OCTOBER 24, 2012
Scottsdale welcomes the return of championship golf
2011 Charles Schwab Cup Championship tournament winner Jay Don Blake (left) and 2011 Charles Schwab Cub Champion Tom Lehman (right) are expected to compete at this year’s tournament in Scottsdale.
SCOTTSDALE – The Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the season ending tournament on the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour, will be held Oct. 31—Nov. 4 at the Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale.
The tournament will mark the return of professional golf’s over-50 circuit to Scottsdale. A previous tournament, called “The Tradition,” was held at Desert Mountain for 13 years.
“We truly appreciate the confidence that the PGA TOUR, the Champions Tour, Charles Schwab Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers have shown in Scottsdale by selecting this venue in our city for the culmination of the Champions Tour season,” said Mayor W.J. “Jim” Lane. “It is always wonderful to host professional golf and the greatest fans in sports, and I want to congratulate the organizers in particular for selecting Scottsdale.”
City officials expect an immediate economic boost to the city, and also hope that Scottsdale becomes a regular stop in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship rotation. Tournament officials estimate that the economic impact to the Scottsdale-Phoenix area will be $10.2 million, primarily generated through hotel, transportation, dining and retail purchases.
That includes more than $4 million in direct local spending by the Champions Tour. Additionally, the Golf Channel will broadcast 10 hours of live coverage to 200 million households both in the U.S. and around the world.
“The Charles Schwab Cup Championship will inject millions of dollars into our economy,” said Rachel Sacco, president and CEO of the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The tournament also will provide TV exposure for Scottsdale’s premier golf courses, including Desert Mountain Club, to millions of avid golfers from around the country who are considering where to travel in the coming months.”
The Charles Schwab Cup Championship field is exclusive to the top 30 players on the Champions Tour. Players this year are expected to include Scottsdale resident Tom Lehman, whose career wins include the 1996 British Open, the 2000 Phoenix Open and last year’s Charles Schwab Cup; Fred Couples, the 1992 Master’s champion; Bernhard Langer, the 1985 and 1993 Masters champion; and Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 British Open champion and 1989, 1992 and 2001 Phoenix Open winner.
Gates open to the public starting Oct. 31 for the official tournament pro-am, and the tournament will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1-4. Single day tickets are $20 and a full week pass is $50. Children 18 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.schwabcup.com.
Complimentary tickets are available for all active, retired and reserve military and their dependents. Discounted tickets are available for military veterans and their dependents. For information and tickets, visit www.birdiesforthebrave.org.
Desert Mountain Club is located at 37700 Desert Mountain Parkway in Scottsdale – just east of Pima Road off of Cave Creek Road. Free, convenient parking with complimentary shuttle service is adjacent to the tournament course.
