Tommy Armour III Set For Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational Title Defense

November 6, 2008

Tommy Armour III

Press Release

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — One week after completing the most successful season of his nearly 30-year PGA Tour career, Tommy Armour III will begin defense of his 2007 title at the 37th annual Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational presented by Merrill Lynch. After playing this week in the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Orlando, Fla., the final PGA Tour event of the season, Armour will be among a strong field of 81 professionals in the uniquely formatted event, Nov. 18-23, 2008, at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Del Monte Golf Course.

Armour, grandson of the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship winner, has five top-10 finishes this season in 24 PGA Tour events and is 62nd on the money list with more than $1.5 million. It’s the first season since joining the PGA Tour in 1982, Armour has earned more than $1 million.

The 72-hole Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational, founded in 1972, is the only tournament that features individual competition among players from the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour as well as mini-tour players, club pros and amateur teams.

Championship rounds for the $300,000 event will be played Nov. 20-23 with the first three rounds held simultaneously on all three courses. Following the 54-hole cut, the top 40 pros and 10 amateur teams will play the final round Sunday, Nov. 23 at Pebble Beach. The winner will earn $60,000. Tee shot yardage advantages are given to various tours’ players on each of the three courses.
Admission is free throughout the tournament on all three courses.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the professional field we have selected for this year’s tournament, all of whom will be attempting to dethrone our defending champion, Tommy Armour III,” said first-year tournament director Bill Sendell.

Ryan Palmer, who claimed his second career win last Sunday at the Ginn sur Mer Classic in Florida, will also be among 29 PGA Tour entrants.

Rocco Mediate, second this year in a Monday playoff to Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open, will be joined by Armour, Palmer and more than a half-dozen former Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational titlists.

Kevin Sutherland, who won the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational in 2000 and has two runner-up finishes this season, is currently the top PGA Tour money list entrant in 18th place with mor e than $2,5 million.

John Cook, who finished fifth on the money list this season, will lead nine Champions Tour entrants. Brittany Lincicome, one of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour and a 2007 Solheim Cup member, will lead seven LPGA Tour entrants. The 14 entrants from the Nationwide Tour will include nine players who will be competing on the PGA Tour in 2009.

“Sunday’s final should be a special day as spectators have the opportunity to walk along with some of the world’s greatest players at Pebble Beach Golf Links as they vie for the professional title,” said Sendell. “Perhaps the most exciting thing is that there is no charge for spectators to enjoy the tournament.”

Armour, who turned age 49 in October, is a two-time PGA Tour event winner. He ended more than a four-year winless streak with his Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational victory last year.

After beginning the final round with a one-stroke lead over Ronnie Black, Armour shot a 2-under-par 70 final round at Pebble Beach en route to a 16-under 272 total and a two-stroke victory over Black and Mediate.

“I just played good all week and never had a three-putt,” said Armour, whose last PGA Tour win was the 2003 Valero Texas Open in a still-record 34-under par. “I told myself this morning that I had to shoot 70 to win. I shot 70.”

The Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational benefits The Kiwanis Club of Monterey County and the AT&T Pebble Beach Junior Golf Association.

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