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| Pairings Set For Merrill Lynch Shootout
NAPLES, Fla. (November 6, 2007) - Tournament host Greg Norman has matched a collection of golf's highly successful individual players into captivating two-man teams as the 19th annual Merrill Lynch Shootout returns to Tiburón Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples December 5-9.
For the seventh consecutive year, Southwest Florida sports fans and an international television audience will have the opportunity to watch some of the brightest stars in professional golf battle it out for three days all while raising funds and awareness for CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Bubba Watson, the TOUR's driving distance leader, will replace Steve Stricker, who was forced to withdraw due to family reasons. Watson will play in his first Shootout.
"I remember watching the Shootout when I was younger and thinking about how much fun those guys were having and how much I wanted to be a part of it some day," Watson said. "To have this opportunity so early in my career is fantastic, and to be paired with Greg, a person I have long respected and admired, is a huge honor."
Defending champions Jerry Kelly and Rod Pampling will attempt to become only the third team in Shootout history to successfully defend its title. But the twosome will face intense competition from 11 other custom-tailored teams that exemplify power in partnership.
As the pairings were finalized, Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management, Paula Polito noted: "Merrill Lynch and our 16,000 Financial Advisors, are honored to partner with Greg Norman to sponsor the 2007 Merrill Lynch Shootout... the tournament that celebrates great partnerships.
"But the most important partnership at the Merrill Lynch Shootout does not take place on the golf course. The tournament's partnership with CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation supports the CureSearch mission of reaching the day when every child with cancer can be guaranteed a cure."
A snapshot of the 11 teams looking to dethrone Kelly and Pampling:
Greg Norman & Bubba Watson - Norman, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, will match up well with the big gun, an extremely powerful left-hander from Northwest Florida. In his first two years on TOUR, Watson is averaging 317 yards per drive and has recorded eight top-10 finishes, including a tie for fifth at this year's U.S. Open and a tie for second at this year's Shell Houston Open.
Fred Couples & John Daly - With each having tasted victory in a major championship, this team boasts impeccable credentials as well as unmatched charisma.
Chris DiMarco & Camilo Villegas - Two loud and proud Gator alums represent the school that reigns supreme in college football and basketball. Can they duplicate that dominance at Tiburón?
Stewart Cink & Zach Johnson - The reigning Masters Champion and four-time winner on the PGA TOUR were paired together during last month's Presidents Cup and secured a victory against Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman, a formidable team in last year's Merrill Lynch Shootout.
Brad Faxon & Justin Leonard - Both mulitple PGA TOUR winners, this popular tandem was paired together after Scott Verplank was forced to withdraw due to a minor thumb injury. Faxon, a three-time winner, tops all players with career earnings of $1,140,291 at the Shootout. Leonard will be making his second straight Shootout appearance after he and Verplank lost to Kelly & Pampling in a playoff in 2006.
Woody Austin & Mark Calcavecchia - Both known for their fiery spirit, these two reemerged on the PGA TOUR this year with victories in the Stanford St. Jude Championship and PODS Championship respectively. Austin gained notoriety as the emotional and sometimes soggy leader on the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team.
Charles Howell III & Nick Price - Another World Golf Hall of Famer teams up with one of golf's young guns who had his own resurgence in 2007 with a playoff victory over Phil Mickelson at the Northern Trust Open.
Fred Funk & Jeff Sluman - This diminutive twosome represents the only team of Champions Tour players. Can the elder statesmen not known for their power game navigate Tiburón's 7,288 yards? If past performance is any indication of future results, the answer could be a resounding yes. With a victory at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Can***, Funk became only the second player to win on the PGA Tour following a Champions Tour triumph. He also blitzed the field at the Turtle Bay Championship, making an emphatic welcoming statement to his over-50 brethren. Sluman, a winner of the 2003 and '04 Shootout, has a major championship and five more PGA Tour titles to his credit. With 26 appearances this year, his game is in shape and ready for a course and an event he thoroughly enjoys.
Anthony Kim & Mark O'Meara - A two-time major champion will stride alongside the PGA TOUR's youngest full-time member and a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Steve Elkington & Scott McCarron - The epitome of a strong partnership. Both have won the Merrill Lynch Shootout with a variety of partners, have a combined six Shootout victories and a combined 24 Shootout starts.
Scott Hoch & Kenny Perry - These close friends and previous Merrill Lynch Shootout partners have combined for 20 PGA TOUR victories and more than $40 million in career earnings. "It seems like I say this every year, but I could not be more pleased with the way the field and subsequently how the pairings shaped up," Norman said. "Again this year we have 24 very impressive resumes and a great blend of youth and experience. Some of these guys are joining us for the first time, while others are Shootout veterans.
"I am very excited this year to be paired with Bubba. He is a very personable young man, who has loads of talent. While I haven't played a lot of competitive golf this season, don't be surprised if we sneak up on some people!"
The Merrill Lynch Shootout will once again feature a modified alternate shot format during the first round, a better ball Saturday and a final-round scramble. Golf Channel will televise Friday's coverage and NBC will broadcast the weekend activities.
Entering its 19th year, the Merrill Lynch Shootout was created by Norman to raise awareness and charitable offerings for the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation. |