PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. (Jan. 31, 2006) – If early entries are any indication, defending champion Adam Scott of Australia will be joined by a strong international cast for the Nissan Open presented by Countrywide Feb. 13-19 at Riviera Country Club.
Among the other early commitments are: Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Rich Beem, Olin Browne, Bart Bryant, Angel Cabrera, Stewart Cink, Tim Clark, Darren Clarke, Ben Crane, John Daly, Chris DiMarco, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Brad Faxon, Fred Funk, Jim Furyk, Lucas Glover, Jason Gore, Charles Howell III, Brandt Jobe, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard, Len Mattiace, Billy Mayfair, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie, Sean O’Hair, Jose Maria Olazabal, Corey Pavin, Kenny Perry, Nick Price, Ted Purdy, Justin Rose, Kirk Triplett, Duffy Waldorf, Mike Weir and Lee Westwood. Allenby, Els, Mattiace, Mayfair, Pavin, Triplett and Weir are past Nissan Open champions. Players have until the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 10 to commit and many other leading players are expected to do so.
Total purse for the 2006 Nissan Open presented by Countrywide is $5.1 million, with $918,000 going to the winner. Scott won the 2005 title in a sudden-death playoff over Chad Campbell.
Tickets for the tournament are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for juniors and can be purchased by calling 1-800-752-6736 or by visiting local Roger Dunn’s Golf Shops or online at www.lajcc.org/nissan.
The Nissan Open presented by Countrywide is the third oldest event on the PGA TOUR and the oldest civic-sponsored event. It is managed by the LA Junior Chamber of Commerce. During the tournament’s 80-year history, more than $50 million has been raised to support the local charitable programs of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
About Nissan North America
The tournament’s title sponsor, Nissan North America, Inc. is celebrating its 18th year in that capacity. In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.Infiniti.com.
About Countrywide Financial Corporation
Countrywide Financial Corporation is in its fourth year as the presenting sponsor of the tournament. Founded in 1969, Countrywide is America’s #1 home loan lender as ranked for 2004 by Inside Mortgage Finance (Jan. 28, 2005), Copyright 2005 – and is a member of the S&P 500 and Fortune 500. Countrywide, through its subsidiaries, provides mortgage banking and diversified financial services in domestic and international markets. Mortgage banking businesses include loan production and servicing principally through Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., which originates, purchases, securitizes, sells, and services residential loans. The company is headquartered in Calabasas, California and has a workforce of more than 54,000 individuals and over 800 offices worldwide. For more information about the company, visit Countrywide’s Web site at www.countrywide.com.
About The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce
The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce has managed the tournament for the past 80 years, making it the oldest civic-sponsored event on the PGA TOUR. The programs and projects of the LAJCC focus on at-risk youth sports that emphasize education, life skills, family growth and leadership development. Membership information can be obtained by calling (213) 482-1311 or online at www.lajcc.org.
Contact:
Toby Zwikel, Brian Robin, Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc.
818-344-6195, ext. 104, 110
