Player, McDowell, Creamer headline star-studded international field at Celtic Manor
NEWPORT, South Wales (May 25, 2011) – PowerPlay Golf driven by SAAB: Ignition, the first in a series of nine-hole risk-and-reward PowerPlay Golf tournaments, features a star-studded international field playing The Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort, on Monday, May 30, with live, start-to-finish coverage on Golf Channel.
Hall of Famer Gary Player heads the field, which also includes reigning men’s and women’s U.S. Open champions Graeme McDowell and Paula Creamer, plus Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.
The event, which is played at the site of the 2010 Ryder Cup and the Saab Wales Open European Tour event, will be aired on Golf Channel from noon to 3 p.m. EDT, and repeated from 8 to 11 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 31.
PowerPlay Golf’s innovative nine-hole ‘most points wins’ golf scoring format features two flagsticks on every green. There is a risk-reward decision to be made on each hole, as golfers choose to play to the regulation hole placement, designated by a White Flag, or try to score extra points by playing to the more difficult placement, or Black Flag. Opting for the Black Flag is called a “PowerPlay,” with each player required to designate three PowerPlays for the first eight holes. The ninth hole provides the chance to score bonus points, but also to lose more points than on previous holes.
Rounding out the PowerPlay Golf event field are John Daly of the U.S., Ian Woosnam of Wales, Helen Alfredsson and Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Maximillian Kieffer of Germany and Victor Dubuisson of France. Overall, the impressive 12-player field has combined for more than 300 tour victories, including 18 major championships (half contributed by Player).
Launched this year, PowerPlay Golf creates an exciting new strategic spin on scoring, adding drama and a new look for golf on TV. Two other similar PowerPlay Golf events are scheduled for later in the year, one in Singapore in early November and the other in late November in the U.S. at a site to be determined.
PowerPlay Golf will formally debut at golf courses across the U.S. this summer, and golfers of all ages are invited to register their interest in the format’s Global Access program online. Signup is free by visiting www.powerplay-golf.com.
More information about PowerPlay Golf: Ignition or PowerPlay Golf in the United States is available at (831)250-7949.
About PowerPlay Golf
PowerPlay Golf® is a 9-hole golf format in which golfers choose to aim for one of two flags on the green – a White Flag and a Black (‘PowerPlay’) Flag. The format is ideal for TV, enabling broadcasters to televise a complete golf tournament in less than three hours, and to increase interest among golf television audiences. In the game, golfers have limited PowerPlays, and score extra points for net birdie or better when playing to the Black Flag, thereby creating extra pressure. Golf clubs become PowerPlay Golf® Official Venues by registering on the PowerPlay Golf® website, whereupon they are sent a club pack containing PowerPlay Golf® flags and other branded materials. Players can register for Global Access online for a series of benefits. Website: www.powerplay-golf.com.
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Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations/East
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