GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Buick has announced that 1999 Buick Open Champion, Tom Pernice, Jr. is among the latest commitments to the 2005 Buick Open, scheduled for July 25-31 at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc.

Pernice, 45, fired an 18-under par 270 in 1999 for a one stroke victory over three players - Tom Lehman, Ted Tryba and Bob Tway. Pernice is fifth on the Buick Open's all-time earnings list with $696,267. This will be his 14th appearance at the Buick Open.

Other new commitments include Mark Brooks, Jonathan Byrd, Lee Janzen, J.P. Hayes and Jose Coceres.

Previous Buick Open commitments include Vijay Singh, John Daly, K.J.Choi, Chris DiMarco, Fred Funk, Paul Azinger and Former Buick Open Champions Kenny Perry, Billy Mayfair, Scott Verplank and Woody Austin. Tiger Woods is also scheduled to play in the 2005 Buick Open.

Pernice and the rest of the 2005 Buick Open field will compete for a record $4.6 million purse, including a $828,000 first prize.

For Buick Open tickets and information, call 1 (800) 878-OPEN or go to www.buickopen.pgatour.com.

Buick is the title-sponsor of three PGA Tour events in 2005: The Buick Invitational in La Jolla, Calif., (January 17-23); the Buick Open; and the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn. (August 22-28).

Buick has been the official car of the PGA Tour since 1984. Through its title-sponsored PGA Tour events Buick has donated more than $30 million to local charities in its tournament cities since 1982. More than $7.2 million has been donated to the Buick Open charities, including a record $740,000 in 2004.

Buick is now in its fourth year as the title-sponsor of the Buick Scramble, the world's largest amateur golf tournament with more than 75,000 participants annually.

Media Contact:
Al Abrams
Buick Open Media Director
(212) 367-4527
al.abrams@momentumww.com