Mayakoba Golf Classic tournament officials have announced that one of golf's most beloved stars, John Daly, has committed to play in the 2008 edition of the México's only PGA TOUR event. Also expressing early intentions to compete is Hall of Fame member Nick Price. Between the two-some, there are three PGA Championship victories and two British Open titles.

Another early commitment is Bubba Watson, who has led the PGA TOUR in Driving Distance the past two seasons and finished second in the Merrill Lynch Shootout earlier this month. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño will also compete in the second Mayakoba Golf Classic after receiving a sponsor exemption. A native of Spain, Fernandez-Castaño has won three times on the European Tour since turning professional in 2005. Earlier this year, he won the Telecom Italia Open.

Daly, Price, Watson and Fernandez-Castaño will join defending champion Fred Funk in the second playing of this historic PGA TOUR event.

Funk defeated Jose Coceres on the second hole in a playoff to capture the inaugural Mayakoba Golf Classic. During the week, Funk experienced back spasms but was able to continue on and earn the $630,000 USD first place prize. It was Funk's eighth PGA TOUR title.

"We are excited to already have some of the game's great players making plans to attend our second Mayakoba Golf Classic," Tournament Director Larson Segerdahl said. "Fred Funk has been a wonderful champion and has done so much for us during the year. We could not have asked for a better champion for our inaugural event. Fred and the other players who competed in the tournament last year have been great ambassadors for us and have spread the word that this tournament is a special one on the PGA TOUR schedule."

Also included in the field will be four players who qualify through an Open Qualifying Tournament to be held at the Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club in Playa del Carmen on Monday, February 18, 2008.

Stay tuned to www.MayakobaGolfClassic.com for the latest updates on early player commitments as the field for México's only PGA TOUR event continues to take shape.

Just in time for that last-minute Christmas shopping, tickets are on sale now for the second annual edition of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Fans can purchase tickets and reserve a spot at México's only PGA TOUR event by logging on to the tournament's Web site, www.MayakobaGolfClassic.com, or by calling 01 (984) 873-4916 in México or (888) 66-SHARK in the United States.

In addition to internet and phone sales, Mayakoba Golf Classic fans can purchase their tickets at any of the golf course pro shop in the Riviera Maya or Cancún regions starting January 14.

Weekly tickets, which include ground access only Wednesday through Sunday, are available for $100 USD. The daily ticket option begins with the Wednesday Pro-Am for $20 USD. Competition days, Thursday through Sunday, are $30 USD.

The perfect package to entertain friends or business partners is the El Camino hospitality venue package. Patrons can purchase this for the week at a cost of $350 USD or daily Thursday through Sunday at $100 USD per day. This ticket provides access to three fully catered facilities on the eighth green, 10th green and the 15th green.

Memberships to the exclusive Fiesta Club may be purchased at a cost of $750 USD for the week or $200 USD per day. This ticket provides access to an exclusive, fully catered hospitality venue overlooking the 18th green, clubhouse and practice facility. Fiesta Club ticketholders will also be granted access to the three El Camino venues as well.

Be sure to purchase your tickets today and reserve your spot at El Camaleón Golf Club for one of the PGA TOUR's most exciting events! MGC tickets make a great Christmas gift for the golfer on your list!

2007 Mayakoba Golf Classic champion Fred Funk returned to the site of his PGA TOUR victory earlier this month with fond memories of his February win to participate in the event's community outreach program, Golf PARa Todos (Golf FORE Everyone).

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.

Funk played the El Camaleón course during his return visit and said he is excited about defending his championship, February 18-24.

"It is always fun to go back to a course and a tournament where you have won," said Funk, who also won on the Champions Tour a year ago. "It brings back a lot of great memories not only in the way I was able to hang in there and win but because of the great people I was able to meet from this area. This certainly has become a special place in not only my heart but for my family."

Components of Funk's visit included a free clinic held in conjunction with the December edition of Golf PARa Todos, charity presentations to DIF Solidaridad, an opportunity to meet and greet Mayakoba Golf Classic fans and a round of golf with contest winners Eugenio Rafael Sarmiento-Lacruz and Miguel Lemmus.

The inaugural installment of Golf PARa Todos was held in October 2007 at El Camaleón Golf Club in Playa del Carmen. 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/english. The January installment of Golf PARa Todos is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, at 2 p.m.

The Mayakoba Golf Classic is proud to partner with two "best-of-breed" companies, Electric Vehicles International (EVI) and Pepsi Bottling Group México.

Through these relationships, EVI has been named the Official Electric Vehicle Provider of the Mayakoba Golf Classic and Pepsi Bottling Group México's products will be featured as the Official Refreshment of the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Look for EVI vehicles at the Mayakoba Golf Classic tournament grounds, February 20-24, 2008. All spectators and attendees will have a unique opportunity to experience the quality of EVI first hand as they are transported from the tournament's spectator parking lots to the tournament's main entrance at the Mayakoba Pueblito.

Also while on tournament grounds, spectators will have a broad selection of refreshing Pepsi Bottling Group México products to choose from including E-Pura bottled water and Lipton Iced Tea.

The Mayakoba Golf Classic thanks these new partners for their strong support of our event and we hope our fans in-turn support them.

For more information on EVI, Pepsi Bottling Group México or any other Mayakoba Golf Classic sponsor, click here.