|
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, México -- An impressive collection of golf talent announced plans today to join the field for the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya - Cancún February 21-25 at the Mayakoba resort in Playa del Carmen, México.
Two young players, who battled it out last week at the Buick Invitational-- Brandt Snedeker and Andrew Buckle, will continue their west coast swing when they come to the Cancún region. Joining them will be major championship winners Steve Jones and Mark Brooks along with current and future international stars Shigeki Maruyama and Alejandro Canizares.
 | | Buckle held a two-stroke on the inward nine at the Buick Invitational before finishing tied for fourth. |
|
"The field for México's first PGA TOUR event is shaping up to be an impressive group, said Tournament Director Larson Segerdahl. "We encourage fans to continue purchasing tickets so they will be able to see an historic event that promises to showcase a golf competition unlike anything this country has seen. As we have witnessed the first few weeks of the TOUR schedule, the excitement and talent of this TOUR is unmatched."
Snedeker tied an all-time TOUR record a week ago with his 9-under-par nine-hole score during the first round at the Buick Invitational. His opening 61, also a course record, set the stage for his third place finish Sunday behind Tiger Woods and Charles Howell, III. During that final round, Australia's Buckle held a two-stroke lead over Woods on the inward nine at Torrey Pines before finishing tied for fourth.
Jones and Brooks give the tournament field six major championship winners as they join Mark Calcavecchia, who had a top-10 finish last week at the Buick Invitational, Lee Janzen, Jeff Sluman and Steve Elkington in that category. Jones won the 1996 U.S. Open for one of his eight career victories. That same year, Brooks won the year's final major with a victory at the PGA Championship. The Texan has seven career titles.
Maruyama has won three TOUR titles and ten International championships since turning professional in 1992. Maruyama, one of Japan's all-time greats, was the star of the International's team's victory at the 1998 President's Cup with a 5-0 record.
 | | Snedeker tied an all-time TOUR record a week ago with his 9-under-par nine-hole score during the first round at Torrey Pines. |
|
Canizares, a four-time All-America and 2003 NCAA Champion at Arizona State, has accepted a sponsor exemption. Canizares, from Maniliva, Malaga Spain, is a member of the European Tour by virtue of his 2006 victory at the Russian Open. He turned professional last summer.
It is important to note that players (top 64 World Golf Rankings) may still qualify for the World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, AZ scheduled the same week as the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Also, players have until Friday before the Mayakoba Golf Classic to express their intentions to compete in the 144-player field coming to Mexico for the four-round $3.5 million USD stroke-play competition.
Also included in the field will be four open qualifiers through an Open Qualifying Tournament to be held at the Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club in Playa del Carmen on Monday, February 19, 2007.
For more information, please visit www.cancungolf.org.
As part of the 2007 PGA TOUR FedExCup schedule, the Mayakoba Golf Classic will be the eighth event of this dynamic new points system. For more information on the FedExCup point system, please visit www.pgatour.com/fedexcup/overview.
For more information on the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun or any other media inquiries, please contact Media Director Lee Patterson at or (704) 553-4790. For all other tournament-related questions please contact the tournament office at Mayakoba at 011 52 (984) 873-4916 or visit www.mayakobagolfclassic.com. Tickets are now available and can be purchased by visiting the tournament website, calling 011 52 (984)-873-4916 in Mexico or calling 888-66-SHARK in the U.S.
| 
