Championship Dates: May 18-24 (42nd consecutive playing)

Location: Tournament Players Course (TPC) at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas, Irving, Texas.

2008 Champion: Adam Scott

Purse: The $6.5 million in prize money for the 2009 EDS Byron Nelson Championship is among the largest purses for a non-major PGA TOUR event. The champion of this prestigious event receives $1.170 million.

Television Coverage: GOLF CHANNEL airs live early-round coverage on Thursday and Friday. CBS carries the final two rounds live on Saturday and Sunday.

Television Schedule:

Thursday 21 - Friday 22: 2-5 (CDT)*   The Golf Channel

Saturday 23 - Sunday 24: 2-5 (CDT)   CBS

* Replay of coverage 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. on The Golf Channel

Sponsor: The Salesmanship Club of Dallas, in partnership with Salesmanship Club Charitable Golf of Dallas, is in its 42nd year as the Championship sponsor. EDS has committed to the title sponsorship through 2014.  For more information on EDS and the Championship, please visit www.eds.com/byronnelson.

Charity: Proceeds from the EDS Byron Nelson Championship benefit Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a nonprofit organization that is helping transform children's futures and creating new possibilities for success through its education and mental health treatment programs for children and their families in the greater Dallas area. 

The 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship contributed over $6.4 million to Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers to assist in funding its programs. Since its inception, the Championship has raised more than $100 million for charity, more than any other PGA TOUR event.

For more information visit, www.salesmanshipclub.org

Byron Nelson: In 1945, Byron Nelson accomplished an incredible winning streak that has not been challenged and will likely stand forever. He finished that year with 18 victories, including 11 straight, and established a record for lowest scoring average (68.33), which remained untouched for 55 years.

During his career, Byron Nelson won 52 PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournaments, including the 1939 U.S. Open, the 1937 and 1942 Masters, and the 1940 and 1945 PGA Championships. The EDS Byron Nelson Championship is proud to be the first event on the PGA TOUR named after a professional golfer.

In 2000, Byron Nelson was the recipient of the inaugural Payne Stewart Award. This award is presented to the PGA TOUR member who best represents the professionalism and commitment to charity, golf tradition and personal presentation that Payne Stewart exemplified. In 2006, Byron received the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian efforts. He passed away in September, 2006.

ADDITIONAL FACTS ON ATTENDANCE, MEDIA, TELEVISION AND PUBLICITY

Attendance: The 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship drew 246,500 fans, with 62,000 attending the final round of play. The event has sold out 12 consecutive years. 2007 -- 262,500; 2006 -- 253,000, 2005 -- 259,000, 2004 -- 285,000, 2003 -- 253,500, 2002 - 272,000; 2001 - 273,500; 2000 - 273,000; 1999 - 260,000; 1998 - 250,000; 1997 - 260,000).

Credentialed Media: Media coverage of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship has been excellent as well. In 2008, more than 430 media credentials were issued. The event receives consistent coverage from national media outlets such as Sports Illustrated, Golf World, Golfweek, and Golf Digest.

Television Ratings: Early round coverage of the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship aired via The Golf Channel on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday's third round coverage aired on CBS and earned a 0.9 national rating.

Sunday's final round of the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship aired on CBS and received a 1.0 national rating.

PGATOUR.COM: The EDS Byron Nelson Championship's official tournament Web site has increased the event's worldwide exposure. The world's No. 1 golf site, PGATOUR.COM, directed more than 13 million fans to information about the event during tournament week. It also provides an in-depth look at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship while allowing golf fans to access video highlights, audio interviews and purchase tickets.

Strength of Field: The 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship provided spectators with a field including top PGA TOUR players and local fan favorites such as Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Rory Sabbatini, and Scott Verplank.

Weather History: An annual TOUR event played in the spring will encounter its share of inclement weather. However, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship has had good luck along the way with the elements. Since 1968, the event has completed all 72 holes in 33-of-36 events, losing only four complete rounds of golf in that span (two rounds lost in 1994, one each in 1992 and 1990).

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