Norton, Mass., Aug. 22, 2003 � The world�s top-ranked player, Tiger Woods, reigning U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and two-time major championship winner Vijay Singh head a spectacular 156-player field (see below) that will compete in the inaugural Deutsche Bank Championship at the Tournament Players Club of Boston, Aug. 26 � Sept. 1.
The Championship has one of the richest purses on the PGA TOUR at $5 million with the winner earning $900,000. The 72-hole championship is one of 48 official events on the 2003 PGA TOUR. The event�s charitable proceeds will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation, which promotes children�s health, education and welfare, as well as several New England based charities.
The field will also include a strong foreign contingent that includes eight members of Europe�s Presidents Cup team � Singh (Fiji), Nick Price (Zimbabwe), Peter Lonard (Australia), Adam Scott (Australia), Stuart Appleby (Australia), Robert Allenby (Australia), K.J. Choi (Korea) and Tim Clark (South Africa).
Some of the other top international players in the field are Greg Norman (Australia), Jesper Parnevik (Sweden), Shigeki Maruyama (Japan), Jose Coceres (Argentina), Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland) and Justin Rose (England).
The United States Presidents Cup team members in the field are Woods, Furyk and Jerry Kelly.
The strength of the field for the Deutsche Bank Championship can be measured by the nine players who are currently ranked among the top 30 in the world: Woods (1), Furyk (4), Singh (5), Price (11), Clarke (17), Kelly (22), 2001 PGA Championship winner Rich Beem (23), 2003 PGA Championship runner-up Chad Campbell (26) and Scott Hoch (27). Add to that the talent of British Open champion Ben Curtis, Len Mattiace, Rocco Mediate, Jeff Sluman, David Gossett and Steve Flesch, and the Championship can boast one of the strongest and deepest fields of the year.
Kirk Hanefeld, the director of golf at The International in Bolton, Mass., earned a spot in the field with his three-shot victory in the New England PGA Championship at Abenaqui Country Club in Rye, N.H. The final four spots in the field will be determined in a qualifying tournament on Monday, Aug. 25 at Stow Acres Country Club�s North Course in Stow.
One of the most anticipated sporting events of the year in the Greater Boston area, the Championship has been sold out for weeks.
The main attractions are Woods, Furyk and Singh, three of the top five players on the PGA TOUR money list who have combined to win 11 of the four major championships in the past six years.
It is a testament to Woods� sheer talent and incomparable drive that he is No. 2 on the money list (he would become No. 1 with a victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship, which pays $900,000 to the winner). Sidelined for the first month of the season after knee surgery, Woods has still maintained his lofty standards with four victories this year as well as the lowest scoring average (68.38) for the year.
Furyk, a two-time winner this year (U.S. Open and Buick Open) has made the cut in 18 of his 20 events and has a tour-best 13 top-10 finishes.
A two-time major champion (the 1998 PGA Championship and the 2000 Masters), Singh owns two victories this season: at the Phoenix Open � where he closed with a final-round 63 -- and the EDS Byron Nelson Classic. That only scratches the surface in describing Singh�s consistency this season. He�s made the cut in 18 of his 19 starts and racked up 10 top-10 finishes including a runner-up finish at the British.
Not to be forgotten is Curtis, who In July, pulled off one of the most surprising victories in golf history when he captured the British Open. Ranked 396th entering the Open, Curtis was the only player at Royal St. George�s to finish under par.
Championship week for the Deutsche Bank Championship begins with practice rounds Tuesday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 27 and a pro-am on Thursday, August 28. The four-day Championship begins Friday, August 29 and continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 1�the only official Monday finish on the PGA TOUR. The first two rounds of the Championship will be covered on USA Network and the final two rounds will be televised on ABC-TV.
About Deutsche Bank
With roughly � 851 billion in assets and approximately 69,300 employees, Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) offers its 13 million clients unparalleled financial services in 76 countries throughout the world. Deutsche Bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions for demanding clients creating exceptional value for its shareholders and people.
Deutsche Bank ranks among the global leaders in corporate banking and securities, transaction banking, asset management, and private wealth management, and has a significant private & business banking franchise in Germany and other selected countries in Continental Europe.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is the investment banking and securities arm of Deutsche Bank AG in the United States. www.deutsche-bank.com
About the Tiger Woods Foundation
Established in 1996 by Tiger Woods and his father Earl, the Tiger Woods Foundation empowers young people to reach their highest potential by initiating and supporting community-based programs that promote the health, education and welfare of all of America�s children. Information on the Foundation can be found at www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org.
About IMG
IMG, who is managing and staging the event, is the world�s largest, most diverse and only truly global company dedicated to the marketing and management of sport, leisure and lifestyle. IMG employs a staff of nearly 3,000 people and has offices, sports academies and IMG-managed real estate facilities in 34 countries.
About The Tournament Players Club of Boston
The Tournament Players Club of Boston is a new addition to the PGA TOUR's prestigious Tournament Players Club Network. Featuring a signature Arnold Palmer-designed course, the TPC of Boston offers a quality golf experience for all levels of play. The course offers five sets of tees, measuring 7,178 yards from the championship tees, and features a 10-acre practice facility and elegant 34,000 square-foot clubhouse. Located in the Great Woods of Norton, MA, the TPC of Boston opened in June 2002 as the 22nd Tournament Players Club, which is owned by PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties. The Network includes more than 30 facilities, including licensed courses and international facilities. The TPC of Boston has been nominated by the Palmer Course Design Company to Golf Digest for their 2003 category of top new private golf courses in the United States.
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FINAL FIELD FOR DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
