In addition to prominent Avis logo placement on the LED scoreboards throughout the PGA TOUR Regular Season, PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and Fall Series, the program includes business development opportunities for Avis in addition to unique promotions. Avis will also have placement on the official PGA TOUR website (www.pgatour.com), tie-ins to television programming and national advertising opportunities in print and broadcast channels. PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to approximately 715 million households in 225 countries and territories in 29 languages annually.

“Reaching customers through partnerships with world-class brands like PGA TOUR is part of our integrated marketing strategy,” said Jeannine Haas, chief marketing officer for Avis Budget Group, parent company of Avis. “We look forward to driving rentals and generating new business leads while providing the PGA TOUR and golf fans around the globe with high-quality vehicles and a consistently outstanding rental experience.”

“We are excited to announce this new long-term marketing partnership with Avis,” said Tom Wade, chief marketing officer of the PGA TOUR. “Avis has an outstanding reputation as a leader in the car rental industry, which is important in our efforts to provide the best possible benefits to our players and their families. We look forward to working with Avis to build its presence on our three Tours and to develop exciting new programs that are mutually beneficial to Avis and the PGA TOUR.”

The PGA TOUR partnership builds upon Avis’ commitment to excellence and ‘trying harder.’ In July, Avis teamed up with Steve Stricker <http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/65/27/> , an eleven-time champion on the PGA TOUR, who serves as an advocate for Avis and wears the iconic Avis logo on his shirts and outerwear. “It’s great to see Avis expand their involvement in golf by becoming an official partner of the PGA TOUR,” said Stricker. “I look forward to seeing my name on the Avis scoreboards throughout the season.”

# # #

Kathy Connors
Principal & Founder
KMC Consulting
kathyconnors@cox.net
703-980-8328
@KMCConsults

KAPALUA, MAUI, HAWAII (January 9, 2012) – Steve Stricker always believed experience would go a long way toward winning the PGA Tour season opener at Kapalua.

This wasn’t the kind he was thinking about.

No other player is more accustomed to building a big lead, blowing a big lead, and then settling down to win. That’s just what Stricker did Monday on Maui, when he won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions with a final round that only looked easy on paper.

“I’ve been there before. It’s not a great feeling, either,” Stricker said after closing with a 4-under 69 for a three-shot victory over Martin Laird. “It’s just the nature of our game. I realize that, and I’ve gone through it before. It always seems close, and you always have to perform to get it done.”

Ultimately, that’s just what he did.

It took only six holes for him to see his five-shot lead dwindle to one. After another mental mistake led to bogey, Stricker stood behind the sixth green staring at the ground, shaking his head, disgusted with himself. It was during that long walk down the seventh fairway, the Pacific Ocean on the horizon, when Stricker reminded himself that at least he was still in the lead.

And that’s where he stayed.

He buried a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth, hit a pitch to tap-in range for birdie on the ninth to build his lead back to three, and then it was a matter of hanging on.

It was the fourth time in his last 35 tournaments that he had at least a four-shot lead at some point in the final round. At least they all had the same outcome. Stricker hit sand wedge to 2 feet for birdie on the 16th to keep a two-shot cushion, then birdied the final hole for the best prize he could ever imagine.

Along with the winner’s lei draped around his neck, his two daughters — 13-year-old Bobbi Maria and 5-year-old Isabella — rushed onto the green to give him a hug.

“It was tough,” said Stricker, who finished at 23-under 269. “I never let up today. It’s always tough trying to win, and it’s even more tough when you have a lead like I did. I’m very proud of what I did today.

“And it’s always cool to get a hug from your family walking off at the end.”

Stricker held back tears — they usually flow freely after a win — perhaps a sign that he’s getting used to this business of winning. It was his ninth PGA Tour win since he turned 40, and his eighth title in his last 50 tournaments. He moved up to No. 5 in the world.

Perhaps even more satisfying is that four months ago, Stricker felt weakness in his left arm from a lingering neck injury and contemplated surgery. He decided to treat it with therapy and a few cortisone shots, and it turned out to be a good move.

A guy whose goal every year is to get back to Kapalua for the winners-only season opener can already make reservations for next year.

Laird, Webb Simpson and Jonathan Byrd each got within one shot of Stricker on the front nine, but not for long.

“I think probably the most underrated player in the world is Steve Stricker,” Laird said.

Laird closed with a 67, and his birdie on the last hole put him alone in second place, which at least helps him start building world ranking points toward trying to make Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the first time.

Byrd kept most of the pressure on Stricker along the back nine of the Plantation Course. He was two shots behind when he stuffed his wedge into 4 feet on the 16th, but then Stricker followed with his sand wedge to 2 feet. Byrd’s hopes ended when he bogeyed the 17th, then put his approach on the par-5 18th into the bunker and made par. He closed with a 68 and tied for third with Simpson (68).

The PGA Tour got off to a good start, too. There was so much focus at the start of the week on who didn’t show up at Kapalua for this winners-only event — three major champions, all of whom live overseas, along with three players who are recovering from injury.

Stricker was the highest-ranked American in the field, and played the best golf.

It just didn’t always look that way.

This was the fourth time in the last two years that Stricker led a big lead turn into some nervous moments on the last day.

– At the John Deere Classic in July, he watched a five-shot lead with nine holes to play turn into a two-shot deficit with two holes to play before he rallied to beat Kyle Stanley with an exquisite birdie on the last hole.

– At the Memorial in June, he had a four-shot lead at the turn and was still three shots clear with five to play. He held on to win by one.

– At Riviera in 2010, his six-shot lead going into the final round was down to two shots after only six holes. Stricker steadied himself and went on to win by two.

Monday on Maui was not much different.

Byrd made three straight putts early in the round, two of them for birdie, and Simpson in the group ahead made an eagle at No. 5. Stricker settle for pars, which was not a problem as long as he took care of the birdie holes.

But he didn’t. Stricker three-putted for par from just over 30 feet on the fifth, then hit a fluffy pitch that came up short of the sixth green and let to bogey as Byrd made another birdie for a two-shot swing.

Stricker stood at the back of the green while Byrd was making his putt, shaking his head, clearly flustered. It only took six holes for his five-shot lead to shrink to a single stroke, with 12 holes ahead of him. His next birdie putt didn’t even come close.

But on the hole that has given him fits this week, Stricker hit a pure shot into 25 feet on the par-3 eighth and made it for birdie, then birdied the ninth to regain control.

http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/steve-stricker-opens-year-first-win-in-hyundai-tournament-champions

Enjoy a round of golf, then relax and unwind at the neighboring St. Regis Princeville Resort with the “Nine, Wine & Dine” package. This program includes 9 holes of afternoon golf on the Makai Golf Course (play starts after 3 p.m.) and a $50 gift certificate for use at any of The St. Regis Princeville Resort’s restaurants, lounges, or Halele’a Spa. The Nine, Wine & Dine package is priced at $110 per person.

For players who want to enjoy multiple rounds, Makai Golf Club offers two multi-round passes that provide substantial savings over the standard 18-hole rate ($220 at the Makai Course for prime tee times). The “Makai Golf Pass” provides three 18-hole rounds for $435 (additional rounds may be added for $145 each) to be used within a seven-day period. The “Makai Golf Week” provides six rounds of golf at $720, to be used within 30 days. These multi-round passes are nontransferable but may be used for rounds on both the 18-hole Makai and 9-hole Woods courses, as well as Makai Golf Shop merchandise. Golf World magazine named Makai Golf Club to its annual list of “America’s 100 Best Golf Shops” for 2011.

The Makai Golf Club offers free golf for juniors age 15 and under at any time, any day, and juniors age 16 and 17 receive 50% off green fees. In keeping with the Troon Family Golf program, juniors can also use complimentary Callaway rental clubs while on the course. To qualify for this offer, each junior player must be accompanied by a paying adult (one free junior per one paying adult). If one adult accompanies two or three juniors, one plays free and the other young players will be offered 50% off the adult rate.

All of the above 2012 rates are subject to Hawaii state taxes and may be subject to change.

The magnificent 27-hole Makai Golf Club on Kauai’s north shore was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. in 1971 and features two uniquely individual courses:  the 18-hole Makai Course, incorporating serene lakes and stunning ocean coastline; and the 9-hole Woods Course, winding through native woodlands against a backdrop of magnificent mountain views. The courses reopened in early 2010 after an extensive 14-month renovation to the Makai Course under Jones’ direction. The Makai is in immaculate condition and has received rave reviews since its renovation including rankings as one of Hawaii’s top courses by both Golf Digest and Golf magazines.

For more information, rates, or to reserve tee times at Makai Golf Club, call (808) 826-1912 or visit www.MakaiGolf.com.

About Troon Golf
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon Golf is the world’s largest golf management company, overseeing operations at properties located in 30 states and 23 countries. Additionally, 45 Troon Golf facilities enjoy a Top 100 ranking by national or international publications. Troon Golf properties include Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany, Italy; Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif; Brookwater Golf & Country Club, Queensland, Australia; Mazagan Beach Golf Resort, El Jadida, Morocco; and La Quinta Golf & Country Club, Spain.

# # # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Candy Aluli, President
Aluli Public Relations
117 Hui F Road, Napili, Maui, HI  96761
Phone (808) 669-1993    Fax (808) 665-9863

For golfers who want to play Poipu Bay more than once, the course’s 2012 “Grand Slam Package” offers three rounds of golf for a discounted price, with the requirement that all three rounds must be completed within 10 days after date of purchase. The package includes green fees, shared golf cart, use of the GPS (global positioning system) and driving range, and three rounds at Poipu Bay for $425 plus tax. For guests staying at the adjacent Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, the package is offered at $367 plus tax. The Grand Slam Package price represents a substantial savings off the 2012 single-round green fee at Poipu Bay, which is $160 for Grand Hyatt guests and $240 for non-Hyatt guests. Once purchased, the Grand Slam Package is nonrefundable, but rounds are transferable to a spouse or child of the purchaser.

For those who just can’t get enough of Poipu Bay, the course offers two additional multi-round packages, providing discounts to individuals who pre-purchase five or ten rounds of golf. The five-round Prepaid Golf Package price is $660 plus tax; the ten-round package price is $1,200 plus tax. Additional savings are offered to guests of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. Each golfer’s Prepaid Golf card will be kept on file at the Poipu Bay Golf Shop for easy access and check-in for their rounds. All rounds of golf on the Prepaid Packages must be used within 30 days of payment. The packages are nonrefundable, but rounds are transferable to a spouse or child of the purchaser.

Poipu Bay now offers an Afternoon rate of $145 for play starting after 12 noon ($135 for guests of the Grand Hyatt) and a Twilight Special of $85 for play starting after 2:30 p.m. (play must end by 6 p.m.). For those who want to play 36 holes in one day, the course offers a Second Round/Same Day rate of $55. A nine-hole rate of $105 is offered between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. (some restrictions apply). Junior golfers are welcome at Poipu Bay. Young golfers age 17 and under can play the course for 50% off the adult rate at any time of day. After 4 p.m., junior golfers can play free if walking the course with an accompanying adult ($10 fee for the adult).

All of the above rates and special packages are subject to Hawaii state taxes and are subject to change without notice. For more information or to book tee times, call the Poipu Bay Golf Shop at toll free 1-800-858-6300 or direct (808) 742-8711. Visit Poipu Bay’s website at www.poipubaygolf.com.

# # # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Candy Aluli, President
Aluli Public Relations
117 Hui F Road, Napili, Maui, HI  96761
Phone (808) 669-1993    Fax (808) 665-9863

“The Hyundai Tournament of Champions has a world-class field with 28 champions from the 2011 PGA TOUR season. The field includes an interesting continuation of what happened on TOUR in 2011, with established veteran players like Steve Stricker, THE PLAYERS champion K.J. Choi and David Toms playing at Kapalua. The Hyundai Tournament of Champions will also host a number of players who emerged in 2011 and captured the imagination of our fans with compelling performances on big stages,” said Tournament Director Nancy Cross.

Generation Next:

• Young stars in the Hyundai field include FedExCup champion Bill Haas, PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year and major champion (PGA Championship) Keegan Bradley, and multiple 2011 tournament winners Webb Simpson and Nick Watney;
• Of the players in the field, 13 won events in 2011 while they were still in their 20s accounting for 15 victories;
• Five of the record six rookies who accounted for seven victories in 2011 will tee it up at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions: Jhonattan Vegas (Bob Hope Classic); Brendan Steele (Valero Texas Open); Chris Kirk (Viking Classic); Scott Stallings (The Greenbrier Classic); and Keegan Bradley (HP Byron Nelson Championship and PGA Championship);
• 12 of the 14 first-time winners on the PGA TOUR in 2011 are in the field.

The Veterans:

• Steve Stricker, Bubba Watson, K.J. Choi, David Toms and Mark Wilson are among the veteran contingent. These five (Stricker/11 – Choi/8 – Toms/13 – Wilson/4 – Watson/3) have combined for a total of 39 TOUR wins and all but Wilson were members of their respective Presidents Cup teams in November.
  • Sticker will be playing in the event for the sixth time and the fourth since 2008 when he recorded his best finish at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions – a playoff-loss to Daniel Chopra. Stricker, who won at the Memorial Tournament and the John Deere Classic, is one of six players in the field who won multiple times on the PGA TOUR in 2011.
  • Watson won twice in 2011 with both wins coming down to the wire. His victory at the Farmer’s Insurance Open came after a sensational up and down on the 18th hole for birdie before watching Phil Mickelson’s attempt for birdie from the fairway to tie for the lead finish just short of the hole. Watson’s second win of 2011 came in a playoff with Webb Simpson at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Watson had one of the more memorable shots in Hyundai Tournament of Champions history when he carved a driver off the fairway that reached the green in two on the par 5 18th hole.
  • Choi is also playing in his sixth Hyundai Tournament of Champions and also has a runner-up finish, when he finished T2 in 2003 to Ernie Els. Choi defeated fellow veteran David Toms in a playoff at the famous island-green 17th hole at THE PLAYERS to qualify for this year’s field.
  • Of the players in the field, David Toms, 45, has the most top-10 finishes at this event (4). Toms 13 career PGA TOUR victories are the most of any player in the field this week. Following his disheartening playoff-loss to Choi at TPC Sawgrass, Toms showed incredible resolve by winning the next week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He will be playing in the event for the eighth time in his career, but his first since 2007. Toms’ best finish at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions is a runner-up finish in 2002.
  • Mark Wilson may have been the best player on TOUR for a portion of the early 2011 season with victories at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Wilson will be making his third trip to Kapalua

Multiple winners:

• The field includes six of the seven multiple winners from 2011 (Bradley, Simpson, Stricker, Watney, Watson and Wilson)
  • Keegan Bradley – HP Byron Nelson Championship, PGA Championship
  • Webb Simpson – Wyndham Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship
  • Steve Stricker – the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance
  • Nick Watney – World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, AT&T National
  • Bubba Watson – Farmers Insurance Open, Zurich Classic of New Orleans
  • Mark Wilson – Sony Open in Hawaii, Waste Management Phoenix Open

Final Field:
Aaron Baddeley
Keegan Bradley
Michael Bradley
Jonathan Byrd
K.J. Choi
Ben Crane
Harrison Frazar
Lucas Glover
Bill Haas
Chris Kirk
Martin Laird
Bryce Molder
Kevin Na
Sean O’Hair
Scott Piercy
D.A. Points
Rory Sabbatini
Webb Simpson
Scott Stallings
Brendan Steele
Steve Stricker
David Toms
Jhonattan Vegas
Johnson Wagner
Nick Watney
Bubba Watson
Mark Wilson
Gary Woodland

Fans and media are reminded to “Like” the tournament’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HyundaiTOC for the latest tournament updates.

Tickets for competition rounds Jan. 6-9 are on sale now at www.pgatour.com/Hyundai. Limited spots in the tournament’s pro-am on Thursday, Jan. 5, remain available. Those interested in being a part of the pro-am should contact the Hyundai Tournament of Champions tournament office at 808-665-9160 or toll-free at 888-665-9160 for more information.

Reminders – New to the tournament in 2012:
- The tournament dates for official play for the 2012 event begin with the Pro-am on Thursday, January 5, continuing with four rounds of professional competition Friday, January 6, through Monday, January 9. The tournament is now scheduled to end on Monday, as opposed to Sunday.
- Thursday’s pro-am round will be free to all spectators.
- The tournament will allow all youth  18 years-old and under accompanied by a ticketed adult into the tournament free of charge all week long.
- Military (active duty, retired and reserve) and their dependents will also be permitted onsite for free for the entire week. Military members should bring their military ID to the gate for admission.

About Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2011 Hyundai Motor America. www.hyundainews.com

About Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the season-opening event of the PGA TOUR and held at the legendary Plantation Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore in Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii. The tournament’s unique format allows only champions from the 2011 PGA TOUR season to qualify for this one-of-a-kind winners-only event. During their stay, tournament guests enjoy world-class accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Since 1999, the host organizations of the event have distributed nearly $3.8 million to the Maui community.

# # #

Contact: Chris Reimer, PGA TOUR, 904-273-3286, chrisreimer@pgatourhq.com

Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii (December 16, 2011) – Tournament officials at the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions continued to announce player commitments on the tournament’s Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/HyundaiTOC) this week as 2011 PGA TOUR winners Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas and Lucas Glover all announced their plans to compete. The 2012 PGA TOUR season kicks off January 5-9 at The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort with this unique winners-only event.

The player making the most headlines this week of the list above is Keegan Bradley, who was just named 2011 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year. Bradley’s season included his first career PGA TOUR victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship and was later followed by his memorable playoff victory at the PGA Championship in his first start at a major championship. Bradley and fellow recent commitment Brendan Steele partnered to win the Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout this past weekend. Steele was also one of six PGA TOUR rookies to win in 2011 with his win at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

Jhonattan Vegas was another PGA TOUR rookie to win in 2011. Vegas’ playoff victory at the Humana Challenge made him the first Venezuela-born player to win on the PGA TOUR and helped him become the first rookie to ever lead the FedExCup standings at any point in the season.

Lucas Glover will bring his experience winning three PGA TOUR events including the U.S. Open and last year’s Wells Fargo Championship to Kapalua. His win at Quail Hollow came in dramatic fashion in a playoff over Clemson teammate and 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions winner Jonathan Byrd. Glover will be playing in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions for the third time in his career, with his best finish (6th) coming in 2006.

Webb Simpson played as well as any other player on TOUR this year with victories at the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Wyndham Championship as well as two other runner-up finishes. Webb racked up 12 top-10 finishes and finished 2nd in the FedExCup. He will be making his first trip to Kapalua in 2012.

Tournament officials have also announced a complimentary shuttle on Sunday, Jan. 8, and Monday, Jan. 9, from Whalers Village to the Plantation Course at Kapalua (actual pick-up location will be between Whalers Village and Westin by the benches).

From Whalers Village to Plantation Course:     From Plantation Course to Whalers Village:
Sunday, January 8                                                       Sunday, January 8
Departs every half hour starting at 7:45am     Departs every half hour starting at 8:15am
(Last departure at 3:15pm)                                     (Last departure at 5:15pm)

Monday, January 9                                                     Monday, January 9
Departs every half hour starting at 7:15am     Departs every half hour starting at 7:15am
(Last departure at 1:45pm)                                     (Last departure at 1:45pm)

Fans and media are reminded to “Like” the tournament’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HyundaiTOC for the latest updates on commitments and a behind-the-scenes look at how the tournament is shaping up.

Tickets for competition rounds Jan. 6-9 are on sale now at www.pgatour.com/Hyundai. Limited spots in the tournament’s pro-am on Thursday, Jan. 5, remain available. Those interested in being a part of the pro-am should contact the Hyundai Tournament of Champions tournament office at 808-665-9160 or toll-free at 888-665-9160 for more information.

Reminders – New to the tournament in 2012:

• The tournament dates for official play for the 2012 event begin with the Pro-am on Thursday, Jan. 5, continuing with four rounds of professional competition Friday, Jan. 6, through Monday, Jan. 9. The tournament is now scheduled to end on Monday, as opposed to Sunday.
• Thursday’s pro-am round will be free to all spectators.
• The tournament will allow all youth 18 years-old and under accompanied by a ticketed adult into the tournament free of charge all week long.
• Military (active duty, retired and reserve) and their dependents will also be permitted onsite for free for the entire week. Military members should bring their military ID to the gate for admission.

About Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2011 Hyundai Motor America. www.hyundainews.com

About Hyundai Tournament of Champions

Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the season-opening event of the PGA TOUR and held at the legendary Plantation Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore in Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii. The tournament’s unique format allows only champions from the 2011 PGA TOUR season to qualify for this one-of-a-kind winners-only event. During their stay, tournament guests enjoy world-class accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Since 1999, the host organizations of the event have distributed nearly $3.8 million to the Maui community.

PGA TOUR

112 PGA TOUR Boulevard | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 | tel 904.285.3700 web PGATOUR.COM

Together, anything’s possible.

The commitment announcements began on Tuesday, as defending champion and five-time PGA TOUR winner Jonathan Byrd hosted a teleconference with local and national media followed by a chat with fans on Facebook. Byrd, who won last year in a playoff against Robert Garrigus, finished the 2011 season a career-best No. 27 in the final FedExCup standings.

“Every victory in your career means a lot. But for me, last year (at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions) was my biggest victory on TOUR to date,” Byrd said. “I’ve won five times… Hyundai has a small field, but it’s the best field I’ve won against in 10 years on TOUR. To win the first tournament of the year, the Tournament of Champions, wow, what a great feeling starting the season.”

Mark Wilson was the best player on TOUR for a portion of the early 2011 season with victories at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Wilson will be playing at Kapalua for the third time in his career. Wilson finished No. 22 in the FedExCup standings, reaching the FedExCup season finale, the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, for the first time in his career.

David Toms’ path to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions was one of the more unique journeys of all of the players who have qualified for the 2012 event. Toms nearly made THE PLAYERS Championship his 13th PGA TOUR career victory, but a missed 3½-foot putt on the first hole of a playoff with K.J. Choi at the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, that left Toms with a second-place finish. But instead of staying mired in disappointment, Toms rebounded the very next week to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

“I’m not dreaming, am I? This is actually happening, right,” Toms asked after his victory at Colonial. “To come back, after what happened (at THE PLAYERS), is probably the most satisfying victory I’ve ever had out of all of the ones, even the major championship, even winning in my home state, to win after this time frame and to come back after what happened, certainly means more to me than any other victory.”

Toms, who is a die hard LSU Tiger fan, will play in Monday’s final round at this year’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions and then immediately find a place to watch his Tigers take on the University of Alabama in the NCAA’s BCS Title game. Toms will be teeing it up for the ninth time at Kapalua , finishing runner up in 2002.

Like Wilson and Byrd, Nick Watney also enjoyed a career season on the PGA TOUR in 2011. So good, in fact, that the 30-year-old is on the short list of candidates for 2011 PGA TOUR Player of the Year. For the season, Watney won twice, first at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship and again at the AT&T National. For the season Watney collected 10 top-10 finishes and ended the year at No. 9 in the FedExCup standings.

Finally, 2011 PGA TOUR rookie Chris Kirk was one of six rookies to account for seven PGA TOUR victories in 2011. Kirk won the Viking Classic during a season in which he recorded 4 top-10 finishes, including his victory, and a runner-up finish at the Shell Houston Open. Kirk nearly reached the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, finishing 42nd in the FedExCup standings.

Fans and media are reminded to “Like” the tournament’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HyundaiTOC for the latest updates on commitments and other information.

Tickets for competition rounds Jan. 6-9 are on sale now at www.pgatour.com/Hyundai. Limited spots in the tournament’s pro-am on Thursday, Jan. 5, remain available. Those interested in being a part of the pro-am should contact the Hyundai Tournament of Champions tournament office at 808-665-9160 or toll-free at 888-665-9160 for more information.

Reminders – New to the tournament in 2012:
– The tournament dates for official play for the 2012 event begin with the Pro-am on Thursday, January 5, continuing with four rounds of professional competition Friday, January 6, through Monday, January 9. The tournament is now scheduled to end on Monday, as opposed to Sunday.
– Thursday’s pro-am round will be free to all spectators.
– The tournament will allow all youth 18 years-old and under accompanied by a ticketed adult into the tournament free of charge all week long.
– Military (active duty, retired and reserve) and their dependents will also be permitted onsite for free for the entire week. Military members should bring their military ID to the gate for admission.

Follow the tournament on Facebook to get updates and a behind-the-scenes look at how the tournament is shaping up. Go to www.facebook.com and search for Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

About Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2011 Hyundai Motor America. www.hyundainews.com

About Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the season-opening event of the PGA TOUR and held at the legendary Plantation Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore in Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii. The tournament’s unique format allows only champions from the 2011 PGA TOUR season to qualify for this one-of-a-kind winners-only event. During their stay, tournament guests enjoy world-class accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Since 1999, the host organizations of the event have distributed nearly $3.8 million to the Maui community.

Contact: Chris Reimer, PGA TOUR, 904-273-3286, chrisreimer@pgatourhq.com

“We are excited about the refined improvements to the entire facility, which will elevate the golf experience for our guests,” says Mark Scheibach, Vice President of Golf Development for Heritage Links. “We have decided to allow more time to undertake a more thorough renovation of the clubhouse, develop a new ultimate driving range, extend the new turf grow-in period, and provide up-training for staff to deliver a higher level of customer service. We look forward to unveiling the Prince on March 1 as a world-class course with five-star service.”

The Prince has been closed since January 29 for an extensive renovation project, including complete reconstruction of putting greens with SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum turf and sub-surface material to meet modern USGA specifications; remodeling of bunkers to improve drainage, playability, visibility, and strategic value; clearing of fairways, stream edges, and visual impediments surrounding holes that have encroached upon the design intent of the course over the years; widening of fairways; reshaping of greens while recapturing hole locations that were lost due to green surfaces shrinking; tee leveling and addition of new tees for added shot value and variety; and improvements to ensure the course will be consistently maintained in superb condition. The 13-acre driving range and practice facility is also undergoing a creative renovation and expansion. The entrance to the course will be updated with new features and landscaping, and the spectacular 60,000-square-foot Prince clubhouse will be refurbished, including creation of golf-specific locker rooms and a newly designed golf shop.

Heritage Links is managing the course renovation work and will manage golf and club operations when the course reopens. The award-winning firm of Robert Trent Jones II, Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) is serving as lead architect on the project under the direction of Chairman and Master Architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., who designed the Prince Course, which was completed in 1990.

“We are very excited about the ongoing improvements at the course that will further elevate the Prince’s continual position in America’s Top 100 golf courses,” notes Jones. “We trust all golfers will appreciate these adjustments, and we invite you in March to come experience for yourselves what happens when Mother Nature and great golf coexist so beautifully.”

The Prince Golf Course, on Kauai’s lush north shore, is known equally for its challenging play, breathtaking natural beauty, and magnificent layout that follows the natural contours of the land, encompassing 350 acres of rolling terrain, tropical jungle, gullies, streams, and waterfalls. In recent years, the Prince was consistently ranked as the number one course in Hawaii and is recognized on Golf Digest’s prestigious list of “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” for 2011/2012. For more information on the Prince Course, call toll-free 1-800-826-1105, direct (808) 826-5001, or visit www.princeville.com.

About RTJ II:
With headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., Robert Trent Jones II, Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) is the preeminent golf design firm worldwide. Trustees of a great tradition of golf course architecture, RTJ II is committed to working in harmony with nature to craft the best golf course on each unique site. The RTJ II design team has experience in every aspect of golf course development and the ability to provide support and expertise from conception through completion of any project. For additional information contact the firm at +1 650-475-0329 or on the website at www.rtj2.com.

Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii (November 2, 2011) –On the heels of the tournament’s recent announcement regarding their 2012 direct charity beneficiaries, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions announced the launch of a new program, Golf for Maui Charities giving 501c3 organizations the opportunity to promote the sale of tickets to this year’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions with 100 percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the ticket going back to their charity. The Hyundai Tournament of Champions marks the start of the 2012 PGA TOUR season, January 5-9 at The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort.

The Golf for Maui Charities program was announced on October 27 at a charity reception at Café O’Lei at The Dunes at Maui Lani, attended by representatives from more than 30 Maui charities. This is the first year of the program.

“Maui is extremely proud to be hosting the Hyundai Tournament of Champions again in January. Our Maui County Office of Economic Development realizes that events such as this one continue to put Maui on the map as not only a world class destination, but a world class place to hold athletic and sporting events,” said Director of Maui County Office of Economic Development Teena Rasmussen. “The economic ripple effect of this tournament is a huge boost for our businesses and workforce. We are particularly happy to have Hyundai as the title sponsor, as it has been a goal of Mayor Arakawa and our administration to forge new relationships with South Korea. We want to thank the PGA TOUR for their continued support and look forward to their return in January.”

Representing Sacred Hearts School, Joanna Stockham added, “We’re going to sell more tickets than anyone. We’ve got plans to totally renovate our cafeteria/auditorium and are so appreciative of this opportunity to participate in the Golf for Maui Charities.”

The ticket available through Golf for Maui Charities is a weekly grounds ticket for $40. All proceeds from the sale go directly to the local charity promoting the sale of the ticket. This weekly ticket is good for all competitive rounds of the event from Friday, January 6 to Monday, January 9, 2012.

All 501c3 organizations interested in being a part of this program should contact the Hyundai Tournament of Champions tournament office at 808-665-9160 or toll-free at 888-665-9160 for more information.

All children 18-years-old and younger are admitted free of charge with a ticketed adult (one child per adult). All children over the age of 18-years-old must have a ticket to enter the tournament.

If charities want to receive tickets on consignment to distribute or sell to their supporters, they can do so by filling out a Participation Agreement, providing their 501c3 IRS determination letter, and filling out a ticket order form.

The PGA TOUR, its players and tournaments support more than 3,000 charities. These local and national organizations work in a range of areas affecting the lives of millions in the communities where we live and play. Proceeds from the Hyundai Tournament of Champions directly impact local charities. The host organizations of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions have bestowed nearly $3.8 million since the tournament’s move to Kapalua Resort in 1999.

Attending charities included:
Aloha House
American Heart Association
American Red Cross
Boy Scouts America
Habitat for Humanity
Hale Kau Kau
Hale Makua
Hawaiian Kamali’i
Hope Chapel
Horizon’s Academy
Hospice Maui
JW Cameron Center
Ka Lima O Maui
Kula School PTA
LHS Foundation
Maui Aids Foundation
Maui Cheer All Stars
Maui Family YMCA
Maui Farms
Maui Humane Society
Maui Jr. Golf Association
Maui Medical
Maui Support Family Services
Maui United Way
Mediation Services of Maui
Montessori Hale O Keiki
National Kidney Foundation
Pacific Pride
Sacred Hearts
Saint Anthony HS
Seabury Hall
Theatre Theatre Maui
Women Helping Women

Follow the tournament on Facebook to get updates and a behind-the-scenes look at how the tournament is shaping up. Go to www.facebook.com and search for Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Reminders – New to the tournament in 2012:
– The tournament dates for official play for the 2012 event begin with the Pro-am on Thursday, January 5, continuing with four rounds of professional competition Friday, January 6, through Monday, January 9. The tournament is now scheduled to end on Monday, as opposed to Sunday.
– Thursday’s pro-am round will be free to all spectators.
– The tournament will allow all youth 18-years-old and younger accompanied by a ticketed adult into the tournament free of charge all week long.
– Military (active duty, retired and Reserve) and their dependents will also be permitted onsite for free for the entire week. Military tickets can be downloaded free of charge by visiting www.birdiesforthebrave.com and clicking on the “Ticketing” link. All military and their dependents will need to show their valid military ID along with their downloaded ticket in order to gain complimentary admission.

About Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee. www.hyundainews.com

About Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the season-opening event of the PGA TOUR and held at the legendary Plantation Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore in Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii. The tournament’s unique format allows only champions from the 2011 PGA TOUR season to qualify for this one-of-a-kind winners-only event. During their stay, tournament guests enjoy world-class accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Since 1999, the host organizations of the event have distributed nearly $3.8 million to the Maui community.

Contact: Chris Reimer, PGA TOUR, 904-273-3286, chrisreimer@pgatourhq.com

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (October 31, 2011)—The PGA TOUR and Mitsubishi Electric today announced an extension of their Official Marketing Partnership and title sponsorship of the Champions Tour’s season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai through 2015.

The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai is scheduled for January 16-22, 2012, and features an elite field of the past two seasons’ tournament champions and past five years of senior major championship winners.

The tournament, on the Big Island of Hawaii, has been the starting point of the season for the Champions Tour since 1997. During that span, the tournament has made a significant economic and charitable impact on Hawaii’s Big Island community. Almost $650,000 has been donated to various island charities, including $55,000 this year to the Rotary Club of Kona. The funds will assist the Keiki Eye Vision Program to help identify vision difficulties early in a child’s development.

Mitsubishi Electric will also continue to provide the highly popular Diamond Vision® LED scoreboards at virtually every PGA TOUR tournament as the Official Large Outdoor Video Display Provider of the PGA TOUR. Rolled out in May 2007 at THE PLAYERS Championship, the Diamond Vision boards have significantly strengthened the on-site fan experience with a variety of player and venue information, along with graphics generated by the TOUR’s ShotLink real-time scoring system. The Diamond Vision scoreboards were first used on the Champions Tour at Hualalai in 2009. As part of the new sponsorship agreement, Diamond Vision scoreboards will be introduced at all Champions Tour stops in 2013.

Mitsubishi Electric will continue as the Official HVAC Products of the PGA TOUR and, beginning in 2013, will become the Official Elevator and Escalator of the PGA TOUR. As an Official Marketing Partner, Mitsubishi Electric has and will continue to use select PGA TOUR tournaments for hospitality and entertainment.

“We are pleased to continue our relationship with the PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour,” said Katsuya Takamiya, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US Holdings. “Our customers enjoy our relationship with the players and especially The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. We could not ask for a stronger association with an organization, one that demonstrates a huge charitable impact and personal commitment to its sponsors, especially from the Champions Tour.”

As a further commitment to the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating recently announced its sponsorship of Fred Funk, a six-time winner on the Champions Tour. As part of Funk’s sponsorship his golf bag, as well as his right shirt collar, will carry the Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating logo. This additional presence will help Mitsubishi Electric raise awareness of their cooling and heating products among target customers. Funk won the season-opening championship at Hualalai in 2008.

John Cook, a three-time winner on the Champions Tour in 2011, is the defending champion of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

About Mitsubishi Electric U.S.
Mitsubishi Electric’s U.S. operations include nearly a dozen companies that manufacture and market an extensive line of commercial, industrial and consumer electronics products. These include elevators and escalators; heating and air conditioning systems; semiconductor devices; high-definition televisions, home theater and display devices; large-scale data walls and stadium displays; automotive components, electronics and entertainment systems; factory automation equipment, power products, solar panels and other items. For more information visit www.MitsubishiElectric-USA.com.

About The Champions Tour
Collectively, the Champions Tour has the most recognizable and accomplished players in the game with many of its 29 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame competing regularly in its events and numerous other major championship winners among its members. The Champions Tour is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older. Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it started with just four events and purses totaling $475,000. Points earned in official Charles Schwab Cup events in 2011 will determine the Charles Schwab Cup champion, the season-long competition designed to recognize the Champions Tour’s leading player. The Champions Tour’s primary purpose is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, protect the integrity of the game and generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays. In 2010, tournaments on all three Tours (PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour) generated $120 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to more than $1.6 billion. The Commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem. Mike Stevens is President of the Champions Tour. The PGA TOUR’s website is www.pgatour.com, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Diamond Vision is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation,
Contacts:
Mark Williams
Director, Communications, Champions Tour
904-280-5058
markwilliams@pgatourhq.com