PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Mercedes-Benz has been named Official Car Sponsor of the Northern Trust Open. Under terms of the two-year agreement, Mercedes-Benz will provide a hole-in-one vehicle at the 14th hole each year and hand over the keys to a new Mercedes-Benz courtesy car for every player to drive during the tournament. For 2009 the all-new Mercedes-Benz 2010 GLK 350 will be the hole-in-one vehicle and the players will be driving Mercedes-Benz vehicles consisting of a variety of BlueTEC clean diesels, S-Class sedans, and GLK SUV's.

"We are delighted to establish this partnership with Mercedes-Benz," said Northern Trust Open Tournament Director Tom Pulchinski. "Mercedes-Benz has a wonderful reputation for building outstanding motor vehicles and its brand is a perfect fit with the rich history of the Northern Trust Open."

"We are pleased to be the Official Car Sponsor of the Northern Trust Open for the next two years" said Bob

Woerner, General Manager for Mercedes-Benz Western Region. "It is a premier tournament that appeals to many Mercedes-Benz customers and draws key golf players to one of Southern California's most respected clubs."

Phil Mickelson is defending champion of the Northern Trust Open, Feb. 16-22, at Riviera Country Club. Also entered is 17-year-old Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa, who was awarded a Commissioner's Foreign Exemption.

The 83rd playing of the Northern Trust Open begins with a pro-am and practice rounds on Monday, Feb. 16 and practice rounds Tuesday, Feb. 17. The main pro-am is Wednesday, Feb. 18 and tournament play runs Thursday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 22.

Riviera Country will again be the host site of the tournament. This historic venue has been the official home of the tournament since 1929 when the fourth tournament was first played at the club. This is the 47th time Riviera has played host to the tournament, including every year but two since 1973. The 1983 tournament was played at Rancho Park Golf Course due to the PGA Championship at Riviera and the 1998 tournament was held at Valencia Country Club due to the U.S. Senior Open at Riviera.

The Northern Trust Open will be televised in the United States on GOLF CHANNEL (Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. ET) and CBS (Saturday, 3-6 p.m.; Sunday, 3-6:30 p.m.). In Japan, early rounds will be telecast on Jupiter Golf Network, with final rounds on NHK.

About the Northern Trust Open
The tournament, held at the Riviera Country Club, is one of the most respected and revered tournaments on the PGA TOUR schedule, attracting many of the best professional players in the world of golf. It is one of the longest-running tournaments on the PGA TOUR and is the oldest civic-sponsored event, debuting in 1926 at Los Angeles Country Club. Since its inception, the tournament has generated more than $50 million for philanthropic projects and programs within Southern California.

Northern Trust announced its title sponsorship of the tournament Oct. 15, 2007, which is a five-year agreement running through 2012. For more information, please visit www.northerntrustopen.com.

About Northern Trust Corporation
Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a financial holding company based in Chicago, has a growing network of 85 offices in 18 U.S. states and has international offices in 15 locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of September 30, 2008, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$3.5 trillion, and assets under investment management of US$652.4 billion. Northern Trust, founded in 1889, has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining exceptional service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit http://www.northerntrust.com.

About the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to expand the PGA TOUR domestically and internationally so as to substantially increase player financial benefits while maintaining our commitment to growth in charity and integrity to the game.

In 2009, the three Tours compete in 102 events for more than $350 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in 10 countries outside the U.S. and in 35 states.

In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions. The PGA TOUR's web site address is www.PGATOUR.COM and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. For more than forty years, MBUSA has taken pride in its commitment to the customer by providing superior quality luxury vehicles coupled with outstanding customer support. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.maybachusa.com.

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