Audi Lines up Sponsorship of Exclusive Tavistock Cup Golf Tourney

- Two-day tourney features 20 pro golfers from the Isleworth and Lake Nona golf communities in Central Florida with Ernie Els and Mark O'Meara as team captains

- First match to feature Isleworth's Tiger Woods and John Cook versus Lake Nona's Chris DiMarco and Henrik Stenson

- Any golfer who makes a hole-in-one on # 17 will win a 2009 Audi R8 and their nine other teammates will win Audi A5 coupes; Audi also plans to host ride-and-drive programs

HERNDON, Va., March 12 -- One of professional golf's most exclusive events gains Audi as a key sponsor this year for the first time.

The 2009 Tavistock Cup will mark the first involvement by Audi in the six tournaments held annually thus far. This year's event is scheduled for March 16-17 and features two teams of 10 professional golfers from Isleworth Golf & Country Club and Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Central Florida. The Tavistock Cup will be televised live on the Golf Channel in the U.S., Canada, Japan and more than 40 other countries around the globe.

Mark O'Meara returns as captain for Team Isleworth and is joined by teammates Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Daniel Chopra, Darren Clarke, John Cook, J.B. Holmes, Charles Howell III, Nick O'Hern and Tiger Woods. Ernie Els returns as captain of Team Lake Nona which includes Ben Curtis, Chris DiMarco, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Graeme McDowell, Mark McNulty, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.

This year, the Tavistock Cup will contribute $1 million through the Tavistock Foundation to the charity selected by members of the winning team.

Classic Audi, the exclusive Audi dealer in Orlando, is leading the sponsorship and Ride & Drive with Audi of America.

"We are delighted to be participating in the Tavistock Cup this year," said Ian Bolin, the Audi General Manager responsible for Central Florida. "The charitable good works and the connection that the tournament provides to many of the world's best golfers and golfing fans make it ideal for the progressive message Audi embodies."

The officially sanctioned PGA Tour Tavistock Cup has become one of the most sought-after spectator events in professional sports. Attendance is limited to invited guests and the no-ropes gallery allows spectators to enjoy unsurpassed access to the world's great golfers.

To add even more suspense to the tournament, Classic Audi is laying down a challenge to the 20 professional competitors: If any one of them makes a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, they win an Audi R8 and the nine other members of their team get to take home Audi A5 coupes.

Audi will showcase more than 18 of its progressive luxury cars at the event, including the Audi TT Coupe, the TT Roadster, the A5 coupe, A6 sedan, the R8 sports car, the new Q5 crossover vehicle and the Q7 TDI, Audi's much-anticipated clean diesel SUV. Also on display will be the legendary Audi R10 racing car that has dominated recent 24 Hours of Le Mans races.

Tavistock Cup spectators will also be able to test out a range of Audi models, including the all new Audi Q5, in a sponsored ride-and-drive program from Classic Audi.

ABOUT AUDI OF AMERICA

Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi line up is one of the freshest in the industry with 23 models, including 12 models launched during model years 2008 and 2009. Audi is among the most successful brands globally. In selling one million vehicles worldwide in 2008, AUDI AG recorded its 13th consecutive record year for sales growth. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.