Joins long-time Atlanta Braves teammate Tom Glavine on captain Fred Couples’ Team USA
(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) – The ICONS Cup – a first-of-its-kind, two-day, Ryder Cup-style team competition taking place April 22-24 at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course – announces Greg Maddux has accepted Captain Fred Couples’ invitation to compete for Team USA.
A 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Maddux is widely hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Relying on exceptional command, composure and guile to outwit – rather than overpower – hitters, “The Professor” holds a number of MLB records. He is the only pitcher in history to end his career with 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts while offering up fewer than 1,000 walks. Other feats include being the first to earn four straight Cy Young Awards (1992-95) as the league’s best pitcher and the only hurler to achieve at least 15 wins for 17 straight seasons. Maddux was also an exceptional fielder, setting the mark with 18 Gold Glove awards.
A member of the World Champion 1995 Atlanta Braves and eight-time All-Star, he ranks eighth on the all-time wins list with 355. Maddux led the National League in victories three times (1992, ’94, ’95) and earned run average four (1993-95, ’98). His No. 31 jersey has been retired by both the Braves and Chicago Cubs.
“Greg’s well-earned reputation as one of baseball’s most tenacious competitors will serve him well in our match play format,” says ICONS Cup Tournament Director Adrian Flaherty. “He and long-time Braves teammate Tom Glavine should form quite a strong pair for the alternate shot session.”
The two Baseball Hall of Fame members will be joined on Team USA by a future fellow Cooperstown inductee Ken Griffey Jr.; two-time NBA World Champion and Olympic gold medal winner Ray Allen; and Hockey Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup Champions Brett Hull and Mike Modano.
Other iconic athletes who are also low-handicap golfers will be added to Team USA’s lineup in the coming days.
They will battle 2016 Europe Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke’s Team Rest of the World (ROTW). His formidable 12-man lineup boasts football stars Gabriel Batistuta, 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.
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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