January 5, 2004
MASTERS WINNER AND DEFENDING CHAMPION MIKE WEIR AMONG 11 PAST CHAMPIONS IN STRONG FIELD FOR 2004 BOB HOPE CLASSIC, JAN. 19-25
Six members of U.S. Presidents Cup team set for 45th event
LA QUINTA, Calif. – Highlighted by defending champion and Masters winner Mike Weir, a powerful blend of past and present champions have made early commitments to play in the $4.5 million Bob Hope Classic. The 45th edition of the 90-hole tournament will be played on four desert courses Jan 19-25.
Among those challenging Weir – who won three times and was fifth on the 2003 PGA TOUR money list with more than $4.9 million -- for the $810,000 first-place check are past champions Ed Fiori (1982), Keith Fergus (1983), Donnie Hammond (1986), Jay Haas (1988), Peter Jacobsen (1990), Kenny Perry (1995), Mark Brooks (1996), Joe Durant (2001) and two of the five two-time winners: Corey Pavin (1987, 1991) and John Cook (1992, 1997).
Perry, who enjoyed the best season of his career in 2003, is one of six members of the 2003 U.S. Presidents Cup team in the field. Joining Perry are Justin Leonard, Charles Howell III, Chris DiMarco, Fred Funk and Haas.
The field has 17 of the top 29 on the 2003 PGA TOUR money list. Joining Weir and Perry are (7) Chad Campbell, (10) Retief Goosen, (13) Bob Tway, (14) Howell, (15) Haas, (17) Leonard, (18) DiMarco, (21) Steve Flesch, (22) Briny Baird, (23) Chris Riley, (25) Tim Herron, (26) Jerry Kelly, (27) Funk, (28) J.L. Lewis and (29) Kirk Triplett.
Last year, Weir became only the third non-American to win the Orrefors crystal trophy. Trying to duplicate Weir’s feat are international standouts Goosen (South Africa), Tim Clark (South Africa), Aaron Baddeley (Australia) and Bernhard Langer (Germany), the 2004 European Ryder Cup captain.
First-time celebrity participants in the Bob Hope Classic include Carson Daly, Craig T. Nelson, James Woods and George Lopez. Other stars of movies, music, sports and television scheduled to return to the Classic include Troy Aikman, Michael Bolton, Roger Clemens, Alice Cooper, Engelbert Humperdinck, Samuel L. Jackson, Greg Kinnear, Joe Pesci, Maury Povich, Darius Rucker, Pete Sampras and Andy Williams.
Practice rounds at all four courses will be conducted Monday, Jan. 19 and Tuesday, Jan. 20. Tournament play begins Wednesday, Jan. 21 and concludes Sunday, Jan. 25 at PGA WEST. Daily tickets are $20 weekdays and $25 weekends. Grounds Only badges, good for admission to the grounds of all four courses for the entire week, are $55. For more information, call (760) 346-8184 or 1-888-MR B HOPE. Ticket information is also available on the Internet at www.bhcc.com or by E-mail: info@bhcc.com. Supported by the Corporation, all net proceeds generated by the Bob Hope Classic are distributed to the Eisenhower Medical Center and 40 other local charities.
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