Kuchar, ranked No. 11 in the world, and 2008 Masters winner Immelman join Love in what is becoming a marquee field
LA QUINTA, Calif. – Current U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III, 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman and Matt Kuchar, one of the most consistent golfers on the PGA TOUR, have committed to play the 2012 Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. The Humana Challenge is scheduled for Jan. 16-22.
The 11th-ranked golfer in the world, Kuchar returns to a tournament where he has recently enjoyed success. He tied for second in 2010, one shot behind winner Bill Haas, and tied for seventh in 2011. Love, meanwhile, returns to the tournament formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic for the first time since 2006. He has two top-10 finishes in 12 events, a T7 in 1990 and a T8 in 1992. Immelman is making his event debut.
The trio joins what is becoming a marquee field. Already, four-time major championship winner Phil Mickelson and dynamic World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman, and 2011 FedExCup champion Haas have committed to the Humana Challenge. And with the additions of Love and Immelman, the Humana Challenge features two more major champions.
“These are three tremendous additions to what is becoming a great field of players,” said Humana Challenge Tournament Chairman Larry Thiel. “Matt has shown time and time again that this is an event he is very comfortable playing and an event he can win, and we are proud that Trevor is joining us for the first time this year. And 2012 is a very big year for Davis, so we’re delighted he’s elected to join us at the Humana Challenge.”
For the third consecutive year, the $5.6 million tournament will take place entirely within La Quinta, where players will compete for a $1.008 million winner’s check at La Quinta Country Club and the Palmer and Nicklaus Private Courses at PGA WEST. The purse and winner’s check are the largest in event history.
Tickets, beginning at $25, can be purchased at www.humanachallenge.com, by calling 1-888-672-4673, by visiting Lumpy’s (the “Official Golf Retail Partner” of the Humana Challenge) in La Quinta and Rancho Mirage, or by visiting Albertson’s grocery stores in the Coachella Valley.
In 2011, Kuchar solidified his status as one of the game’s most consistent players. He finished sixth in FedExCup points and earnings, setting a Tour record for most money won ($4,233,920) without a victory. He made 22-of-24 cuts, and three of his nine top-10 finishes came in the season’s first three events, including a T7 at the event formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic.
Kuchar finished his season by teaming with Gary Woodland to win the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup. The pair came from behind with a final-round 67 in an alternate-shot format to bring the United States its first victory in the team competition since 2000. Kuchar was also a member of the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team.
Love III, who has 20 PGA TOUR wins, highlighted by the 1997 PGA championship and THE PLAYERS Championship in 1992 and 2003, and more than $41 million in career earnings, will embark on a bid to not only captain but, perhaps, earn a spot on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Love III has been a member of six Ryder Cup and six Presidents Cup teams.
The 2008 Masters champion, Immelman joins Mickelson, Norman and 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson as major champions who didn’t play the event in 2011. Immelman showed signs of regaining top form on Tour last year by carding back-to-back top-10 finishes in the last two events of 2011: a fifth at the McGladrey Classic and a T6 at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Classic.
The three join an impressive field of early commitments that aside from Mickelson, Norman and Johnson, include defending champion Jhonattan Vegas, 2011 FedExCup champion and 2010 tournament champion Bill Haas, and 2001 PGA Championship winner David Toms.
Mickelson and Vegas are two of nine past champions who have committed to the 2012 Humana Challenge. They join Haas, Pat Perez (2009), Charley Hoffman (2007), Chad Campbell (2006), Justin Leonard (2005), Steve Jones (1998) and Mark Brooks (1996).
The Humana Challenge features a field of 144 PGA TOUR professionals and 144 amateurs, including celebrities. The first three rounds of the four-day tournament will be played in a pro-am format, each pro-am team consisting of one professional and one amateur, with each group consisting of two professionals and two amateurs. Sunday’s final round will feature professionals only.
The tournament continues to honor and celebrate the legacy of Bob Hope by awarding the new Bob Hope Memorial Trophy to its 2012 champion. Live tournament coverage will air on Golf Channel (12-3 p.m. PST on Jan. 19-20; 1-4 p.m. PST on Jan. 21-22).
Tournament week is designed to bring the idea of “participatory wellness” to life for people of all ages and will feature a first-ever national conference focused on health and well-being on Tuesday, Jan. 17, entitled Health Matters: Activating Wellness in Every Generation and highlighted by a keynote address from President William J. Clinton.
The Bob Hope Legacy Pro-Am will be held Monday, Jan. 16 at the Palmer Private Course at PGA WEST and The Couples Team Challenge Pro-Am will take place Wednesday, Jan. 18 Palmer Private Course at PGA WEST.
During the past 52 years, the event has generated more than $50 million in donations to the Eisenhower Media Center and charities within the Coachella Valley.
The Humana Challenge is proud to offer the latest tournament information, stage contests and give away tickets and other prizes through its new Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HumanaChallenge – and Twitter page – www.twitter.com/HumanaChallenge (@HumanaChallenge). The Humana Challenge encourages the community, golf fans and tournament patrons to become fans on Facebook and followers on Twitter.
About Humana Inc.
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.2 million medical members, 7.1 million specialty members, and operates more than 300 medical centers and 240 worksite medical facilities. Humana is a full-service benefits and well-being solutions company, offering a wide array of health, pharmacy and supplemental benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals, as well as primary and workplace care through its medical centers and worksite medical facilities. Over its 50-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio. More information regarding Humana is available at www.humana.com.
About the William J. Clinton Foundation
Building on a lifetime of public service, President Bill Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private citizens to turn good intentions into measurable results. Since 2001 President Clinton’s vision and leadership have resulted in nearly 4 million people benefiting from lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment; more than 13,000 U.S. schools building healthier learning environments; more than 26,000 micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and smallholder farmers improving their livelihoods and communities; more than 3 million meals to schoolchildren in Colombia; and more than 2.2 million tons of greenhouse gases cut or abated in some of the world’s largest cities. And President Clinton has redefined the way we think about giving and philanthropy through his Clinton Global Initiative, whose members have made more than 2,100 commitments that have already improved the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit www.clintonfoundation.org
About_Desert_Classic_Charities
Desert Classic Charities is dedicated to serving human needs in the Coachella Valley with funds generated by operating the Humana Challenge, one of the premier celebrity pro-am golf events in the world. Funds generated from the tournament (formerly the Bob Hope Classic) are used to support the Eisenhower Medical Center and as many as 40 additional local charities.
Contact:
Toby Zwikel, (818) 462-5599
Pat Bennett, (760) 346-1186
