Tiger’s apparently going to play in this week’s Buick Open.
That’s very nice of him, considering that he and Buick parted ways last year, and that Warwick Hills apparently is not one of his favorite courses. Here’s the press release:
GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Tiger Woods, who has carved out an unprecedented career since becoming a professional golfer in late summer of 1996, has officially committed to play in the 2009 Buick Open, scheduled for July 27-August 2 at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc.
“We are very fortunate and honored that the world’s No. 1-ranked player has decided to play the Buick Open,” said Larry Peck, national promotions manager for Buick-GMC. “There is no doubt that Tiger brings an elevated excitement level to Warwick Hills whenever he plays, and we are delighted to share the news with Michigan fans.”
Woods has had an historic impact on the Buick Open, having wrapped up two tournament titles in 2002 and 2006, and holding the record (along with Billy Mayfair) for lowest 18-hole score when he posted a 61 in the second round at the 2005 event. Woods has played at the Buick Open eight times, and has never finished lower than 11th. His last visit to the Buick Open was in 2006.
Woods has won 68 PGA TOUR titles, including the: 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005 Masters Tournaments; 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007 PGA Championships; 2000, 2002 and 2008 U.S. Open Championships; and 2000, 2005 and 2006 British Open Championships. He has already won three times on TOUR this season.
With his second Masters victory in 2001, Woods became the first player to ever hold all four professional major championships at the same time. He is the career victories leader among active players on the PGA TOUR, and also is the career money list leader.
The 2009 Buick Open field will compete for a record $5.1 million purse, including a $918,000 first prize.
For more Buick Open ticket information, visit http://www.ticketmaster.com, or call (800) 878-OPEN (-6736). For general tournament information, please log onto http://www.buickopen.com.
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As a GM stockholder (i.e. taxpayer) and as someone who actually buys GM products – I would like to know, that 5.1 million dollar record purse is coming from where? And so we may pay out 1.1 million to an already millionaire PGA player out and take on additional national debt to do this.
I wasn’t in favor of bailing out GM, but now that has been done, I don’t think it is appropriate for this event to take place. Since old-GM is gone now, I can’t see why any tour contracts are valid for this event to be held now.
This apparently will be the last year for the 51 year old Buick Open. The money already had been set aside, but this is the end of the line.
I may start a 2nd civil war, but I want to remind my Southern brethern that for many years, the Midwest and East Coast have subsidized the South and West. If one goes to the National Tax Foundation website, one can see that for 20+ years Michigan has paid about $1.20 in taxes for every dollar in federal spending. Tennessee, on the other hand pays $0.80 for every dollar in spending.
Does that make it appropriate for GM to sponsor a golf tournament? No! I don’t want to see my tax dollars going to support some millionaire either. However, the tournament means a lot to the people around Flint and Southeast Michigan. So I really don’t want to hear a lot of carping about tax dollars being wasted.
Watch the tournament on TV. Buy cars from American companies, and let’s all pull together to get things back on track.