(Duluth, GA, May 8, 2007) — David Toms, the 19th ranked player in the world, will play in this year’s AT&T Classic, adding even more luster to a field that includes such players as Henrik Stenson, Chris DiMarco, Stewart Cink, Charles Howell and Masters champion Zach Johnson. Now in its 39th year, the 72-hole PGA TOUR tournament offers a first prize check of $972,000 from a total purse of $5.4 million. The event will be played May 14-20 at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, GA. Here are some quick facts on Toms:
â?¢ Toms is off to a typical solid start thanks to eighth place ties at both the Mercedes-Benz Championship and the FBR Open, a tie for 9th at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and a solo 9th at The Masters last month. He currently ranks 31st on the money list with $969,899. His four top 10s rank fourth on the Tour and his 16 consecutive cuts made rank second.
â?¢ He had yet another terrific year in 2006, winning right out of the gate at the Sony Open in Hawaii, the 12th title of his career. He had 13 top 25 finishes in 22 starts, earning $2,911,187 for his efforts. It was the 7th straight year that he accumulated $2 million or more. At the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship he defeated Ian Poulter and Jose Maria Olazabal before losing to Tom Lehman. That snapped an eight-match winning streak at the event as he had won the year before. He suffered a back injury during the first round of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in mid-June. He withdrew before the second round and returned to action at the Buick Open in early August.
â?¢ 2001 was a huge break-out season for Toms, his ninth full year on the PGA TOUR. His win at the PGA Championship in the Atlanta Athletic Club was his first major title and his sixth win overall. His third round hole-in-one on the 245-yard 15th hole was unquestionably the shot of the year in golf, and propelled him to a lead that he never relinquished.
â?¢ In 13 appearances at the BellSouth Classic, his best finish is a 5th place tie in 1997. His other Top 10 was a 10th place tie in 1999. His career earnings at the event total $407,646.17.
â?¢ He has played on three Ryder Cup teams (2002, 2004, 2006); two Presidents Cup teams (2003, 2005) and the World Golf Championships-World Cup in 2002.
â?¢ Toms was a first team All-American at LSU and was named the Southeastern Conference Championship in 1988-89. He remains a passionate fan of the LSU Tigers football team.
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Tournament Note:
The Media Center will be open at 7:30 next Monday morning and at 7:00 a.m. every day thereafter. Credentials can be picked up every day. We look forward to seeing you and to assisting in your coverage of the event.
For up-to-date information on the 2007 AT&T Classic, please visit www.attclassic.com.
Contact:
John Marshall
Media Director
(770) 436-2643
Joe Chandler
AT&T Corporation
(404) 249-2446
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