ROANOKE, Texas -- The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, which determines the longest-hitting golfer on the planet, will again pay $250,000 to the open division champion in 2009, Long Drivers of America (LDA) announced.

Jamie Sadlowski, from St. Paul, Alberta, last year became the first long drive competitor to earn a quarter-million-dollar payday. The Canadian sensation captured the 2008 RE/MAX world championship with a record-setting drive in the finals of 418 yards.

The total purse for the 2009 RE/MAX championship will be $550,000.

Qualifying for the 2009 RE/MAX WLDC began earlier this month and will continue over the next seven months. RE/MAX championship week takes place on Oct. 25-30 in Mesquite, Nevada.

ESPN will debut a 90-minute telecast from the 2009 RE/MAX world finals during the Christmas holidays.

For more information about the 2009 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, including a schedule of qualifying dates and sites, visit www.longdrivers.com.

Media Contact:
Russ Pate (817) 819-4547 or
rrprsp@airmail.net