Long-time Atlanta Braves Pitcher is Second MLB Great to Join Fred Couples’ Team USA
(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) – The ICONS Cup – a first-of-its-kind, two-day, Ryder Cup-style team golf competition taking place April 22-24 at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course – announces Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine has accepted an invitation to play for Team USA.
One of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, Glavine is among only six left-handers to earn more than 300 career wins. After 22 seasons – 17 of which were spent with the Atlanta Braves – he was a first-ballot inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
A gifted athlete, Glavine was drafted by both the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League and the Braves in 1984. He opted for baseball and went on to lead the franchise to five World Series appearances. In 1995, he was a key component of Atlanta’s championship-winning team and named MVP of the World Series. He is also a two-time recipient of the Cy Young Award (1991, ’98) which is presented annually to the league’s best pitcher.
Glavine, whose No. 47 jersey was retired by the Braves in 2010, joins fellow MLB icon Ken Griffey Jr. on Fred Couples’ Team USA. Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano is also onboard for the voyage to Dubai.
“Fred and Team USA seem intent on cornering the market on low-handicap hockey and baseball Hall of Famers,” says ICONS Cup Tournament Director Adrian Flaherty. “It’s a smart move given a fundamentally-sound golf swing shares many similarities with a powerful slap shot and smooth home run stroke.”
Team USA will battle Darren Clarke’s 12-man Team Rest of the World (ROTW) in a match play golf event. Its roster of international sporting superstars is set: Gabriel Batistuta, Luis Figo, Robbie Fowler, Andriy Shevchenko and Dwight Yorke (football); Kapil Dev, Brian Lara and Shane Warne (cricket); George Gregan, Brian O’Driscoll and Mike Tindall, MBE (rugby); and Sir Steve Redgrave (Olympic rowing).
Conceived, owned and produced by Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, Ltd. (WWSEL), the ICONS Cup is a significant departure from a standard celebrity golf event. 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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