Press Release

PGA TOUR Announces 2007 FedEx Cup Schedule
Emphasizes Strength of Tournaments, Sponsors, Geographic Flow

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - The PGA TOUR has announced the inaugural FedEx Cup schedule for 2007, which features a strong sequencing of tournaments leading into the conclusive four-event Championship Series.

"A significant amount of time and effort went into the development of the FedEx Cup schedule to maximize the strength of our tournaments, sponsors and venues, while providing a logical flow geographically," PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

"We are excited about the fact that the FedEx Cup season will feature a strong and regular spacing of significant opportunities for the world’s best players to compete against one another," Finchem said. "The major championships, THE PLAYERS Championship, the World Golf Championships and the season-ending, four-event Championship Series will create and hold fan interest throughout the FedEx Cup season.

"The new schedule will benefit the TOUR as a whole and each event individually, while enhancing our opportunity to promote the entire season with our three long-term broadcast partners: CBS, NBC and The Golf Channel. We couldn’t be more pleased with the flow and impact of this new schedule," Finchem added.

The schedule announcement follows the TOUR’s release Wednesday of a streamlined television package that makes CBS and NBC the network partners for six years and The Golf Channel the exclusive cable network provider for the TOUR through an unprecedented 15-year agreement. The full list of tournaments and their broadcast carrier follows.

The new FedEx Cup competition, a dramatic season-long points bonus program for players spanning 37 weeks, begins with the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii (Jan. 4-7) and concludes Sept. 13-16 with THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

The Championship Series, which focuses on the final push for the FedEx Cup title, will begin with the Barclays Classic in New York Aug. 23-26, followed by the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston Aug. 31-Sept. 3 and then the Championship Series/Chicago Sept. 6-9, before concluding at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. More specifics on the Championship Series will be given at a later date.

Other significant changes include:

A reorganized sequence through Florida that adds the Tampa Bay Championship (March 8-11) and the newly announced World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral Resort & Spa (March 22-25)

THE PLAYERS Championship moving from March to May 10-13, followed by the BellSouth Classic, which switches from late March to May 17-20

The Shell Houston Open changing from late April to March 29-April 1

The 84 LUMBER Classic’s move from the fall to June 21-24, one week after the U.S. Open
The Bell Canadian Open moving from September to July 26-29

The Carolina Classic at Greensboro switching from October to August 16-19 to become the final FedEx Cup qualifying tournament before the Championship Series

The TOUR will continue to schedule a second event opposite certain championships. Finchem today confirmed that the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee will play opposite the British Open (July 19-22) and that the new Mayakoba Classic at the Mayakoba Resort on the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico, will be held opposite the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship (Feb. 22-25). It becomes the TOUR’s first official money event in Mexico. (A release on the new Mayakoba Classic will be issued separately). Finchem added that Reno-Tahoe is also under consideration for an opposite event.

Once the FedEx Cup season concludes with THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola, the PGA TOUR will enter the Fall Series, featuring six to seven official money tournaments that will determine the remainder of the 125 players eligible for the next year’s FedEx Cup. The entire series will be telecast on The Golf Channel.

Finchem said the Fall Series has yet to be finalized, but that the TOUR was in discussion with the following events concerning the Fall Series: Valero Texas Open in San Antonio; FUNAI Classic at WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort in Orlando, FL; Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Madison, MS; Booz Allen Classic in Washington, D.C.; Hartford, CT; and Las Vegas.

In regard to the B.C. Open in Endicott, NY, Finchem said, "We are looking for a position elsewhere within the PGA TOUR family for its continuation, either on the Champions Tour or Nationwide Tour. We believe it could perform well on either Tour."

Additional details on The Championship Series, the Fall Series and the remaining opposite events will be provided in the coming weeks.


A Summary of the FedEx Cup Tournaments:

Mercedes Championships - Leads off FedEx Cup season in Hawaii with elite field of year’s past winners. Shifts to The Golf Channel for four rounds of primetime coverage; part of Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Aloha Season.

Sony Open in Hawaii - Second of three straight full coverage events for The Golf Channel, also airs in primetime. Typically strong field should be enhanced by FedEx Cup incentive and improvements to the golf course.

Bob Hope Chrysler Classic - Popular pro-am event moves to all five rounds on The Golf Channel. New Classic Club at Northstar serving as host site, strengthening four-course rotation.
Buick Invitational - Traditionally strong field at Torrey Pines, keeps same date on CBS, played in the open week prior to NFL’s Super Bowl.

FBR Open - Moves from CBS to NBC for 2007, remaining in popular Super Bowl weekend date. One of most well attended sporting events in world, annually attracting 500,000 fans on site.
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am - Maintains traditionally strong date on CBS. This marquee pro-am enables Monterey Peninsula Foundation to remain a leader in annual charitable donations.

Nissan Open - Returns to CBS for first time since 2003, leading into WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Historic Riviera CC one of favorite courses on TOUR.

WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship - Season’s first World Golf Championships event kicks off six straight weeks of NBC coverage. Five-day event features 64 top-ranked players in world playing single elimination match play format.

The Honda Classic - Replaces Doral as first event of NBC Southern Swing, expected to have positive impact on field strength.

Tampa Bay - Shifts from October to become second event in Florida swing. Played at highly regarded Copperhead Course at Westin Innisbrook Resort, which has attracted top-5 field on TOUR as fall event and should perform strongly in spring date.

Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard - Popular event hosted by Arnold Palmer maintains traditional slot on schedule. Now leads into newly positioned WGC event.
WGC-CA Championship - Repositioned event at Doral takes over THE PLAYERS Championship’s longstanding slot, anchoring Florida swing. CA becomes title sponsor at popular Doral Blue Course; replaces AmEx Championship as WGC event. It maintains format of approximately 72 top-ranked players off Official World Golf Rankings and money lists of the member Tours of the International Federation of PGA Tours in 72-hole stroke play with no cut.

New to NBC schedule.

Shell Houston Open - Moving one month earlier should provide better weather and firmer, faster course conditions. Switches from CBS to become final event of NBC’s six-week stretch and lead-in to Masters Tournament.

MCI Heritage - Maintains customary position following Masters, second of CBS’s five-week stretch of telecasts. Harbour Town Golf Links among TOUR players’ favorite courses.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans - Continues on CBS in mid-April. Details for 2007 will develop as New Orleans recovers from impact of Hurricane Katrina.

EDS Byron Nelson Championship - TOUR’s all-time top charity donor remains on CBS but moves two weeks earlier in schedule. Honors one of golf’s greatest players and gentlemen.
Wachovia Championship - In just three years, has become a premier event on TOUR. Becomes lead-in to THE PLAYERS Championship, further strengthening position. Anchors stretch of five straight CBS telecasts.

THE PLAYERS Championship - Moves from late March to second weekend in May, continues on NBC. Debuts significant renovations at TPC at Sawgrass, including new clubhouse, fan enhancements and state-of-art drainage that assures consistent firm/fast conditions. New broadcast format will feature limited commercial interruptions.

BellSouth Classic - Moves from early April on NBC to mid-May, kicking off four-week stretch of events on CBS. By playing month later, will benefit from improved weather.
The Colonial Invitational - Great tradition, longest-running host course on PGA TOUR (since 1946). Maintains same position on schedule on CBS.
the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley - Jack Nicklaus-hosted invitational remains in traditional slot two weeks prior to U.S. Open on CBS.

Stanford St. Jude Championship - New title sponsor in Stanford Financial Services, FedEx continues involvement as Presenting Sponsor. Remaining on CBS, will lead into U.S. Open.
84 Lumber Classic - Significant change, moving from fall to FedEx Cup schedule and from cable to CBS. Following NBC’s coverage of U.S. Open, kicks off 10 straight weeks of CBS coverage. Several years of course improvements already has improved stature among players.
Buick Open - Continues on CBS, but moves from early August to late June. Buick is longest running title sponsor on TOUR, dating back to 1958.

The INTERNATIONAL - Moves from early August to early July, remains on CBS. Change should reduce potential for storm interruptions. Continues unique Stableford points scoring system.
John Deere Classic - While remaining as early July lead-in to British Open, moves to CBS and will feature later air time. Continues to grow and generate significant money for charity.
U.S. Bank Championship at Milwaukee - All four rounds move to The Golf Channel as tournaments moves to same week as British Open.

Bell Canadian Open - Moves from September date and cable coverage to late July on CBS, week after British Open. Summer date will provide warmer weather and firmer, faster course conditions.
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational - Bridgestone begins title sponsorship in 2006, replacing NEC, but event continues at Firestone Country Club in Akron, OH. Weekend coverage remains on CBS. Now will lead into PGA Championship; one of the year’s strongest fields.

Carolina Classic at Greensboro (formerly known as the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro) - Moves from fall to become last FedEx Cup event prior to Championship Series; follows PGA Championship. Last week for players to qualify for Championship Series and improve seeding position.

Barclays Classic - First of four Championship Series events in FedEx Cup, moving from early June to late August; final telecast of season for CBS.

Deutsche Bank Championship - Maintains same slot on schedule, but becomes part of decisive Championship Series and first of three straight televised by NBC.

Championship Series/Chicago - Historic event moves from July to determine final 30 players competing for FedEx Cup.

THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola - Elite 30-player field culminates FedEx Cup season on NBC.