PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- People vs. the Pros, a unique tournament that features amateur golfers competing head-to-head against professionals from the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, will continue its four-year run on ESPN as a multi-year deal was announced by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.
The participants and site date of this year’s event will be announced in the near future.
“We are pleased to add the People vs. the Pros to our Challenge Event schedule,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “It is a format that the players have enjoyed competing in over the past four years, and we look forward to seeing PGA TOUR and Champions Tour players competing in the years to come.”
“We have enjoyed developing the People vs. the Pros series over the last four years and our thanks go to the PGA TOUR for rewarding our event by making it part of the Challenge Event schedule,” said Andy Batkin, CEO of the Manhattan Beach, CA-based Innovative Media Solutions, creators of People vs. the Pros. “To have our unique event sanctioned by the TOUR validates our vision to provide a fully integrated media and marketing platform for our sponsors.”
The first People vs. the Pros tournament was held in 2003 at Lake Las Vegas Resort in Las Vegas, NV. John Daly defeated his amateur opponent, but golf legend Lee Trevino was defeated by his amateur opponent, validating the concept.
The 2004 event was held at historic Pinehurst Resort & Spa in Pinehurst, NC. Daly defended his title and the colorful Gary McCord was the Champions Tour player. The final matches were played on the legendary No. 2 course at Pinehurst, site of the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens. Daly and McCord were both defeated by their amateur opponents.
The 2005 event was held at Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, TX. Justin Leonard was the PGA TOUR pro, while Ben Crenshaw represented the Champions Tour. The final matches were held on the Tom Fazio-designed Foothills course. Leonard won his match 4 and 3, while Crenshaw was taken all the way to the 18th hole, prevailing 1-up.
Last year’s event returned to Pinehurst’s No. 2 course, where two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, the world’s third-ranked player, and McCord, in his second appearance in the event, both won their matches.
The format for People vs. the Pros features more than 200 amateur players competing over three days in a 54-hole stroke-play competition utilizing handicaps. The players are divided into two divisions: 49-and-under and the over-50 division, with each division producing a champion.
On the fourth day of the tournament, the amateur champions play an 18-hole match against the professionals representing the PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour. The matches are taped for telecast later on ESPN. The winners each receive $50,000 designated to the charity of their choice.
The event is open to U.S. and Canadian amateur golfers over 18 years of age with an established handicap; players can reserve a place in the tournament on the tournament website, www.pvpgolf.com.
ABOUT THE PGA TOUR:
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.
In 2007, the three Tours will compete in approximately 110 events for approximately $340 million in prize money. Tournaments are being held in six countries outside the U.S. and in 36 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 INNOVATIVE MEDIA SOLUTIONS, LLC
People vs. the Pros is a production of Manhattan Beach, CA-based Innovate Media Solutions, LLC. IMS develops unique compelling and custom designed integrated media programs for major corporations to reach specific and very targeted demographics. IMS creates dynamic value-added events that effectively blend the use of TV, print, radio, online, database development, event marketing and hospitality. The unique synergy of IMS strategic resources empowers sponsors and advertisers to maximize their investments by transcending common advertising clutter and delivering focused product or service messages to the right audience at the right time.
In addition to creating People vs. the Pros, in 2006, IMS created a new made-for-TV golf event that aired on ESPN in July of 2006 called the Trump Million Dollar Invitational, which is a high-stakes golf match similar to the World Series of Poker.
CONTACTS:
James Cramer Andrew Batkin
PGA TOUR IMS
904-631-2999 310-406-8855
jcramer@pgatourhq.com abatkin@peoplevsthepros.com
