Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly to play with amateurs in The Backyard Bash
Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly have committed to play alongside amateurs in The Backyard Bash, which is a joint venture of Western Pennsylvania Golf Association (WPGA) and Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour. The event will follow an amateur foursome
format, in which three amateurs will play with a professional on August 1st, 2011 at the Legend of Brandybrook in Milwaukee.
Joe Stadler, the executive director of WPGA confirmed the news in a press briefing, “We're trying to get a mix of Champions (Tour) and regular PGA Tour guys.”
He explained the purpose of the tournament and said that the WPGA wanted to raise money for three charities, which included the title sponsor as well. He also emphasized on a long-term goal that was to bring an annual-event to the area of Milwaukee.
In doing so, the association requested 25 professionals and celebrities to make an appearance in the tournament. Stricker and Kelly, who proposed the idea of organizing the tournament, accepted the offer in return of the appearance fee. Apart from them Woody
Austin, John Rollins, Chris Couch, Rich Beem, Loren Roberts, Paul Goydos and Steve Lowery have also agreed to play alongside amateurs.
According to Stadler, few of the state pros agreed to waive the fee, which will ultimately help in achieving the goal of raising $250,000 for charities. However, the amateurs who will play in a group of fours shall pay $14,000 to register for the event.
“We've got it about 75, 80 percent sold out right now,” Stadler added.
In addition to that, he thanked Stricker and Kelly for supporting the cause and making an effort for bringing an annual tournament to the region after the US Bank Championship was eradicated from the tour. Stadler said that the duo laid the idea of pairing
a tour pro with a Champion Tour player in a two-day event. To execute the idea, they contacted several sponsors in this deed, but could not relish much success, owing to the shortage of funds required by the tour as an underwriting.
Despite that, they managed to organize a small event in the region, which they are hopeful shall become a huge media attraction in short time.
Stadler also mentioned about the ongoing deals with several sponsors including US Bank to revive the U.S. Bank Championship in the region.
“We have to re-engage some companies who may have been involved in the U.S. Bank Championship and get them re-involved and excited about golf again. Hopefully creating contacts through this event will lead to bigger things,” he said.
The tournament will kick off on July 31, with celebrity appearances that have not been finalised yet and wrap on August 1.
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