.

Course: The Woodlands Country Club (Tournament Course); The Woodlands, Texas

Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,018

Course Designers: Bruce Devlin/Robert von Hagge (1978)

Field: 81 professionals Format: 54-hole stroke-play event with no cut.

Charles Schwab Cup (points to winner): 255

Purse: $1,700,000; Winner’s Share: $255,000

Television: GOLF CHANNEL; Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 6:00-8:30 p.m. All three rounds will be tape-delayed and all times listed are CDT.

ABOUT THIS YEAR’S EVENT: This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour and the ninth annual Insperity Championship. The Insperity Championship is also the eighth of 24 official events on the 2012 Champions Tour schedule and features a field consisting of 28 of the top-30 on the 2011 Champions Tour money list including Tom Lehman, the 2011 Player of the Year. The official Champions Tour season concludes with the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, October 29-November 4, at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

ABOUT INSPERITY: Insperity, a trusted advisor to America’s best businesses for more than 25 years, provides an array of human resources and business solutions designed to help improve business performance. InsperityTM Business Performance Advisors offer the most comprehensive Workforce OptimizationTM solution in the marketplace that delivers administrative relief, better benefits, reduced liabilities and a systematic way to improve productivity. Additional offerings include MidMarket SolutionsTM, Performance Management, Expense Management, Time and Attendance, Organizational Planning, Recruiting Services, Employment Screening, Retirement Services and Insurance Services. Insperity business performance solutions support more than 100,000 businesses with over 2 million employees. With 2011 revenues of $2 billion, Insperity operates in 56 offices throughout the United States. For information, visit http://www.insperity.com.

2011 INSPERITY CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP: Brad Faxon won his first Champions Tour event in his sixth career start without having to hit a shot in the final round when a heavy afternoon downpour made the Tournament Course at The Woodlands Country Club unplayable and shortened the event to 36 holes. Faxon’s birdie late in the Saturday round at No. 17, coupled with a wayward drive on the same hole by Eduardo Romero, the leader at the time, resulted in a three-stroke swing. Faxon also eased ahead of Tommy Armour III with the six-foot birdie putt at No. 17 after a 7-iron shot. It was Faxon’s first win on TOUR since claiming the 2005 Buick Championship, ending a victory drought of 5 years, 1 month and 10 days.

GIVING BACK: In addition to free admission/parking for fans, proceeds from this year’s Insperity Championship will again benefit local Houston charities. The tournament will also partner again with the Houston affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Fans are also encouraged to wear pink when they attend the tournament on Saturday to help raise awareness for breast cancer research. Since the first Insperity Championship in 2004, more than $7 million has been donated to charity.

2012 CHAMPIONS TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
· Michael Allen became the first multiple winner this year after his victory with partner David Frost at the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf. However, in the first six stroke-play events this season, there have been six different winners and seven different champions dating back to the final event of the 2011 campaign. In 2009, there were seven different winners in stroke-play events until Keith Fergus claimed his second title of the year on May 17th at the Regions Charity Classic.
· Corey Pavin is the only first-time winner thus far. Pavin claimed his initial title on the Champions Tour at the Allianz Championship, defeating Australian Peter Senior with a birdie on the first hole of sudden death after the two had tied at 11-under 205. Pavin’s win came in his 35th start on Tour.
· Kenny Perry established the all-time lowest score in relation to par for the first two rounds of a Champions Tour event when he shot 18-under 126 (64-62) at the ACE Group Classic. Perry made 20 birdies in his first two rounds en route to winning the event in Naples and he tied the all-time mark for most birdies over 36 holes set by Fred Couples at the 2011 AT&T Championship. Perry had 11 birdies at TwinEagles in Round 2, one short of the Champions Tour’s all-time record for most birdies in a round.
· Kirk Triplett finished T8 in his first start on the Champions Tour at the Encompass Insurance Pro-Am, the best start in a debut since Steve Pate was T8 at the 2011 Senior PGA Championship. Other members of this year’s rookie class on the Champions Tour include: Andrew Magee (May 22), Duffy Waldorf (August 20), Gene Sauers (August 22), Rick Fehr (August 28) and Neil Lancaster (September 13)
· The last 17 winners on the Champions Tour have come from the final grouping on Sunday. The last time the winner did not come out of the last grouping was at the 2011 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach when Jeff Sluman was in the third-to-last grouping.
· The Champions Tour is still looking for its first hole-in-one in 2012. This is the longest the circuit has gone without an ace since 2005 when Pete Oakley made the first of 13 aces that season on May 14 at the Blue Angels Classic (Rd. 2).
· 36-hole leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win six of the first seven events this year and two 18-hole leaders have gone on to prevail.
· Through the first quarter of the season, Michael Allen is the current Charles Schwab Cup leader with 850 points, 350 points ahead of Bernhard Langer. Three different players (Dan Forsman/3 weeks, Bernhard Langer/2 weeks) have led the Schwab Cup race thus far in 2012.

KEY STORYLINES

A MOVE TO THE SPRING: This year’s Insperity Championship will be played in the spring for the first time after being a fall event on the Champions Tour schedule for the first eight years. The last tournament that made a significant move earlier in the schedule and played on the same golf course was The Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines, Iowa. From 2001-2003, the event was played in late August and starting in 2004, it moved ahead three months in the schedule. How will the Tournament Course at The Woodlands play with the change in dates? In 2003 in Des Moines, the par-71 Glen Oaks Country Club played to a stroke average of 70.658. When the tournament moved to the spring, the field stroke average was 72.797.

FAXON DEFENDS TITLE: Brad Faxon will defend a title for the first time in his Champions Tour career when he tees it up in Houston this year. Here’s some additional notes on Faxon’s career as a defending champion:
· Faxon successfully defended one official event in his PGA TOUR career, claiming back-to-back B.C. Open titles in 1999-2000. He also won the unofficial Fred Meyer Challenge in 1995, 1996, 1997 with partner Greg Norman as well as the Franklin Templeton Shootout with partner Scott McCarron in 2001 and 2002.
· Bernhard Langer is the only player to win consecutive Insperity Championships, claiming the 2007 tournament at Augusta Pines and the 2008 event at The Woodlands.
· John Cook is the last player to defend a title on the Champions Tour, claiming his second straight Charles Schwab Cup Championship at the close of the 2010 season.

STELLAR FIELD ON HAND: This year’s Insperity Championship field features 27 of the top-30 players from the 2011 money list and also six members of the World Golf Hall of Fame (Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Bernhard Langer, Tom Kite, Larry Nelson, Curtis Strange). Overall, there are 17 players in the Insperity Championship field who have won at least one major title on the PGA TOUR.

ALLEN GOES FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT: Michael Allen comes into this year’s Insperity Championship as the Champions Tour’s hottest player. After going 40 events since claiming his initial title on the Champions Tour at the 2009 Senior PGA Championship, Allen has now won his last two starts (Encompass Insurance Pro-Am, Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf/with David Frost) and will try to become the first player since Fred Couples in 2010 to claim three consecutive victories. Two years ago, Couples won The ACE Group Classic, Toshiba Classic and Cap Cana Championship, becoming just the eighth player in Champions Tour history to claim three or more titles in a row. Allen was the first-round leader last year at the Insperity Championship after carding a 9-under-par 63 on Friday. However, Allen skied to a 79 in Round 2 and ended up T24.

BIG THREE REUNITED FOR GREATS OF GOLF COMPETITION: Fans attending this year’s Insperity Championship on Saturday will have a rare opportunity to see golf’s “Big Three” – Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. They are joined by Lee Trevino, Don January, Miller Barber, Gene Littler, David Graham and Dave Stockton to compete in the event’s Greats of Golf competition. These nine players will play in threesomes following the last tee time of the official competition and will play an 18-hole scramble format. This group of five World Golf Hall of Fame members has a combined total of 256 PGA TOUR victories, 46 major championships and 141 Champions Tour titles.

TREVINO TO RECEIVE MARR AWARD: World Golf Hall of Fame member Lee Trevino will receive the Dave Marr Award during a special player dinner during tournament week. In 1999, the Dave Marr Award was created to honor individuals who exemplify all the traits of the 1965 PGA Championship winner – sportsmanship, honesty, character, integrity and a passion for the game of golf. Past recipients include: Miller Barber, Ben Crenshaw, Brian Henning, Dan Jenkins, Don January, Jay Haas, Larry Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay, Tom Watson and Fuzzy Zoeller.

CHARLES SCHWAB CUP RACE NOW IN ITS 12TH YEAR: The Charles Schwab Cup race is now in its 12th consecutive year as Champions Tour players compete for the coveted crown and $1 million annuity that is awarded to the winner. The Charles Schwab Corporation has been a sponsor on the Champions Tour since 2001 and annually awards $2.1 million in tax-deferred annuities to the top-five finishers in the season-long points race. Tom Lehman won the 2011 title by just 74 points over Mark Calcavecchia. Designed to recognize the Tour’s leading player, all top-10 finishers earn points each week with one point awarded for each $1,000 won. ($270,000 = 270 points). Players are awarded double points for top-10 finishes in each of the season’s five major championships and the entire field receives double points at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

FREEMAN’S FIRST: Jeff Freeman will make his debut on the Champions Tour at this year’s Insperity Championship. Freeman earned medalist honors by four strokes at the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament last November but did not become eligible to play the Champions Tour until turning 50 on April 15. Freeman won the 1999 PGA Professional National Championship and finished second twice in 176 career starts on the Nationwide Tour. He’s the brother of current Champions Tour player and PGA TOUR veteran Robin Freeman.

FUZZY NEEDS A FOURTH: The Insperity Championship is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with multiple major championship winner Fuzzy Zoeller in the event’s Wednesday pro-am. The winner of the contest will also attend the tournament’s pairings party on Tuesday, will receive a pro-am gift package and receive accommodations for two nights in a local tournament hotel.

BRYANT SUPPORTING UNITING HEARTS FUND: Last month at the Encompass Insurance ProAm, Brad Bryant and his wife Sue announced the creation of the Uniting Hearts Fund, making adoptions possible for children and families in need. This year, Bryant is giving 10 percent of his prize earnings to the Uniting Hearts Fund and the fund has already accumulated over $31,000 based on Bryant’s play thus far in 2012.

KITE STILL ATTEMPTING TO EXTEND DROUGHT IN HOME STATE: Tom Kite still has never won on TOUR in his native state of Texas. He went 0-103 on the PGA TOUR in Texas and his best career efforts in the Lone Star State were a T2 in the 1991 Independent Insurance Agent Open and a T2 in the 1994 Shell Houston Open, both held at The Woodlands. On the Champions Tour, Kite is now 0-27 in Texas. He finished T2 at the 2009 AT&T Championship in San Antonio and was T2 at the 2006 FedEx Kinko’s Classic near Austin.

RETURNING TO THE SCENE: Fred Couples’ victory in 2011 gave him a PGA TOUR and a Champions Tour title in Houston. However, Couples did not win both events at the same venue. It’s happened just 14 times in the history of the Champions Tour and five players in this year’s Insperity Championship field have an opportunity to win both a PGA TOUR and Champions Tour event at the same venue, the Tournament Course at The Woodlands.
· Curtis Strange (1980), Jay Haas (1987), Fred Funk (1992), Mark Brooks (1996), and Hal Sutton (2001) all won the Shell Houston Open on this course.
· Should Haas go on to win on the Tournament Course at The Woodlands, it would mark the second time he’s captured a PGA TOUR/Champions Tour event at the same place. Haas also won events on both Tours at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio.
· Tom Watson is the last player to win events on both Tours at the same course (1980 British Open, 2007 Senior British Open, Muirfield, Scotland).

TOURNAMENT NOTES

FIRST OF TWO IN LONE STAR STATE: The Insperity Championship is the first of two Champions Tour events in Texas in 2012. Following the Houston event, the Champions Tour returns to San Antonio in October for the AT&T Championship, the final full-field event of the season. Mark O’Meara and Jay Haas have come the closest to winning both events in the same season. O’Meara finished second in each tournament in 2007 while Haas was a runner-up in both events in 2009.

THE CHAMPS: The seven different past champions of the Insperity Championship – Larry Nelson, Jay Haas, Mark McNulty, Bernhard Langer, John Cook, Fred Couples and Brad Faxon – are all in this year’s field and have a cumulative total of 72 wins on the Champions Tour. This group has also won three Masters, two PGA Championships, one U.S. Open and another seven majors on the Champions Tour. Both Nelson and Langer are also members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

CHARTING FAXON’S 2011 VICTORY: Brad Faxon joined Bernhard Langer as just the second player to win his first Champions Tour title at this event. Last year, Faxon played the par-5s in only 3-underpar last year but made just two bogeys and 12 birdies over his 36 holes at The Woodlands. Faxon’s 65 was the low Saturday round last year and also matched the lowest second round at The Woodlands (Fred Couples/2010). Fred Couples holds the record for most birdies made at The Woodlands with 18 in the 2010 event. Bernhard Langer holds the events all-time record for birdies made with 24 at Augusta Pines in 2007. Langer also holds the tournament record for fewest bogeys by a winner, making just one in winning in 2007.

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY: Brad Faxon became the second player to win a rain-shortened Insperity Championship (Jay Haas/ 2006) and the first player since Leonard Thompson at the 1998 Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic to claim his initial victory on the Champions Tour in a rain-shortened event. He was also the first player to claim a rain-shortened event since Hale Irwin at the 2010 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.

BREAKING THEIR MAIDEN: When Brad Faxon triumphed last fall in Houston, he became the fourthconsecutive first-time winner joining Mark Calcavecchia/Boeing Classic, Jay Don Blake/Songdo IBD Championship, Kenny Perry/SAS Championship. It marked the first time since 2001 that the Champions Tour produced four consecutive first-timers in a season.

HAAS ON INSPERITY MARK: Jay Haas also tends to play well in Texas. He’s won six times on TOUR in the Lone Star State which ties him for top honors with Tom Watson for most victories in Texas among active Champions Tour players. In his seven appearances at the Insperity Championship, Haas has finished T5, first, T4, T6, T2, T24 and T4. In 18 of 19 career rounds in this event, he’s posted under-par scores and is a cumulative 66-under-par!

LANGER’S RECORD SCORE: When he won his first career title on the Champions Tour in Houston in 2007, Bernhard Langer’s 54-hole total of 25-under-par 191 matched the all-time lowest 54-hole score in Champions Tour history. Here are the other times in Champions Tour history where a player has shot this same score. Bruce Fleisher shot 19-under 191 at the 2002 RJR Championship.

Year Event Player Score
2006 MasterCard Championship at Hualalai Loren Roberts 63-67-61—191 (25-under)
2010 3M Championship David Frost 64-66-61—191 (25-under)

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: In the previous eight Insperity Championships, four second-round leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win the event (Jay Haas in 2006, Bernhard Langer in both 2007 and 2008, Brad Faxon in 2011). Haas (2006) and Langer (2007) are the only first-round leaders to have won this event. The winner has come from the final grouping in five of the last six years with 2009 being the exception.

WOODLANDS PROVES A GOOD TEST: After ranking as the 10th hardest hole in 2010 (72.531), the par-72 Tournament Course at The Woodlands was the 11th most difficult last year (72.153). The par-4 17th hole returned to form as the hardest hole in last year’s event, yielding 17 birdies and playing to a stroke average of 4.395. It was the sixth most difficult hole overall on the 2011 Champions Tour. In 2010, the par-4 17th averaged 4.407 and gave up just 13 birdies. It ranked as the 13th hardest hole overall and the hardest in a non-major on the 2010 Champions Tour.

WHERE ARE THE ACES?: The Insperity Championship is still looking for its first ace in tournament history. It’s the only full-field event on the Champions Tour that has been played at least five years without yielding a hole-in-one.

OLDEST, YOUNGEST: Bernhard Langer’s win in 2007 came just 1 month and 17 days after he turned 50, making him the youngest winner in event history. Larry Nelson, the tournament’s inaugural winner in 2004, claimed his Insperity Championship title at 57 years, 1 month and he’s still the oldest winner at this tournament.

INSPERITY CHAMPIONSHIP NUGGETS: There has only been one playoff at the Insperity Championship and it came in the inaugural event when Larry Nelson defeated Hale Irwin with a birdie on the first extra hole…In 2010, Fred Couples became the first tournament winner to open with a round in the 70s (71) and joined Larry Nelson (2004) and John Cook (2009) as the third champion with any round in the 70s. All eight past champions have recorded consecutive sub-par scores en route to victory…Jay Haas is the event’s all-time leading money-winner with $690,662…A total of 10 players have teed it up in every Insperity Championship – Ben Crenshaw, Keith Fergus, Bruce Fleisher, Bob Gilder, John Harris, Tom Jenkins, Tom Kite, Wayne Levi, D.A. Weibring and Fuzzy Zoeller.

ON THIS DATE:
5/1/05 – Jim Thorpe birdied four of the last five holes at the Hills CC to break away for a four-stroke victory in the FedEx Kinko’s Classic in Austin. After his win Thorpe donated his entire winner’s check of $247,500 to his church in Orlando.
5/2/92 – Bob Gilder shoots four consecutive rounds in the 60s and rolls to a five-stroke victory over Curtis Strange at the Byron nelson Classic. His 72-hole total of 22-under-par 266 was the lowest in the tournament’s 16 years at Preston Trail GC.
5/3/92 – Fred Funk ties the Shell Houston Open tournament record with a third-round 62 and then closes with a 70 to defeat Kirk Triplett for his first PGA TOUR victory.
5/3/87 – Paul Azinger holes a 30-foot eagle putt on the final hole to win the Panasonic-Las Vegas Invitational for his second career win on TOUR. Azinger’s final-round 64 gives him a one-stroke win over Hal Sutton for the second time this year (Phoenix Open as well).
5/3/81 – Ron Streck wins the rain-shortened Michelob-Houston Open and earns the distinction of being the first player to win a PGA TOUR event using a metal wood.
5/4/06 – Jay Haas competes in the Wachovia Championship where he is joined by his son, Jay, Jr., and Bill in Charlotte. He eventually finishes T22 at the event.
5/4/80 – Lee Trevino trails Curtis Strange by six strokes at the start of play on Sunday. After shooting a 6-under-par 65 to tie Strange after 72 holes, Strange makes birdie on the first extra hole to win the Michelob-Houston Open at the Woodlands CC.
5/5/91 – Aided by a second-round 64, Nick Price holds off Craig Stadler at the GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic for a one-stroke victory near Dallas.
5/5/85 – After opening with an 8-under-par 64 at LaCosta CC, Tom Kite proceeds to earn a six-shot victory over Mark McCumber at the MONY Tournament of Champions in California.
5/6/01 – Bruce Fleisher posts three straight rounds in the 60s and wins his third straight Home Depot Invitational by three strokes over John Bland.

Contact:
Phil Stambaugh, Media Official, Champions Tour
904-610-9261
jamesp@pgatourhq.com

Where: Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC

Par/Yards: 72/7,444 yards

2011 champion: Lucas Glover

FedExCup: 500 points to the winner

Format: 72-hole stroke play

Field: 156

How the Wells Fargo Championship was won in 2011
Former Clemson Tiger teammates Lucas Glover and Jonathan Byrd finished regulation deadlocked at the Wells Fargo Championship at 15-under 273, with Glover recording a par-4 on the first extra hole (No. 18) for the victory. It was Glover’s first playoff on the PGA TOUR and the fourth playoff at the event.

More on Lucas Glover and the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship
· The win was the third of Lucas Glover’s career (2005 Children’s Miracle Network Classic, 2009 U.S. Open, 2011 Wells Fargo Championship).
· Glover (67-68-69-69) became the first player in the nine-year history of the Wells Fargo Championship to record all four rounds in the 60s.
· Glover’s opening-round 67 is the lowest start by a winner of the Wells Fargo Championship. He and Jonathan Byrd’s 72-hole total of 15-under 273 is one shy of the tournament record held by 2008 champion Anthony Kim.
· All three of Glover’s wins on TOUR have been in come-from-behind fashion. He entered the final round on at the Wells Fargo Championship three strokes behind Jonathan Byrd, the final round of the U.S. Open one stroke behind Ricky Barnes and the final round of the 2005 Children’s Miracle Network Classic three strokes behind Rich Beem, Tim Clark and Tom Pernice Jr.
· Glover will make his ninth start at Quail Hollow in 2012, a venue where he has enjoyed considerable success over the years. He missed just one cut (2005) and has amassed three top-10 finishes, highlighted by his win in 2011 and a T2 in 2009.
· Last year, Glover led the field in strokes gained – putting by gaining 10.606 strokes on the field.
· Jonathan Byrd’s total of 15-under 201 after three rounds bettered the previous-best 54-hole score at the WellsFargo Championship by two strokes (13-under 203, Anthony Kim, 2008).
· In the nine years of the Wells Fargo Championship, the third-round leader/co-leader has gone on to victory three times (David Toms-2003, Jim Furyk-2006 and Anthony Kim-2008).
· Rory McIlroy, who won the Wells Fargo Championship in 2010, joined David Toms (2004), Jim Furyk (2007)and Sean O’Hair (2010) as defending champions to miss the cut the year after winning the event.
· The par-4 18th hole played the most difficult in 2011 at 4.380. The par-5 15th hole played the easiest at 4.599.
· In 2011, J.B. Holmes recorded the double-eagle in tournament history. On the par-five 15th hole during the third round, Holmes holed his second shot from 213 yards with a 5-iron.

A glance at the field
· Twenty of the top 30 and 36 of the top 50 in the FedExCup standings are in the field, including seven of the top – 10: Hunter Mahan (1), Phil Mickelson (3), Carl Pettersson (4), Johnson Wagner (5), Rory McIlroy (6), Kyle Stanley (8) and Mark Wilson (9).
· Five of the top 10 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are in the field: Rory McIlroy (2), Lee Westwood (3), Hunter Mahan (5), Tiger Woods (7), Phil Mickelson (10).
· Eight of the nine former Wells Fargo Championship champions: Lucas Glover (2011), Rory McIlroy (2010), Sean O’Hair (2009), Anthony Kim (2008), Jim Furyk (2006), Vijay Singh (2005) and David Toms (2003).
· 15 of the 19 PGA TOUR winners in 2012: Johnson Wagner (Sony Open in Hawaii), Mark Wilson (Humana Challenge), Brandt Snedeker (Farmers Insurance Open); Kyle Stanley (Waste Management Phoenix Open); Phil Mickelson (AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am), Bill Haas (Northern Trust Open), Hunter Mahan (WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and Shell Houston Open), John Huh (Mayakoba Golf Classic); Rory McIlroy (The Honda Classic), Justin Rose (World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship); George McNeill (Puerto Rico Open), Luke Donald (Transitions Championship), Tiger Woods (Arnold Palmer Invitational) and Ben Curtis (Valero Texas Open).
· Eighteen major championship winners in the field: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Keegan Bradley, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, David Duval, Jim Furyk, Lucas Glover, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Davis Love III, Rory McIlroy, Geoff Ogilvy, David Toms, Mike Weir.
· Phil Mickelson tied for ninth in his eighth career start at the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship. The lefthander owns the most top-10 finishes at the event with six (tied for fifth in 2004, tied for seventh in 2005, tied for third in 2007, tied for fourth in 2009, second in 2010 and tied for ninth in 2011).
· Tiger Woods owns three top-10 finishes in five starts at the Wells Fargo Championship, including a victory in 2007 when he defeated runner-up Steve Stricker by two strokes. In his last start at Quail Hollow, Woods missed the cut with rounds of 74-79 in 2010.
· Rory McIlroy owns the course record with a final-round 62 en route to victory in 2010.
· Anthony Kim owns the 72-hole scoring record at 272 (2008).
· Pat Perez’s 12-under 132 in 2011 set the Wells Fargo Championship tournament record for lowest first 36-hole score. The previous low was posted by Bill Haas (2011) and Bo Van Pelt (2006) at 10-under 134.

2012 PGA TOUR Highlights
· Johnson Wagner was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for January thanks to a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii and two other top 10s.
· In 2012, victors have come back from deficits of seven (Brandt Snedeker/Farmers Insurance Open), eight (Kyle Stanley/Waste Management Phoenix Open), six (Phil Mickelson/AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am) and seven (John Huh/Mayakoba Golf Classic).
· With his 40th career PGA TOUR victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Phil Mickelson is now ninth all-time in PGA TOUR wins, surpassing Cary Middlecoff and Tom Watson. Walter Hagen is eighth with 45 victories.
· With his playoff victory at the 2012 Mayakoba Golf Classic, rookie John Huh (21 years, 9 months, 5 days) became the youngest winner on TOUR since Rory McIlroy won the 2010 Wells Fargo Championship at the age of 20 years, 11 months, 28 days.
· Phil Mickelson was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for February thanks to a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and a runner-up finish at the Northern Trust Open.
· Americans won the first nine events of the 2012 PGA TOUR season before Rory McIlroy captured The Honda Classic. The last time Americans had a victory streak that long was during the 1991 season when U.S. players won the first 11 events until Ian Woosnam of Wales broke the streak with a win at the USF&G Classic, now known as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
· With his victory at The Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy moved to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, taking over the top spot from Luke Donald. McIlroy (22 years, 10 months) became the second-youngest player to achieve the top spot. Only Tiger Woods was younger, moving into the No. 1 position on June 15, 1997 at the age of 21 years, 24 weeks. Two weeks after giving up his World No. 1 ranking, reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Luke Donald re-gained the top spot after a four-way playoff victory at the Transitions Championship. McIlroy reclaimed the top spot after the RBC Heritage with Donald currently No. 1 after a third-place finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
· Rory McIlroy became the third World No. 1 to also lead the FedExCup, joining Luke Donald (2011) and Tiger Woods (2007, 2008, 2009).
· England’s Justin Rose became the first European winner of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, edging Bubba Watson by one stroke.
· Through the Valero Texas Open, five of the 19 (six total wins) winners on the PGA TOUR have been under the age of 30: Kyle Stanley, Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan, John Huh and Rory McIlroy. In 2011, 16 players under the age of 30 accounted for 18 victories.
· Through the Valero Texas Open, 12 of the 19 PGA TOUR winners in 2012 were inside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of January 1: Steve Stricker (6); Brandt Snedeker (38); Phil Mickelson (14); Bill Haas (27); Hunter Mahan/2 (19); Rory McIlroy (3); Justin Rose (18); Luke Donald (1); Tiger Woods(23); Bubba Watson (21); and Jason Dufner (33).
· With his win at the Shell Houston Open, Hunter Mahan now has five career wins, matching Dustin Johnson for most wins by a player under the age of 30. Current list of players with three or more wins: Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson (5), Bill Haas (4), Sean O’Hair (4), Anthony Kim (3). Haas won his fourth TOUR event earlier this year at the Northern Trust Open in playoff over Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.
· With his victory at the Shell Houston Open, Hunter Mahan moved atop the FedExCup standings, the fifth player to lead during 2012. Mahan is one of three players (Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson) to play at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola every year since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007.
· Bubba Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen on the second hole of sudden death to win the first major championship of the year at the Masters Tournament.
· Justin Rose was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for March thanks to a victory at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship and a T5 at the Honda Classic.

2012 PGA TOUR Fact Sheet
· The 2012 season marks the sixth year of the FedExCup, a season-long points race of 37 events over the course of 33 weeks, followed by four PGA TOUR Playoffs events to determine the FedExCup champion: The Barclays (Dustin Johnson), Deutsche Bank Championship (Webb Simpson), BMW Championship (Justin Rose), TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (Bill Haas). Last year, Haas joined Jim Furyk (2010), Tiger Woods (2009 and 2007) and Vijay Singh (2008) as winners of the season-long FedExCup competition.
· The 45-event season concludes with the PGA TOUR Fall Series, a four-event series which begins with the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and concludes with the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. Additional 2012 fall events include the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions (China) and CIMB Asia Pacific Classic (Malaysia).
· As of April 30, 29 of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking were 2012 PGA TOUR members (Martin Kaymer).
· Including temporary members Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) and Peter Hanson (Sweden), there are 77 active international players from 21 countries that are members of the PGA TOUR in 2012.
· At the beginning of the season, 18 of 26 rookies were under the age of 30, with eight of those players under the age of 25. The youngest is Seung-yul Noh, who was 20 years, 7 months and 10 days on January 1.
· Notable graduates from the Nationwide Tour include two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, Billy Hurley III who recently completed his military obligation after his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Business Update
· On September 1 of 2011, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus and NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus announced the completion of unprecedented broadcast network television agreements that will secure the PGA TOUR’s television rights for the next 10 years. With the current deals running through 2012, the new nine-year agreements with CBS and NBC will extend from 2013 through the 2021 season, coinciding with the remaining years of the PGA TOUR’s exclusive 15-year cable television agreement with Golf Channel that began in 2007.
· Title sponsor extensions during 2012 calendar year: Honda (through 2016), Valero (2018), MasterCard (2016) and RBC Canadian Open (through 2017).

Dates: April 23-29, 2012

Where: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, LA

Par/Yards: 72/7,341 yards

2011 champion: Bubba Watson

2012 Purse: $6,400,000/$1,152,000

Format: 72-hole stroke play

How the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was won in 2011

Bubba Watson two-putted the second playoff hole (par-5 18^th) for birdie and defeated Webb Simpson to earn his third career PGA TOUR title. Watson and Simpson, 54-hole co-leaders, both carded 3-under 69s in the final round at TPC Louisiana to finish at 15-under 273. The playoff was the 11^th in tournament history, the last coming in 2005 when Tim Petrovic defeated James Driscoll.

More on Bubba Watson

• In his last three starts, Watson has finished second (World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship); T4 (Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard); and first (Masters Tournament) and amassed 1,011 FedExCup points during that period to move to second in the standings.
• Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen with a par-4 on the second playoff hole (No. 10) to win the 2012 Masters Tournament at the age 33 years, 5 months and 3 days.
• Watson was the second left-hander to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (2003/Steve Flesch).  Flesch also won in a playoff.
• Watson won in his seventh start at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He has made the cut five times and his previous best was a T5 in 2007.

• With the win in New Orleans, Watson became only the fourth left-handed player in TOUR history to win twice in the same season – Bob Charles/1963; Phil Mickelson/13 times/most recent 2009; Mike Weir/2003.

A glance at the field

• Thirteen of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings are in the field, including Bubba Watson (2); Carl Pettersson (4), Kyle Stanley (7); Justin Rose (8); and Brandt Snedeker (10).
• Shreveport resident and former LSU All-America David Toms will be making his 19^th career start at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He won in 2001 and has three top-10 finishes in New Orleans.

• Twelve major championship winners in the field: Keegan Bradley, Angel Cabrera, David Duval, Ernie Els, Lucas Glover, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Justin Leonard, Graeme McDowell, Geoff Ogilvy, David Toms and Bubba Watson.
• Last two major winners (Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson)
• The last two PGA TOUR Rookies of the Year: Rickie Fowler (2010) and Keegan Bradley (2011).
• Eight former Zurich Classic champions: Bubba Watson (2011); Jason Bohn (2010); Jerry Kelly (2009); Andres Romero (2008); Chris Couch (2006); Tim Petrovic (2005); K.J. Choi (2002); David Toms (2001).
• Four of the top 10 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are in the field: Luke Donald (2), Bubba Watson (4), Steve Stricker (7) and Justin Rose (10).
• Eight PGA TOUR winners in 2012: Steve Stricker (Hyundai Tournament of Champions); Brandt Snedeker (Farmers Insurance Open); Kyle Stanley (Waste Management Phoenix Open); John Huh (Mayakoba Golf Classic); Justin Rose (World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship); Luke Donald (Transitions Championship); Bubba Watson (Masters Tournament); and Carl Pettersson (RBC Heritage).
• Geoff Ogilvy will make his first start in New Orleans since 2004 and fifth overall. His best finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was T2 in 2002.
• Peter Hanson, who missed the cut in New Orleans last year in his only start at the event, will return this year as a sponsor exemption in his first start on TOUR since a T3 finish at the Masters. Hanson was the third-round leader at the Masters before a final round 73 dropped him to T3. Hanson accepted special temporary membership onto the PGA TOUR on March 27 for the remainder of the 2012 season. Hanson, 34, is eligible to receive unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the season.
• Former LSU golfer John Peterson, who won the 2011 NCAA individual title, will play in his third career PGA TOUR event. He finished T69 earlier this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and T55 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Last year, Peterson finished T2 at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational on the Nationwide Tour.

Miscellaneous Zurich Classic of New Orleans Notes

• Bubba Watson will be the third player since 2000 to play New Orleans the same year that they won the Masters. Vijay Singh won the 2000 Masters and finished T24 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Phil Mickelson won the 2004 Masters and finished T2 in New Orleans in his next start on TOUR. He won the Masters again in 2006 and then finished T15 in New Orleans also in his next start on TOUR.

• Four of the past seven winners of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans made the win their maiden victory on TOUR (Tim Petrovic/2005, Chris Couch/2006, Nick Watney/2007, Andres Romero/2008).
• Bubba Watson ended Mark Wilson’s 12-week run at the top of the FedExCup standings with his second victory of the year at the 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. With 1,339 points, Watson led Luke Donald by 120 points through 19 Regular Season events.
• En route to his victory at the 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Bubba Watson tied for first in Greens in Regulation (80.56 percent) and was first in Driving Distance (331.4 yards).
• The 2011 playoff at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans between Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson was the 11th in tournament history, the last coming in 2005 when Tim Petrovic defeated James Driscoll and Chris DiMarco.
• The 2010 Zurich Classic of New Orleans champion Jason Bohn tied for 67th in defense of his title.

2012 PGA TOUR Highlights

• Johnson Wagner was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for January thanks to a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii and two other top 10s.
• In 2012, victors have come back from deficits of seven (Brandt Snedeker/Farmers Insurance Open), eight (Kyle Stanley/Waste Management Phoenix Open), six (Phil Mickelson/AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am) and seven (John Huh/Mayakoba Golf Classic).
• With his 40^th career PGA TOUR victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Phil Mickelson is now ninth all-time in PGA TOUR wins, surpassing Cary Middlecoff and Tom Watson. Walter Hagen is eighth with 45 victories.
• With his playoff victory at the 2012 Mayakoba Golf Classic, rookie John Huh (21 years, 9 months, 5 days) became the youngest winner on TOUR since Rory McIlroy won the 2010 Wells Fargo Championship at the age of 20 years, 11 months, 28 days. He will make his first start at the Transitions Championship next week.
• Phil Mickelson was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for February thanks to a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and a runner-up finish at the Northern Trust Open.
• Americans won the first nine events of the 2012 PGA TOUR season before Rory McIlroy captured The Honda Classic. The last time Americans had a victory streak that long was during the 1991 season when U.S. players won the first 11 events until Ian Woosnam of Wales broke the streak with a win at the USF&G Classic, now known as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
• With his victory at The Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy moved to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, taking over the top spot from Luke Donald. McIlroy (22 years, 10 months) became the second-youngest player to achieve the top spot. Only Tiger Woods was younger, moving into the No. 1 position on June 15, 1997 at the age of 21 years, 24 weeks.
• Rory McIlroy became the third World No. 1 to also lead the FedExCup, joining Luke Donald (2011) and Tiger Woods (2007, 2008, 2009).
• England’s Justin Rose became the first European winner of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, edging Bubba Watson by one stroke.
• Two weeks after giving up his World No. 1 ranking, reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Luke Donald re-gained the top spot after a four-way playoff victory at the Transitions Championship. McIlroy reclaimed the top spot after the RBC Heritage.
• Through the RBC Heritage, five of the 17 (six total wins) winners on the PGA TOUR have been under the age of 30: Kyle Stanley, Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan, John Huh and Rory McIlroy. In 2011, 16 players under the age of 30 accounted for 18 victories.
• Through the RBC Heritage, 11 of the 17 PGA TOUR winners in 2012 were inside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of January 1: Steve Stricker (6); Brandt Snedeker (38); Phil Mickelson (14); Bill Haas (27); Hunter Mahan/2 (19); Rory McIlroy (3); Justin Rose (18); Luke Donald (1); Tiger Woods (23); and Bubba Watson (21).
• With his win at the Shell Houston Open, Hunter Mahan now has five career wins, matching Dustin Johnson for most wins by a player under the age of 30. Current list of players with three or more wins: Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson (5), Bill Haas (4), Sean O’Hair (4), Anthony Kim (3). Haas won  his fourth TOUR event earlier this year at the Northern Trust Open in playoff over Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.
• With his victory at the Shell Houston Open, Hunter Mahan moved atop the FedExCup standings, the fifth player to lead during 2012. Mahan is one of three players (Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson) to play at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola every year since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007.
• Bubba Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen on the second hole of sudden death to win the first major championship of the year at the Masters Tournament.
• Justin Rose was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Month presented by Avis for March thanks to a victory at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship and a T5 at the Honda Classic.

2012 PGA TOUR Fact Sheet

• The 2012 season marks the sixth year of the FedExCup, a season-long points race of 37 events over the course of 33 weeks, followed by four PGA TOUR Playoffs events to determine the FedExCup champion: The Barclays (Dustin Johnson), Deutsche Bank Championship (Webb Simpson), BMW Championship (Justin Rose), TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (Bill Haas). Last year, Haas joined Jim Furyk (2010), Tiger Woods (2009 and 2007) and Vijay Singh (2008) as winners of the season-long FedExCup competition.

• The 45-event season concludes with the PGA TOUR Fall Series, a four-event series which begins with the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and concludes with the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. Additional 2012 fall events include the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions (China) and CIMB Asia Pacific Classic (Malaysia).
• As of April 16, 29 of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking were 2012 PGA TOUR members (Martin Kaymer). Among those rejoining the TOUR in 2012 include Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, both of whom began the year among the top five in the OWGR.
• There are 77 active international players from 21 different countries in 2012.

• At the beginning of the season, 18 of 26 rookies were under the age of 30, with eight of those players under the age of 25. The youngest is Seung-yul Noh, who was 20 years, 7 months and 10 days on January 1.

• Notable graduates from the Nationwide Tour include two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, Billy Hurley III who recently completed his military obligation after his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Business Update

• On September 1 of 2011, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus and NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus announced the completion of unprecedented broadcast network television agreements that will secure the PGA TOUR’s television rights for the next 10 years. With the current deals running through 2012, the new nine-year agreements with CBS and NBC will extend from 2013 through the 2021 season, coinciding with the remaining years of the PGA TOUR’s exclusive 15-year cable television agreement with Golf Channel that began in 2007.
• Title sponsor extensions during 2012 calendar year: Honda (through 2016), Valero (2018), MasterCard (2016) and RBC Canadian Open (through 2017).