Fairhaven, MA (September 12, 2007) – Reigning 5-time RE/MAX World Long Drive Champion and Long Drivers of America Hall of Famer, Jason Zuback, will be part of a foursome that includes two of the longest hitters on the PGA TOUR, Bubba Watson and Jason Gore, at the $1 Million KRAFT Shoot-Out. The Shoot-Out, which kicks-off the Nationwide Tour’s Albertsons Boise Open in Idaho, will air live Monday, September 17, from 4:30-7 p.m. EDT on The Golf Channel.
"I am excited to participate in this special event for such a worthwhile cause," said Zuback. "It is always a treat to play with and compete against PGA TOUR players, especially Bubba, Jason and Kevin Stadler, guys I hold in high regard. I look forward to hitting it hard and hitting it long, and giving our team a chance to earn some money for the charitable organizations we represent."
Zuback, who will partner with Gore in the competition, is an ambassador for the Pinnacle and Cobra Golf brands and a legend in the sport of Long Drive. He was the youngest inductee of the Long Drivers of America Hall of Fame when he was presented in 2003. He has won the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship a record five times, including an unprecedented four consecutive titles from 1996-1999. Zuback, also known as "Golfzilla," owns the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship record for the longest drive in competition at more than 412 yards. He is also the all-time leading money winner.
Watson and Gore are both Titleist golf ball loyalists and among the fan favorites on the PGA TOUR. Watson is gunning for his second consecutive PGA TOUR driving distance title after earning his first crown with a 319.6 yard average as a rookie in 2006. This year, he leads the PGA TOUR in driving distance with an average drive of 315.3 yards through the Deutsche Bank Championship. He led the Nationwide Tour in driving distance with a 334 yard average in 2005.
Gore, who won the 2002 Albertsons Boise Open, rose to prominence in 2005 when he contended for the U.S. Open title and won three times on the Nationwide Tour to earn a "battlefield promotion" to the PGA TOUR. He also became just the second player to win on both the Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR in the same season after capturing the 84 Lumber Classic. Gore ranks among the Top 20 in the 2007 PGA TOUR Driving Distance category with a 300.7 average through the Deutsche Bank Championship.
The $1 Million purse will be divided among four charitable organizations based on the outcome of two simultaneous competitions within one nine-hole game: a traditional skins game and a new special contest. Each skin/hole is assigned a dollar value and the two-person team with the lowest score wins the "skin." In the event of a tie, the dollar value is added to the next hole In addition, the best "tee shot" of each team will be used to determine the winner of each special contest. Depending on the hole, the special contest will be either a "closest to the pin" contest or a "long drive" contest. Based on the incredible driving distance abilities of the participants, three par 4 holes will have a "closest to the pin" contest.
As presenting sponsor of the Shoot-Out, the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation has designated that 100 percent of the $1 Million purse go directly to the following four charitable organizations: Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County-Meridian Club, Community Detox Center, 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games and Treasure Valley YMCA-Horsethief Camp. For more information on the KRAFT Shoot-Out presented by J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation visit www.albertsonsboiseopen.com.
Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra and Pinnacle comprise the major golf brands of the Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE – FO). Please visit us on-line at titleist.com, footjoy.com, cobragolf.com and pinnaclegolf.com.
Contact:
Joe Gomes, Director of Communications, Acushnet Company
(508.979.3211)