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World No. 5 Steve Stricker to Compete for First Time
NAPLES, Fla. - Host Greg Norman announced today that the 24-player field is complete as The Franklin Templeton Shootout readies for another excitement-filled week at Tiburón Golf Club December 5-9.
Among the players to join the field is Steve Stricker, who has ascended to the fifth position in the Official World Golf Ranking. Stricker, who finished second in the inaugural FedEx Cup standings, had one of the strongest second half performances of the 2007 PGA TOUR season.
"Steve's remarkable run started last year when his peers voted him Comeback Player of the Year," said Norman. "Then he came out this season and played even better. His presence greatly enhances what I believe is the best field we have assembled since moving to Naples seven years ago."
Starting with a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at the Wachovia Championship in May, Stricker accumulated six of his nine top-10 finishes through September and went on to earn three points for the U.S. side in the Presidents Cup. Included in his stellar run was an emotional victory at The Barclays, his first TOUR victory since 2001 and the first of three straight top-10s in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Norman also announced 2007 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year candidate Anthony Kim will make his initial Shootout appearance. Returning Shootout veterans include Jeff Sluman, Scott Hoch, Scott McCarron and Steve Elkington, who have amassed 41 tournament appearances. Sluman, McCarron and Elkington have combined to win eight Franklin Templeton Shootout titles.
Norman intends to assemble the teams and announce all 12 pairings for the 24-player event by the end of October.
Among the commitments to the 19th edition of The Franklin Templeton Shootout are eight winners on the 2007 PGA Tour schedule-- Woody Austin, Charles Howell III, Fred Funk, Mark Calcavecchia, Scott Verplank, Justin Leonard, Stricker and two-time champion Zach Johnson, who donned the Green Jacket after a two-shot victory over Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini at the Masters in April.
Norman previously announced commitments from defending champions Jerry Kelly and Rod Pampling; nine-time TOUR winner Kenny Perry; four-time TOUR champion Stewart Cink; Hall of Fame member Nick Price; 2005 Presidents Cup star Chris DiMarco; three-time Shootout winner Fred Couples; two-time major champions John Daly and Mark O'Meara; and international star Camilo Villegas, who recorded three top ten finishes in the four FedEx Cup playoff events.
Norman will appear in his 19th Franklin Templeton Shootout. First-time competitors are Austin, Johnson, Kim, Stricker and Villegas. DiMarco will be making his first appearance in Naples.
Eight of the 24 players in the field earned a spot in the TOUR Championship, a field limited to the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings. Five of those -- Calcavecchia, Cink, Stricker, Verplank and Villegas -- had a combined 10 top-ten finishes during the four-week FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Austin, Cink, Howell III, Johnson, Stricker and Verplank all were members of the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team. The sixsome recorded a record of 15-8-3 at Royal Montreal and Cink secured the winning point for the U.S. team Sunday. Verplank led the group with a 4-0-0 individual record.
The Franklin Templeton Shootout, widely regarded as the PGA Tour's premier post-season event, will once again feature a modified alternate-shot format during the first round, a better ball Saturday and a final-round scramble. In 2007, Golf Channel will televise Friday and NBC will broadcast the weekend competition.
Alphabetical List of Participating Professionals
Tickets for the $2.8 million event are on sale now. Orders can be placed three ways - calling 888-66-SHARK, visiting Alf's Golf Shop in Naples or visiting www.thesharkshootout.com.
For the latest Franklin Templeton Shootout news and information, please visit the official tournament Website at www.thesharkshootout.com.
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