LA QUINTA, Calif. – Defending champion Pat Perez and past champions Justin Leonard and Kenny Perry head the early pro entries, and famed musician Kenny G, future baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, actor/game show host John O’Hurley and actor Kurt Russell are among the initial celebrity athletes and entertainers set to participate in the 51st Bob Hope Classic, Jan. 18-24.
Joining Leonard, Perez and Perry among the early pro entries are Brian Gay, Jerry Kelly, Matt Kuchar, La Quinta resident Scott McCarron, Brandt Snedeker, David Toms and Boo Weekley. Perry, Gay, Toms, Kelly, Kuchar and Leonard were in the top 30 on the PGA TOUR money list this year.
Other early celebrity participants for the 2010 Classic, a desert tradition since 1960, include: musicians Alice Cooper, Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles) and Robby Krieger (The Doors), singers Michael Bolton, Josh Kelley and Clay Walker, actors Anthony Anderson (Law and Order), William Devane (24, The West Wing), Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), Jerry Ferrara (Entourage), Joel Gretsch (V), Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Chris O’Donnell (NCIS: Los Angeles), Dennis Quaid (Far from Heaven), Stephanie Szostak (The Devil Wears Prada), Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld), actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, comedian Tom Dreesen, former Major League Baseball and National Football League standout Bo Jackson, 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, former NHL star Jeremy Roenick, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe and six-time Pro Bowl selection and “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up Jason Taylor. The celebrity field’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 20, SilverRock Resort; Thursday, Jan. 21, La Quinta Country Club; Friday, Jan. 22, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST; Saturday, Jan. 23, Arnold Palmer Private at PGA WEST.
Practice rounds for the 2010 Classic at all four courses will be conducted Monday, Jan. 18 and Tuesday, Jan. 19. Tournament play begins Wednesday, Jan. 20 and concludes Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Palmer Private at PGA WEST. The five-day Classic features 128 top PGA TOUR professionals and 384 amateur contestants, including 30 celebrities. All five days of the Classic will be televised on Golf Channel. At stake is a purse of $5 million, $900,000 to the winner.
The Classic has taken its fan-friendly experience to a new level. Its new Web site, www.bobhopeclassic.com, is one of many platforms by which fans can more easily gain information about, and purchase tickets for, the 2010 Classic.
Along with the new Web site, fans can follow pre-tournament and tournament-week action on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BobHopeClassic ) and on Twitter (@bobhopeclassic). There, fans can not only catch up on Classic news and see exclusive celebrity photos and quotes from the always-popular Pro-Am, but enter a variety of contests for the chance to win Bob Hope Classic tickets and other tournament prizes. From a haiku contest to photo caption contests to trivia, fans have a multitude of chances to win.
In 50 years, the Classic has donated more than $47 million to charities throughout the Coachella Valley. For more information, go to www.bobhopeclassic.com or call 1.888.MRBHOPE (672.4673).
Contact:
Toby Zwikel (818) 462-5599
Pat Bennett (760) 346-8184
Covering the business of golf!
