LAHAINA, Maui — Vijay Singh will defend 2007 Mercedes-Benz Championship and Joe Torre, manager of the Los Angeles Angels will be the honorary starter at Lahaina next month for the opening day of the PGA Tour. On Jan. 3, there
LAHAINA, Maui — Vijay Singh will defend 2007 Mercedes-Benz Championship and Joe Torre, manager of the Los Angeles Angels will be the honorary starter at Lahaina next month for the opening day of the PGA Tour.
On Jan. 3, there will be a “Hawaiian Style” celebration kickoff at the Kapalua Resort at the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship. This new kickoff to the 2008 season marks the first time the PGA Tour has had a designated ceremony to officially launch the opening drive for the tour.
The King’s Guard Drill Team from Honolulu will arrive on the first tee on The Plantation Course for an exhibition approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the tournament (approximately 10:30 a.m.).
The King’s Guard will be followed by a formal presentation of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship Trophy. Then, the resort’s Hawaiian cultural advisor Clifford Nae‘ole will give a traditional Hawaiian blessing. The ceremony will continue with the playing of the national anthem by the legendary ‘ukelele master Jake Shimabukuro.
Torre will then announce the first pairing of Stephen Ames and Daniel Chopra for the first tee shots of the year.
The Mercedes-Benz Championship is the winners-only, season-opening tournament for the PGA TOUR. Singh and 32 other pros will vie for the $1.1 million winners share of the $5.5 million purse and the keys to a 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550. The Golf Channel will telecast approximately 17.5 hours of the tournament from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. HST, Jan. 3 to 5, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. HST Jan. 6.
Tickets are available to buy and print online through ClicknPrint Tickets at kapalua.com or call 1-877-772-5425. For tournament questions, call 1-866-669-2440.
