Masters Champion and the world’’s fourth-ranked player Phil Mickelson has confirmed his participation in the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship in less than four weeks time when the world’’s top golfers take to the fairways at Mount Juliet Conrad from September 30 – October 3 to compete for their share of the $7 million purse.
Mickelson has had an extremely successful season to date finishing in the top ten in all four Major Championships. In April he won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National when he finished one shot ahead of South African Ernie Els to take the Green Jacket and claim the first Major title of his career. On the final day Mickelson shot 31 on the back nine, which was the lowest final round back nine by a winner since Jack Nicklaus, when he shot 30 in 1986.
The American looked set to win the second Major Championship of the year the US Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills only to finish in second place behind South African Retief Goosen, where they were the only two players to break par for 72 holes.
At the 133rd Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club, the third Major of the season, Mickelson finished third missing out by one stroke on a place in the play-off between Els and eventual winner Todd Hamilton.
Most recently at Whistling Straits, venue for the final Major this year, Mickelson finished on six under par to tie for sixth place, recording his fourth top ten in the 2004 Majors.
Mickelson’’s entry means that nine of the top ten golfers in the world have now officially confirmed for the World Golf Championships – American Express Championship at Mount Juliet Conrad, including three of this year’’s Major winners.
Already confirmed in the line up are new World Number One Vijay Singh and top ten players Ernie Els, Davis Love III, Retief Goosen, Mike Weir, Padraig Harrington and Jim Furyk.
Further commitments will be announced in the coming days.
The world’’s top 50 players are automatically eligible to compete for a prize fund of $7 million with a record first prize fund of $1.2 million for the Champion. The prize fund has grown by $1.5 million since the World Golf Championships – American Express Championship at Mount Juliet Conrad in 2002, when World Number One Tiger Woods captured the title and a winner’’s cheque of $1 million.
Tickets available on line at: www.ticketmaster.ie or by calling Ticketmaster, Republic of Ireland: 0818-719377 or UK including Northern Ireland; 0870-1780036.
Note: Tickets purchased on line from 22nd September are available for collection only at the gate.
Single day ticket: Practice days Tuesday/Wednesday €27
Single day ticket: Thursday/Friday €42
Single day ticket: Saturday/Sunday €47
2-day tickets for Thurs. & Fri. €68
2-day tickets for Sat. & Sun.€78
Season Ticket: €120
OAP Competition days €33 (Practice Days €27)
U16 Free when accompanied by an adult
ABOUT THE AMERICAN EXPRESS CHAMPIONSHIP
The American Express Championship is one of four tournaments worldwide that make up the World Golf Championships. The 2004 American Express Championship will be contested from September 30 – October 3 at Mount Juliet Conrad.
Tiger Woods won the inaugural WGC – American Express Championship in 1999, defeating Spain’’s Miguel Angel Jiménez in a play-off at Club de Golf Valderrama. Canada’’s Mike Weir was victorious in 2000, holding off Europe’’s Volvo Order of Merit winner, Lee Westwood of England.
The 2001 American Express Championship was cancelled due to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. In 2002 Woods withstood a final round charge by Retief Goosen to win by a single shot when the event was first held at Mount Juliet Conrad.
The World Number One retained the title at the Capital City Club in Atlanta last year, his eighth victory in the World Golf Championship series.
The World Golf Championships are sanctioned and organised by the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, The European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Southern Africa Tour. The Canadian Tour is an Associate Member of the Federation.
The WGC – American Express Championship will be the third of four World Golf Championships events to be contested in 2004. The WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship was held at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California in February where Woods claimed his second Accenture Match Play Championship title, defeating Davis Love III 3 and 2.The WGC – NEC Invitational was played at Firestone Country Club from August 17 - 22 when Stewart Cink defeated Rory Sabbatini and Woods by four strokes. The final tournament in the series is the WGC – World Cup which will take place at the Real Club de Golf Sevilla in Spain from November 18 – 21.
ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company. Founded in 1850, the company provides individuals with charge and credit cards, travellers cheques and other stored value products. It also offers financial planning, brokerage services, mutual funds, insurance and other investment products.
Through its family of Corporate Card services, American Express helps companies and institutions manage their travel, entertainment and purchasing expenses. It provides investment management services and administers pension and other employee benefit plans. The company also offers accounting and tax preparation services to small businesses, and financial education services to employees at their places of work.
As the world's largest travel agency, American Express offers travel and related services to individuals and corporations around the globe. The company also provides banking services to corporations, wealthy entrepreneurs, financial institutions and retail customers outside the United States.
American Express is proud to be a sponsor of the World Golf Championships and title sponsors of the American Express Championship. The American Express brand stands for excellence and achievement and accordingly this series of tournaments showcases the finest golfers in the world today.
