Major Championship Set For August 14-20
CHICAGO, Ill. – Tickets to the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club – one of golf’s four international major championships – are the perfect stocking stuffer for the golf fans this holiday season.
And it’s never too early to secure tickets for this anticipated sellout event set for Aug. 14-20, 2006 at one of the world’s most prestigious golf courses.
This year, the PGA of America, which conducts the tournament, has created ticket packages in more varieties and prices than ever in an effort to accommodate as many fans as possible.
"By creating 19 different ticket package options – from seven-day Clubhouse Tickets to Daily Practice Round Tickets – the PGA of America is trying to make it possible for everyone to come out to Medinah and experience one of only four major championships contested each year," said tournament director Michael Belot.
Tickets range from $20 for a daily practice round ticket ($15 for juniors 17 and under) to $450 for a coveted Clubhouse Season Ticket good for all seven days of the event. Other ticket packages include weekly, two-day, and daily grounds tickets. Tickets may be reserved by going to the tournament website at pga2006.com or by calling 1-800-PGA-GOLF (742-4653).
The defending champion at this year’s PGA Championship is celestial lefty Phil Mickelson, who won the 2005 PGA at Baltusrol. Mickelson is expected to be joined by the incomparable Tiger Woods, who won one of his two PGA titles the last time the tournament was at Medinah in 1999; two-time U.S. Open champions Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, both of South Africa; Vijay Singh, winner of two PGA Championships and The Masters, and Sergio Garcia of Spain, who electrified the Medinah crowd in 1999 with his exuberant challenge of Woods during the final round.
The 2006 PGA will be the final opportunity for players to earn points toward a spot on the U.S.Ryder Cup team, which will take on Europe in team match play Sept. 22-24 in Ireland.
Attending the PGA Championship is expected to give Midwestern golf fans an opportunity to see a number of international stars who have not competed in the Chicago area since the 2003 U.S. Open. The PGA Championship is one of golf’s four major "grand slam" events along with the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open, meaning that all the highest-ranked big-name players from all over the world cherish the opportunity to play.
2006 PGA Championship officials have vowed that The 2006 PGA Championship will be one of the most fan-friendly major golf championships ever.
Shuttle buses will take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to deliver fans from offsite parking lots to The PGA Championship Village, the main hub of activity centrally located in front Medinah’s grand clubhouse and within just a few hundred yards of the first tee and 18th green.
The PGA Championship Village will be an inviting, garden-like environment that will feature concession areas, an outdoor dining deck, a giant video screen on which to follow the TV broadcast, and a 35,000-square-foot merchandise tent, tournament officials said.
"We are doing so-called ‘little’ things that we hope will add up to the best major golf championship experience our fans have ever had," said Art Frigo, a Medinah member and general chairman of the 2006 PGA Championship. "We don’t think it’s enough just to bring the best players in the world to Medinah. We want golf fans to be able to enjoy it."
The PGA Championship is one of four premier golf events conducted by the PGA of America. Others include the Ryder Cup, the Senior PGA Championship and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Since 1916, golf’s best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship’s coveted Wanamaker Trophy. Past champions include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Walter Hagen.
The 88th PGA Championship will be played August 14-20, 2006 at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. The 39th Ryder Cup is schedule to be played at Medinah in 2012.
The PGA of America, founded in 1916, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
847/698-1801, cell: 847/867-3032
bcronin@cronincommunications.com
Julius Mason
561/624-8444
jmason@pgahq.com
