With less than a month to go before the third edition of the Mayakoba Golf Classic, more of golf's champions are making plans to compete February 25-March 1 at El Camaleón Golf Club at Mayakoba. Recent official commitments include Charles Howell III (U.S.), Nick O'Hern (Aus.), and Paul Goydos (U.S.). Defending champion Brian Gay who has started his year 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.

Howell III is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR. The former PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year earned his second career victory by defeating Phil Mickelson in a playoff at the 2007 Nissan Open in Los Angeles, California.

O'Hern has won twice on the international level, including the 2006 Australian PGA. Goydos, is a two-time winner on the TOUR. In 2008, he came close to winning the prestigious PLAYERS, losing in a sudden-death playoff.

The Mayakoba Golf Classic has extended its age limit for free admission to Mexico's Only PGA TOUR Event.

Youth ages 17 and under, who are accompanied by a ticketed adult, will be admitted free to the third edition of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. In previous years, children 12 and under were given free access to the premier golf event in the country.

"In the surrounding area, we have a lot of youth in this certain age group who are interested in golf and sports in general," Tournament Director Larson Segerdahl said. "Part of our goal is to encourage youth to participate in this great game."

Since its inception, organizers for the Mayakoba Golf Classic have made junior golf a top priority. The tournament founded the Golf PARa Todos program—a series of weekend clinics that was attended by more than 2500 people in 2008, the majority of them children and junior golfers.

The Mayakoba Golf Classic is offering a new spot in 2009 for fans to gather and enjoy tournament action while soaking in the spectacular Caribbean views.

The Greg Norman Estates Pavilion is a new addition to El Camaleón's Signature Hole, the par-3 15th, which sits on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. The elevated facility will be completely open to the public and free of charge to any ticketed tournament spectator or guest. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. Beer and Greg Norman Estates Wine are just a small part of the menu.

"We felt we needed to provide more for the general public in this area of the golf course," said Tournament Director Larson Segerdahl. "This is a beautiful spot with tremendous natural views. Also, the fans will be able to see some great golf from this location."

The 15th hole is a beautiful par-three with the green on the edge of the beach. The hole is one of the shortest on the PGA TOUR schedule. However, when winds are blowing off the Caribbean, this can be one of the toughest holes on the course. On Championship Sunday, it can play a pivotal role in the outcome as leaders begin the final stretch to the clubhouse and the trophy!

The Mayakoba Golf Classic would not be possible without the help of our outstanding Ambassador teams. Training and orientation sessions for all Ambassadors will take place over the next several days at the Yaxche Embassy. Once again, Yaxche Maya Cuisine will provide complimentary gourmet meals inspired by the Maya and their cooking traditions for all MGC Ambassadors.

If you have signed up to be an Ambassador, please take a moment to review a few important notes as you make your final preparations:

Ambassador Scheduling: All Ambassadors should have already received an email which includes your schedule and job assignment. If you did not receive this email, please contact the Tournament Office at ops@gwse.com. In the event, you are unable to honor your commitment, please contact the Tournament Staff immediately so your position can be filled by another Ambassador.

Ambassador Training: Training sessions for Ambassadors will be held at various times throughout the day on Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, February 15. Shuttle drivers will have a training session on Monday, February 16. Training for Walking Scorers will be held Sunday, February 22. All training sessions will be held at the Yaxche Embassy, located within the Mayakoba Resort. Each Ambassador will receive detailed information on which session they should attend, based upon your job assignment.

Ambassador Uniforms: Ambassador uniforms will consist of a Greg Norman Collection golf shirt & hat; Ambassadors are asked to wear khaki pants, shorts or skirt. This uniform, your credentials & additional Ambassador information will be distributed at the training sessions.

Ambassador Parking: Parking for all Ambassadors will be located adjacent to the Yaxche Embassy located within the Mayakoba Resort. Security personnel will direct you to the appropriate parking location . Please be sure to bring your Ambassador parking credential to access the property during the event.

The Mayakoba Golf Classic and its staff extends a special thank you to the hundreds of Ambassadors dedicating their time and energy to making Mexico's Only PGA TOUR Event a success. All of your hard work, dedication, and commitment is greatly appreciated.

For any questions, please contact ops@gwse.com or call the tournament office.