Captain Fred Couples selects ‘The Kid’ as first member of Team USA
(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) – The ICONS Cup – a first-of-its-kind, two-day, team competition taking place April 22-24 at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course – announces Ken Griffey Jr. as Captain Fred Couples’ first selection for Team USA.
Nicknamed “The Kid,” Griffey Jr.’s 630 career home runs rank him No. 6 on Major League Baseball’s (MLB) all-time list. More than just an exceptional hitter, he is also hailed as one of the game’s greatest outfield defenders. Proof of his prowess is evidenced by 10-consecutive American League Gold Glove Awards from 1990-99 and his 2007 selection as one of nine all-time Rawlings Gold Glove winners. Griffey was named to MLB’s All-Century team in 1999 and is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee when eligible in 2016.
In 1990 and 1991, Griffey and his father, Ken Griffey Sr., played together for the Seattle Mariners. They were the first father-son duo in MLB history to compete for the same team at the same time. Griffey Jr.’s other accolades include being named the 1992 All-Star Game MVP, 1997 American League MVP and 1998 ESPY co-winner for Male Athlete of the Year.
“As a Seattle native, I’m a life-long Mariners fan and remember Ken’s sweet swing and cannon arm like it was yesterday,” says Couples. “I can’t wait to do whatever I can to help him play his best golf in Dubai.”
Griffey Jr. will be joined by similarly-iconic athletes on Team USA. More participants will be released in the coming days.
They will battle Darren Clarke’s Team Rest of the World (ROTW) in a Ryder Cup-style match play event. Clarke’s formidable lineup boasts football stars Luis Figo, Robbie Fowler, Andriy Shevchenko and Dwight Yorke; renowned cricketers Kapil Dev, Brian Lara and Shane Warne; rugby standouts George Gregan, Brian O’Driscoll and Mike Tindall, MBE; and five-time Olympic gold medal rower Sir Steve Redgrave. Its 12th and final member will be announced soon.
Conceived, owned and produced by Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, Ltd. (WWSEL), the ICONS Cup is a significant departure from a standard celebrity golf tournament. It exclusively features low-handicap, A-list athletes playing morning foursomes (alternate shot) on Day One followed by 12 singles matches (Thursday, April 23). The ICONS Cup concludes the following day with 12 additional singles matches.
For detailed player bios and more information: www.iconscup.com
About Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, Ltd.
Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, Ltd. (WWSEL) is a boutique sports, events and lifestyle business. It creates, owns and manages niche, high-profile sports events around the world. WWSEL produces unique content for global TV and digital distribution. With offices in the U.K. and Dubai serving 44 countries, its talented team generates international conversation with inspiring events like the ICONS Cup and the PLAYERS Cup.
For more information: www.wwsel.com
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