Mississippi to host world's best at Farm Bureau Classic
JACKSON, Miss. - The PGA Tour's annual stop in the state at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic will include nine former SFBC champions and six winners on Tour this season, the Mississippi Development Authority Division of Tourism has announced.
The winners on Tour this season who will play Sept. 27-Oct. 2 at Annandale Golf Club in Madison include Zach Johnson, who won the BellSouth Classic and had earned more than $1.8 million through August, good for 23rd on the TOUR money list. Other TOUR winners this season in the SFBC field are Woody Austin (Buick Championship, $1.4 million plus), Rod Pampling (The International, $1.5 million plus), Mark Hensby (John Deere Classic), Heath Slocum (Chrysler Classic of Tucson) and Vaughn Taylor (Reno-Tahoe Open).
Past SFBC champions who have committed to play in this year's event are defending champion John Huston, Steve Lowery, Cameron Beckman, Russ Cochran, Gene Sauers, David Ogrin, Jim Gallagher Jr., Willie Wood and Brian Henninger.
Other past champions include Payne Stewart, Fred Funk and Luke Donald.
"We are delighted the PGA TOUR and some of the best players in the world are returning to Mississippi," says Leland Speed, MDA executive director. "It speaks volumes about the quality of golf courses and golf fans in our great state."
Annandale Golf Club is a par 72, 7,200-yard course designed by Jack Nicklaus. It features rolling terrain with ample trees, water and fast greens.
In addition to being annually rewarded by the PGA Tour for its great golf courses and fans, Mississippi has collected a slew of distinctions recently. For instance, Golf Digest, Golfweek and GOLF magazines have previously rated Magnolia Golf Trail courses as some of the best in the South.
A collection of 14 premier, critically-acclaimed golf courses designed by many of the game's top architects and launched in 2002, the Magnolia Golf Trail is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the nation's finest and most value-laden golf trails.
For more information about the trail, visit MagnoliaGolfTrail.com.
About Mississippi golf
Attractions contributing to Mississippi's growing popularity as the preferred golf-and-travel destination include:
• Great year-round weather and direct flights from major carriers;
• More than 140 courses that offer all price points and design varieties in five distinct regions;
• New and existing courses designed by top golf course architects that garner national recognition;
• More affordable courses than most other comparable U.S. golf destinations;
• World-famous gourmet cuisine, blues music, and luxurious casino resorts offering star-studded shows;
• Family-themed attractions offering everything from parks and beaches;
• Widespread acclaim from the annual PGA Tour golf tournament held in the state capital, Jackson; and,
• History and architecture, including stunning Antebellum Era mansions turned award-winning B&B venues.
A free Golf Mississippi Travel Guide and more information is available by calling (866) 801-8551 or visiting golfmississippi.org.
TravelGolf.com and TravelGolf Media claim no relationship to the companies, products or persons mentioned in this press release.
September 16, 2004