PGA Tour stop in Las Vegas to benefit Shriners hospital

From WorldGolf.com News Services

The PGA Tour's stop in Las Vegas has a new charitable host organization, as the PGA Tour announced that the October event played in Sin City will benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The event, to be held Oct. 8-14 will now be named "Frys.com Open benefiting the Shriners Hospitals for Children" and be played at TPC Summerlin and TPC at The Canyons.

The Las Vegas Founders Club had previously held the distinction as the tournament's host organization, a title it held since the tournament began in 1983. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico that provide free medical care to children.

"We are absolutely delighted to welcome Shriners Hospitals for Children as the new host organization in Las Vegas. Shriners Hospitals are known throughout the world for the outstanding medical services and support they provide to children and their families," said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. "At the same time, we'd like to thank the Las Vegas Founders Club for its involvement and support since 1983. We sincerely appreciate the efforts they have made over the years to stage a high quality TOUR event while also generating over $10 million for Las Vegas-area charities."

Nationwide Tour turns to 25

"The 25" is a new program installed by the Nationwide Tour to help highlight it's top players. The newly announced program will focus on the top-25 players on the Nationwide money list - players who would earn a PGA Tour card when the season ends.

The program will be part of a push by Nationwide to spotlight the contributions the tour has made to the PGA Tour, as well as shine light on the top players playing in golf's "minor leagues."

"The Nationwide Tour is the proving ground for the PGA Tour's next stars," said Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee. "With 200 PGA Tour wins and 65 percent of this year's membership having played on the Nationwide Tour, the impact of our players on golf's greatest stage is undeniable. The essence of the Nationwide Tour comes down to the 25 PGA Tour cards at stake. The competition is intense and I assure you players are keenly aware of their position in relation to the top 25 week-in and week-out."

April 24, 2007