What Would You Shoot on a U.S. Open Course Under U.S. Open Conditions?
NEW YORK (December 10, 2007) — Golf Digest and NBC Sports, with the support of the USGA, is asking the question, what would you shoot if you had the chance to play Torrey Pines under U.S. Open conditions? Could you break 100? What if the round was with three celebrities on national television? One golfer will have the chance to find out next summer.
Golf Digest is now accepting submissions for the first-ever "Golf Digest U.S. Open Contest." The contest winner will play 18 holes at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), the site of the 2008 U.S. Open, with three celebrities equally committed to the challenge in the days leading up to the Championship. The round will air on NBC from 2-3pm on Sunday, June 15 immediately before final-round coverage of the U.S. Open.
Starting today and running through January 29, 2008, golf fans can go to www.gdopencontest.com and submit an essay of no more than 100 words on why they or someone they know should get the chance to play the U.S. Open course. Nominees will be narrowed down to five finalists and the winner will be chosen by the public through online voting ending April 30.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we think golf fans will really get excited about," said Jerry Tarde, Chairman and Editor-In-Chief of Golf Digest. "Every amateur golfer has dreamed about what it would be like to play in U.S. Open conditions on national TV and thanks to the USGA and NBC we’re going to make that dream come true for someone."
The idea behind the contest started after the second round of the 2007 U.S. Open when Tiger Woods mentioned that there was no way a 10-handicapper could break 100 the way that Oakmont Country Club was set up. Golfers of all handicaps are eligible for the contest, not just golfers with a 10-handicap. The nationally televised round will be played under the exact same course conditions and USGA rules that the U.S. Open competitors will face the following week.
"It will be fun to work with Golf Digest and NBC Sports in identifying a golfer who’ll take a crack at the 2008 U.S. Open course and get a taste of what the U.S. Open competitors will experience the following week," said USGA Executive Director David Fay. "Along the way, we look forward to sharing our thoughts about the set-up philosophy and preparation of a U.S. Open course, the value of a USGA Handicap Index and the benefits of having a solid understanding of the USGA Rules of Golf."
Jon Miller, Executive Vice President, NBC Sports said: "We’re excited to partner with Golf Digest and the USGA on this unique and compelling contest. It’s a great way to involve players and fans in the premier event in golf."
The three celebrity participants for the contest will be announced in early 2008. Additional details can be found in the January issue of Golf Digest (on newsstands December 11), in every issue leading up to the U.S. Open next summer, and on www.golfdigest.com, www.usga.org and www.nbcsports.com.
Contact:
Brian Fisher
Golf Digest
212-630-2488
Brian.Fisher@GolfDigest.com
Brian Walker
NBC Sports
212-664-5533
Brian.Walker@nbcuni.com
Peter Bevacqua
USGA
908-470-5008
Peter.Bevacqua@USGA.org
