PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The first two of the Nationwide Tour's "20 Greatest Moments" in Tour history were unveiled over the weekend on GOLF CHANNEL's telecasts of the Stonebrae Classic and on PGATOUR.COM.
The first two moments involved the announcement of the Tour's formation in 1989 and Zach Johnson's win at the 2007 Masters tournament:
The Tour is Announced, 1989
At a Fort Worth, Texas, press conference in October 1989, the PGA TOUR announced plans to start a new tour with the support of the legendary Ben Hogan and his golf equipment company. Four months later, the 30-event tour was officially launched when then-Commissioner Deane Beman hit the ceremonial first tee shot at Bakersfield Country Club in Californica. Twenty years later, the Nationwide Tour has evolved into the recognized proving ground of the PGA TOUR, transitioning hundreds of world-class players and TOUR champions onto the game's biggest stage. WATCH ![]()
Zach Johnson Wins the Masters, 2007
Four years after earning Nationwide Tour Player of the Year honors in dominating fashion, Zach Johnson became the first Nationwide Tour alumnus to win the Masters tournament with his 2007 victory. The victory completes what John Daly (1991 PGA Championship, 1995 British Open) and Ernie Els (1994 U.S. Open) began -- the Nationwide Tour's grand slam of golf's four major championship titles. WATCH ![]()
The remaining 18 "Greatest Moments" will be unveiled on the nine GOLF CHANNEL telecasts of Nationwide Tour tournaments between April and September, with two new ones airing over the four days of the telecasts and on PGATOUR.COM.
The next two moments will air later this month during the South Georgia Classic (April 20-26). The final two moments will be revealed during the Albertsons Boise Open (September 14-20).
The No. 1 moment in Nationwide Tour history will be announced on GOLF CHANNEL and PGATOUR.COM on the final day of the season (Oct. 25), during the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island (S.C.). The greatest moment will be based on a fan vote conducted on PGATOUR.COM that will commence after all 20 moments have been revealed.
Throughout the 2009 season, all moments that have been unveiled will be available for viewing on PGATOUR.COM.
The "20 Greatest Moments" is the centerpiece of this year's 20th-year celebration of the Nationwide Tour.