Loren Roberts, Craig Stadler, Jay Haas, Hale Irwin and Fuzzy Zoeller to Compete in 17thAnnual Golf Tournament, Creating Most Competitive Playing Field Since Moving to Valencia
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 13, 2006) – The AT&T Classic today announced new commitments from Loren Roberts, current Champions Tour money leader; Craig Stadler, a 13-time PGA Tour event winner; Jay Haas, a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour; Hale Irwin, a three-time U.S. Open Championship winner; and Fuzzy Zoeller, a six-time PGA Tour event winner, to compete in its 2006 tournament, scheduled March 6-12, 2006, at the acclaimed Valencia Country Club in Santa Clarita.
"The addition of these five stellar performers fills out our ever-expanding list of talented golfers who will compete at this year’s AT&T Classic," said Fitzgerald. "We are thrilled to welcome some of the best players on the Champions Tour to our tournament, and we look forward to hosting one of the most competitive playing fields to ever compete since the AT&T Classic moved to the Valencia Country Club."
Roberts is currently on a winning streak having won both the MasterCard Championship and the Turtle Bay Championship this year. He is only the third person in Champions Tour history to win back-to-back events at the start of a season.
Stadler, 52, won the Nissan Open in 1996 and the B.C. Open in 2003 to become one of the oldest players to win on the PGA Tour. He began playing the Champions Tour upon becoming eligible in June 2003, and was the leading money winner in his first full year on that tour in 2004.
Haas was a member of three USA Ryder Cup teams. He became eligible to play in Champions Tour events from the start of the 2004 season. Since then, Haas has won twice on the Champions Tour, while also continuing to play regularly on the PGA Tour.
Irwin is a winner of three U.S. Open Championships and a member of four Ryder Cup teams. He was a 14-time event winner on the PGA Tour.
Zoeller was the winner of the 2002 Senior PGA Championship and 2004 MasterCard Championship. In 1979 Zoeller won The Masters in his first appearance at the event, becoming one of only three golfers in history to accomplish this feat.
Roberts, Stadler, Haas, Irwin and Zoeller will compete at the AT&T Classic with last year’s winner Des Smyth, three-time winner Gil Morgan, 2002 winner Tom Kite, 2003 winner Tom Purtzer, and seven-time PGA Tour winner Peter Jacobsen. Other notable players joining the field include Ben Crenshaw and Curtis Strange (see below for a full list of competitors). Each day of the 2006 AT&T Classic will be aired on The Golf Channel.
Tickets are available for purchase through the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation at 661-253-8082 as well as via the Los Angeles County Junior Golf Foundation at 213-738-2972. Also, the tournament is inviting additional charities and nonprofit organizations to join the "Charity Partners" program, which provides organizations with the opportunity to use the AT&T Classic to generate funds through the sale of tickets and corporate hospitality. Contact the AT&T Classic at 661-260-1897 for information surrounding charity involvement.
To receive more information or schedule an interview with an AT&T Classic spokesperson, please contact Formula at 310-578-7050.
About Valencia Country Club
Since its public opening in 1965, the Valencia Country Club has been recognized as one of Southern California’s premier golfing venues. Featuring a masterful design by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Valencia is perhaps best known for its pristine putting surfaces and traditional hole designs. Typifying the best of Jones’ creations, Valencia offers unique rewards and penalties for players of all skill levels. From the complete novice to the most seasoned professional, Valencia has something to inspire anyone who may venture onto this piece of golf perfection. For additional information call 661-254-4401 or visit www.valenciagolfclub.com.
About the New AT&T
AT&T Inc. is one of the world’s largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 52 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at www.TheNewATT.com.
2006 AT&T Classic Committed Players Roster
(Additions to be announced in the coming weeks)
Jim Albus
Isao Aoki
Hugh Baiocchi
Andy Bean
John Bland
Brad Bryant
Jose Maria Canizares
Jim Colbert
Ben Crenshaw
Jim Dent
Ed Dougherty
Allen Doyle
R.W. Eaks
Danny Edwards
David Eger
Dave Eichelberger
Jack Ferenz
Keith Fergus
Vicente Fernandez
Bruce Fleisher
Raymond Floyd
Gibby Gilbert
Bob Gilder
Hubert Green
Jay Haas
Walter Hall
John Harris
Morris Hatalsky
Hale Irwin
John Jacobs
Peter Jacobsen
Tom Jenkins
Mark Johnson
Rick Karbowski
Tom Kite
Massy Kuramoto
Wayne Levi
Bruce Lietzke
Bill Longmuir
John Mahaffey
Graham Marsh
Scott Masingill
Gary McCord
Mike McCullough
Mark McCumber
Pat McGowan
Tom McKnight
Mark McNulty
Gil Morgan
Larry Nelson
Lonnie Nielsen
Jerry Pate
Dan Pohl
Don Pooley
Tom Purtzer
Dana Quigley
Mike Reid
Loren Roberts
Bill Rogers
Jay Sigel
Scott Simpson
Des Smyth
J.C. Snead
Craig Stadler
Dave Stockton
Curtis Strange
Ron Streck
Mike Sullivan
Bruce Summerhays
Leonard Thompson
Jim Thorpe
Bobby Wadkins
Lanny Wadkins
Tom Wargo
D.A. Weibring
Fuzzy Zoeller
Contact:
Katie Casey
Formula
(310) 578-7050
casey@formulapr.com
