The Champions Tour Returns to TPC Tampa Bay
The 2007 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am was a tournament full of firsts for the state of Florida.
After 93 professional events in Florida, Tom Watson captured his first PGA TOUR/Champions Tour victory at the 2007 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. Watson ended his winless drought with a 1-under 70 for a one-stroke margin over Jay Haas and Andy Bean.
The gusty winds and cold weather conditions did not stop Watson. Actually, it made him feel right at home. His experience playing in challenging weather paid off.
“Growing up in Kansas City and playing golf with those crazy guys that like to get out there in the cold weather you start to get used to it,” Tom Watson said regarding playing in such tough weather conditions.
Along with Watson’s win was another first at the 2007 event. After 14
years of playing together in Pro-Am tournaments, actor/comedian Bill
Murray and Champions Tour professional Scott Simpson won their
first-ever Pro-Am tournament walking away with the Amateur Division
win.
Laughing crowds followed Murray at every hole awaiting his
spontaneous acts and crazy hats. Little did they know they would see
the Murray/Simpson team take home their first team victory.
Comedian/Actor George Lopez and NFL All-Pro Jerry Rice will make their
debut appearance at the 2008 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. Other notable
sports personalities and stars of movies and television are
alsoanticipated again to play in the unique format of the tournament.
Bill Murray, Kevin Costner, Mark Wahlberg, Vince Gill, Huey Lewis, Fred
McGriff, Shelton Quarles, Ray Knight, Ronde Barber, Boomer Esiason,
Derrick Brooks, Jim Courier, Joe Theismann, Emmitt Smith and Carson
Daly are among the celebrities who have participated in the tournament
in its fi rst four years. These celebrities excite the spectators with
their “up close and personal” interaction with the crowd as they play
golf. Fans are allowed to get “Inside the Ropes” and follow the last
group of players as they walk the course.
The 2007 tournament raised a record amount of over $740,000 for Tampa
Bay area charities. Since its inception 20 years ago, this tournament
has made charitable donations in excess of $7.6 million. The charities
for 2008 include Bay Area Legal Services, Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth
Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Joseph’s Children’s
Hospital, and Sydney’s School for Autism.
The 2008 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am is moving from its traditional
mid-February date to the week of April 14-20, 2008. This week in April
should be the perfect time for this premier Champions Tour event. The
shift in date provides more stable weather, longer days to accommodate
the pro-am format and breathing room from the celebrity Pro-Am events
that are bunched together in the early portion of the PGA TOUR schedule.
The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am offersan experience unlike any other
tournament on the Champions Tour. The Green-Hopper Party Pass allows
entrance into three different hospitality venues on Holes #11, #16 and
#17. Each venue offers VIP golf viewing and spectacular hospitality.
 The Par-3 11th hole is the Coke Zero Soda Shack and will offer
Coca-Cola products and featured drinks. The Par-4 16th will host
“Cuervo Nation” featuring the best margaritas in town. Finally, Hole
17, also a Par-3, is the Michelob Watering Hole featuring
Anheuser-Busch products.
The party atmosphere will carry forward to the fi nishing hole as the
famous Billabong Club will continue to be located on the 18th green on
the golfer’s right side. The popularity of this venue grows every year
and continues to demand more and more passes.
Spectators will feast on food from the various OSI Restaurant Partners,
LLC concepts. Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and
Bonefish Grill will create a “Food Court” behind the practice range
where golf fans will be able to sample the various specialties of each
of the restaurant concepts.
TPC Tampa Bay
So why is TPC Tampa Bay such a popular facility among locals, visitors
and touring professionals alike? Legendary players including Arnold
Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd and many
others have routinely called TPC Tampa Bay “a beautiful golf course,”
and “one of the better TPC courses we play.” High praise, indeed, from
the world’s best golfers.
TPC Tampa Bay was designed by renowned golf course architect Bobby Weed
along with Champions Tour professional consultant Chi Chi Rodriguez,
This signature design team not only created a golf course that tests
the best players in the world, but it also provides a challenging and
fun experience for golfers of all levels. This year at the 2008 Outback
Steakhouse Pro-Am the course will truly put these Champions Tour
professionals to the test. The 2008 conditions will seem harder and
faster, as the fairways and rough were not overseeded like they were in
2007.
The course’s design is highlighted by strategic bunkering, gentle
undulations and dramatic spectator mounding. Playing to 6,900 yards
from the back tees, the wide fairways meander through natural lakes,
wetlands and Cypress heads, which are home to abundant wildlife.
Combine unique playability with consistently exceptional PGA
TOUR-quality course conditioning and it’s easy to see why TPC Tampa Bay
has been awarded a 4 – 1/2 Stars in Golf Digest’s Places To Play. The
facility has also been named one of Florida’s Top-Five golf courses by
Florida Golf Magazine.
Now you too can enjoy TPC Tampa Bay. You’ll not only get to play a
great tournament-quality golf course, but you’ll also get to enjoy the
PGA TOUR experience for yourself. From the well-stocked golf shop, to
the Champion’s Locker Room, to theworld-class practice facilities and
to the professionalism of the golf staff, you’ll receive the kind of
service that makes TPC Tampa Bay truly memorable.
TPC Tampa Bay is more than a great place to play golf. It’s also the
ideal place to hold that special party, shower, wedding or golf event
you’re planning. The professional event staff currently hosts over 100
private events and golf outings each year, including the Outback
Steakhouse Pro-Am and Tampa’s America Supports You Military Tournament
held in December.
While TPC Tampa Bay is a public facility, annual play plans are
available. The Vantage Partner Program allows you to play TPC Tampa Bay
for just cart fees year-round among other benefi ts and privileges. For
more information, visit www.tpctampabay.com. To reserve your starting
time up to 60 days in advance, or for more information regarding
outings or annual play plans, call (813) 949-0090 or toll free
1-866-PLAY-TPC.
For Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am tournament and ticket information, call
the Tournament Office at (813) 265-4653 or go to www.outbackproam.com.
2008 Schedule of Events
April 14th – 20th TPC Tampa Bay
Monday, 14th
Tuesday, 15th
Wednesday, 16th
Thursday, 17th
Friday, 18th
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Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am , Round 1, 7:10am,
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Golf Channel Live Coverage 1-3pm
Saturday, 19th
Sunday, 20th
Please visit www.outbackproam.com for the most up to date information.
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