Strong Spanish Group Competing In Next Week's Mayakoba Golf Classic

Strong Spanish Group Competing
In Next Week's Mayakoba Golf Classic

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, México — A foursome of Spanish players, who have enjoyed success on the European Tour, are committed to play in next week’s Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaléon Golf Club at Mayakoba February 25-March 1.

Two of those competitors have won titles on the European Tour in the past twelve months. Foremost is Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, currently ranked 76th on the Official World Golf Rankings and a five-time winner on the European Tour. His most recent victory was a playoff win over Lee Westwood at the 2008 British Masters.

Another rising star on the European Tour is Pablo Larrazábal. He comes to the Mayakoba Golf Classic 30th on the Order of Merit following a great season in 2008. Larrazábal was named the European Tour’s Rookie of the Year on the strength of a four-stroke victory over Angel Cabrera and Colin Montgomerie in the Open de France.

Jose Manuel Lara and Santiaga Luna, both from Madrid, also are competing. Luna is a veteran on the European Tour as is Lara. Both will be making second appearances in the Mayakoba Golf Classic and both have represented Spain in World Cup competition.

"With the addition of these gentlemen along with some players we expect to hear from by the end of the week, this could by the strongest field to assemble at the Mayakoba Golf Classic," said Tournament Director Larson Segerdahl. The Mayakoba Golf Classic is Mexico’s Only PGA TOUR Event. In a short two years, the tournament has brought considerable international recognition to Mexico and has raised awareness and opportunity for those interested in the game of golf. Sports fans and golf enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the Mayakoba Golf Classic for years to come as it is currently scheduled through 2012.

The Mayakoba Golf Classic’s inaugural field featured players from 20 countries, giving the event a true international feel. In fact, in 2007 only the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship had a greater number of countries represented.

Other local and regional players will have the opportunity to qualify on Monday, February 23 at the Monday Qualifying Tournament for the Mayakoba Golf Classic to be held at Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club. The four lowest scores in this one-day event will earn a spot in the Mayakoba Golf Classic. For more information, visit www.cancungolf.org or call 984-877-2847.

Defending champion Brian Gay who has started 2009 with four consecutive top-20 finishes is also scheduled to compete and will attempt to become the first back-to-back champion in tournament history.

It is important to note that players have until this Friday, February 20 to express their intentions to compete in the 132-player field coming to Mexico for the four-round $3.6 million USD stroke-play competition.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by visiting the tournament Web site www.mayakobagolfclassic.com or by calling +52 (984) 877-2380 in Mexico.

A new offer this year for tournament patrons is young adults and children age 17 and under will be admitted free of charge with a ticketed adult to this year’s Mayakoba Golf Classic.

For more information on the Mayakoba Golf Classic please contact the tournament office at Mayakoba at 011 52 (984) 877-2380 or visit www.mayakobagolfclassic.com.

The MGC encourages all media to visit www.mayakobagolfclassic.com . The site has extensive information in English and Spanish for the press under the MEDIA tab including the Media Credential Application for press attending the event. The application is due February 19.

Select Player Commitments:

Mauricio Azcue Richard S. Johnson

Cameron Beckman Jerry Kelly

Rich Beem Jose Manuel Lara

Notah Begay III Pablo Larrazabal

Mark Brooks Tom Lehman

Olin Browne Santiago Luna

Chad Campbell Scott McCarron

Jose Coceres Parker McLachlin

Chris DiMarco Nick O'Hern

Joe Durant Corey Pavin

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño Jesper Parnevik

Carlos Franco Chez Reavie

Brian Gay Jose de Jesus Rodriguez

Paul Goydos Heath Slocum

Dudley Hart Vaughn Taylor

J.B. Holmes Esteban Toledo

Charles Howell III David Toms
John Huston Bob Tway

Lee Janzen Scott Verplank

Media Contacts

The Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancún is dedicated to assisting the media in covering this historic event. For more information on press releases, press conferences or attending the event, please contact the Mayakoba Golf Classic's media directors:

Veronica Muller
Media Director - Latin America
Mayakoba Golf Classic
+52 (998) 185-1585

Lee Patterson
Media Director
Greg Norman Production Company
(704) 553-4790

About The Mayakoba Golf Classic

The Mayakoba Golf Classic made golf history when it became the first PGA TOUR event to ever be contested outside of the United States and Canada in February 2007. Today, the Mayakoba Golf Classic remains “Mexico’s Only PGA TOUR Event” as it prepares to enter its sixth year. The event is regarded as one of the finest on the PGA TOUR by players, their families, sponsors and the TOUR itself. With a purse of $3.7 million USD, the Mayakoba Golf Classic boasts the largest amount of prize money of any golf tournament in Latin America. Held annually in February, the tournament features 132 professional golfers participating in four rounds of stroke play competition at the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleón Golf Club at Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, in the Riviera Maya-Cancún regions of Mexico. Johnson Wagner, a five-year veteran of the PGA TOUR, claimed the title in 2011, winning $666,000 USD. Other past champions include: Fred Funk (2007), Brian Gay (2008), Mark Wilson (2009) and Cameron Beckman (2010).

About Mayakoba

Mayakoba is situated just south of Cancun on Mexico’s prized Caribbean coast – the Riviera Maya. A mere 40-minute drive from the towering hotels of Cancun, visitors will discover a completely different experience. Here, nestled in a lush natural paradise, lies Mayakoba—a truly unique resort destination. Mayakoba is comprised of three luxury hotels, each featuring a range of culinary and spa experiences. An 18-hole Greg Norman championship golf course, El Camaleón, managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, offers players an ever-changing terrain that moves gracefully from mangroves to the sea. Created to harmonize with the unspoiled tropical forest, Mayakoba is connected with a series of lagoons enabling guests to wander effortlessly from place to place through the resort using the “lanchas” (covered boats) as well as a network of trails. Mayakoba, a luxury destination like no other where you are immersed in unspoiled natural beauty and the mysteries of an ancient civilization.

About OHL

Based in Madrid, OHL has over 23,000 employees and an impressive average yearly growth rate of 20% since 2002. In the third quarter of 2010, its net sales amounted to over 3,4 billion Euros. At the same time, OHL is strongly committed to environmental responsibility and in 2003 produced its first Sustainable Development Report. As Juan-Miguel Villar Mir, the chairman of the board of directors and the author of the report, noted, mindful attention to the long-term health of the environment creates a "virtuous circle" that benefits the company, its clients and the globe. OHL's ecological diligence has served it well in México, where strong government regulations are enforced to protect the environment. A presence in México since 1980, OHL employs over 3,400 people there and has built highways, bridges, hotels and hospitals. The tourism complex at Mayakoba, which will eventually include two or three golf courses and six luxury hotels, is OHL's most ambitious hospitality project to date.

About Greg Norman Production Company

The Greg Norman Production Company (GNPC), a subsidiary of Great White Shark Enterprises, is devoted to event management and sports marketing. In addition to the PGA TOUR’s Mayakoba Golf Classic, the GNPC operates the PGA TOUR-sanctioned Franklin Templeton Shootout. The GNPC prides itself on producing events and marketing initiatives that not only reflect the discerning standards of its namesake, but of its clients as well. Through its myriad relationships within golf, media and event industries, the GNPC is fully capable of providing its clients with a wide spectrum of services that will seamlessly build brand equity and generate a unique marketing and or hospitality medium.

About El Camaleón Golf Club

El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba resort is yet another of Greg Norman’s masterworks. The 7,039-yard layout is unique - not just to Mexico but to the entire world of golf. The course bends through three distinct landscapes—mangrove jungles, limestone canals and stunning, oceanfront stretches of sand. El Camaleón incorporates a cenote, a massive underground cavern, into the heart of the opening fairway. The handsome, Mayan influenced clubhouse rises above the 18th green and features stunning views over the course. The adjoining practice facility and driving range are of international caliber. With Mayakoba’s unique system of lagoons, golfers will be able to step out of their rooms and into a boat, which will ferry them directly to the first tee. El Camaleón is managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

About Golf PARa Todos

Golf PARa Todos aims to create a fun-filled, diverse and educational program that teaches about the game of golf and its ideals. The program encourages active participation in the game as a participant and as a fan, and facilitates the integration of golf into the lives of all those within the community. Golf PARa Todos is a community program presented and created by the Mayakoba Golf Classic. In January 2011, the event earned a place in the Guinness World Records by hosting the world’s largest ever golf lesson. The lesson featured 1,073 participants. The inaugural installment of Golf PARa Todos was held in October 2007 at El Camaleón Golf Club in Playa del Carmen. On average, 600 people currently attend each session. A monthly program, Golf PARa Todos is open to people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of golf skill or knowledge. For more information, visit www.GolfParaTodos.org.

Ticket Information

Wed Pro-Am Competition

Thu First Round*

Fri Second Round*

Sat Third Round*

Sun Final Round*

*Broadcast: GOLF CHANNEL

Full Tournament Schedule

Corporate Allies

Mexico's Only PGA TOUR Event

Mayakoba Golf Classic, Golf PARa Todos, Grupo OHL, Greg Norman Production Company, Great White Shark Enterprises, PGA TOUR, Inc., their shareholders, representatives, partners, operators and/or subsidiaries or related companies (Organizers) will utilize your personal data collected herein for informational purposes and database compilation. For more information about the handling of your data and the rights which you may exercise, you can access our complete privacy notice by visiting http://www.mayakobagolfclassic.com/privacypolicy.