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An impressive field has descended on Naples this week for the 18th annual Franklin Templeton Shootout. Here are some interesting facts about the career accomplishments of this special group:
FIRST-TIME SHOOTOUT PARTICIPANTS: The largest number of Shootout rookies since The Franklin Templeton Shootout moved to Naples will compete this week. Six players are new to the competition J.J. Henry, J.B. Holmes, Trevor Immelman, Rod Pampling, Annika Sorenstam, Scott Verplank.
QUALIFIED FOR YEAR-END CHAMPIONSHIPS: Six of the 24 players in the field have qualified for their respective season-ending championships. On the PGA Tour, the Tour Championship was held last week at East Lake in Atlanta, Ga.
Chad Campbell, J.J. Henry, Trevor Immelman, Rod Pampling and Rory Sabbatini competed in the field, which consists of the top 30 money winners on TOUR. Next week, Annika Sorenstam will participate in the LPGA's year-end championship, the ADT Championship, at Trump International in West Palm Beach.
GIVING BACK: Franklin Templeton Shootout host Greg Norman is one of many in the field who offers assistance to charitable causes. This week is all about continuing the fight against childhood cancer through CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Thirteen competitors have specific charities they work with year-round:
- Kenny Perry: Donates 5 percent of his winnings to Lipscomb University to provide scholarships.
- Fred Couples: Hosts event in Seattle to raise money for the Millie Medlin Violet Sobich Couples Fund he started in his mother's honor.
- John Daly: Participates in many charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation along with Boys & Girls Club.
- Steve Elkington: Volunteers as a youth instructor in his hometown elementary school system.
- Brad Faxon: Billy Andrade-Brad Faxon Charities for Children.
- Fred Funk: Heavily involved in local sports and recreation fundraising in hometown.
- Scott Hoch: Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital in Orlando.
- Justin Leonard: Hosts AJGA golf tournament with proceeds going to Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation.
- Mark O'Meara: Constantly raising awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis in honor former caddie Donnie Wanstall.
- Rory Sabbatini: Intrepid Fallen Hero Fund for soldiers and their families.
- Jeff Sluman: Teamed with Office Max to create "Drive for Hope" to raise money for City of Hope and other charities.
- Annika Sorenstam: Involved with Make-A-Wish Foundation.
- Scott Verplank: Co-chair of The Next Level at Oklahoma State University which raises funds for athletic department.
CAREER VICTORIES: The 24 players in the field have 249 total victories.
INITIALS: Two players in the Shootout prefer to be called by their initials J.J. Henry and J.B. Holmes. What do the initials stand for? For Holmes it is John Bradley and for Henry it is John Jr.
WORLD GOLF RANKINGS: Six players in the field are ranked among the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings Immelman (13th) Campbell (24th), Pampling (26th), Sabbatini (34th), Verplank (47th) and Perry (49th).
MAKING THE CUT: Ernie Els leads the tour in most consecutive cuts made with 41. Two players in the field are second and third in that category. Funk has 16 and Immelman has been in the money 14 consecutive times.
WEST COAST SWING WINNER: Sabbatini won the tour's West Coast Swing competition earlier this year on the strength of his victory at the Nissan Open. He edged Campbell by 45 points. Sabbatini had four top-10 finishes in six starts and was leading the tour money list for the first time in his career with $2 million in earnings.
HOT IN THE FALL: Sorenstam is certainly the hottest player coming into The Franklin Templeton Shootout. She won three weeks ago on the LPGA Tour and was second in Japan this week. Fred Funk also captured a Champions Tour event a few weeks back.
TOP-10 TALENT: Two players in the Shootout field are ranked among the top 20 on the PGA Tour this year with top-10 finishes. Immelman is ninth with seven top-10 finishes in his 23 starts. Pampling is 13th with six top-10s.
JD's LONGEST DRIVE: Daly's longest recorded drive of the season was 397 this year. His playing partner, J.B. Holmes managed to launch one 413 yards, which is ranked seventh longest of the year.
SPEAKING OF DRIVERS: During the year, Holmes is ranked second with a 318.8-yard driving average. Daly, meanwhile, is fifth with a 307.1 average.
EAGLE OPPORTUNITIES: On the entire PGA Tour roster, Holmes leads the eagle category. He is averaging one eagle per every 72.9 holes he plays.
U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONS: Three past U.S. Amateur Champions are in the field. They are Justin Leonard (1992), Scott Verplank (1984) and Mark O'Meara (1979).
NCAA DIVISION I INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS: Two NCAA individual champions are in the field, and it just so happens they are the same Shootout team Justin Leonard (1994) and Scott Verplank (1986).
MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES: Included in the field are 11 major champions who have combined for 30 major championship titles including Greg Norman (1986 and 1993 British Open), who is joined by Nick Faldo (1987 British Open, 1989 Masters, 1990 Masters, 1990 British Open, 1992 British Open, 1996 Masters), Annika Sorenstam (1995 U.S. Women's Open, 1996 U.S. Women's Open, 2001 Kraft Nabisco Championship, 2002 Kraft Nabisco Championship, 2003 LPGA Championship, 2003 Women's British Open, 2004 LPGA Championship, 2005 Kraft Nabisco Championship, 2005 LPGA Championship, 2006 U.S. Women's Open), Nick Price (1984 British Open, 1984 PGA Championship, 1992 PGA Championship), Mark O'Meara (1998 Masters and 1998 British Open), John Daly (1991 PGA Championship, 1995 British Open), Fred Couples (1992 Masters), Steve Elkington (1995 PGA Championship), Mark Calcavecchia (1989 British Open), Justin Leonard (1997 British Open) and Jeff Sluman (1988 PGA Championship).
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