Mickelson To Play In 2001 Buick Open
FOR RELEASE: July 26, 2001Mickelson To Play In 2001 Buick Open
DETROIT -Buick announced today that Phil Mickelson, currently the number two ranked player in the world, is among the latest commitments for the 2001 Buick Open, August 6-12 at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich.
Mickelson, 31, will be making his fourth appearance at the Buick Open. He finished tied for fourth place in 2000 with 1995 Buick Open champion Woody Austin. Mickelson is currently ranked second behind Tiger Woods on the World Golf Rankings and is second on the PGA Tour money list with $3,612,063.
Mickelson has 19 career PGA Tour victories, including the Buick Invitational in San Diego three times (1993, 2000 and 2001). He is second on the all-time PGA Tour money list with $17,046,178.
"Phil Mickelson is one of the best players in the world and his presence enhances what is already a very good field," said Tony Derhake, executive director of golf for Buick. "Golf fans will really enjoy watching Phil play.
He is an outstanding shot-maker who is capable of winning any tournament."
Other new commitments for the 2001 Buick Open include 1991 Buick Open winner Brad Faxon, who is currently seventh on the tournament's all-time money list ($402,949). Faxon, who will turn 30 on August 1, is currently 11th on the PGA Tour money list with $1,644,782 and he has eight career PGA Tour victories. He tied for sixth place at the 2000 Buick Open with four other players and took home a check for $84,510.
Additional commitments today include Bob Tway, Stewart Cink, Shigeki Maruyama, Mark Brooks, Russ Cochran, Jeff Hart, Tommy Tolles, David Toms and D.A. Wiebring.
Previous commitments for the 2001 Buick Open include defending champion Rocco Mediate, 1998 Buick Open champion Billy Mayfair, 1997 Buick Open champion Vijay Singh, 1996 Buick Open champion Justin Leonard, 2001 U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, 1999 Buick Classic champion Duffy Waldorf, Frank Lickliter II, Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Jose Maria Olazabal and Buick touring professionals Ben Crenshaw, David Berganio Jr., J.J. Henry and Matt Gogel. Although he has not officially committed to the tournament, Tiger Woods is scheduled to play in the 2001 Buick Open.
These and other PGA Tour players will compete for a tournament record purse of $3.1 million, including the $558,000 winner's share. Players have until Friday, August 3 to commit to the 2001 Buick Open.
The number to call for tickets and information is 1 (800) 878-OPEN (6736).
Now in its fifth decade as the PGA Tour's original corporate sponsor, Buick is title-sponsor of four PGA Tour events: The Buick Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.(Feb.); the Buick Classic in Harrison, N.Y.(June); the Buick Open; and the Buick Challenge in Pine Mountain, Ga. (October 22-28). Buick is also an official sponsor of the domestic events of the World Golf Championships.
The official car of the PGA Tour since 1984, Buick has donated more than $19.8 million to local charities through its four title-sponsored PGA Tour events.