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June 30, 2008
6/26/08 9:04
101ST Airborne Parachute Demonstration Team to Deliver Ceremonial Golf Balls
BETHESDA, MD - The stage is set for another patriotic opening ceremony at the 2008 AT&T National that
will commemorate the official start of the tournament and serve as an opportunity to show support and appreciation for the
brave men and women who serve in our U.S. Military.
This year's ceremonial first shot began weeks ago as six sets of golf balls and drivers donated by Nike Golf arrived at
military bases in Germany, Japan, The United Kingdom, Iraq, Afghanistan, and on the USS Harry S. Truman. Each base selected
a member of the U.S. military to hit one ceremonial shot. The golf balls hit by each soldier at five of the six bases will
arrive at Congressional Country Club on Wednesday, July 2 at 11:00 a.m. for the ceremony at the 1st tee via special delivery
from the 101st Airborne Parachute Demonstration Team.
Waiting to receive the special delivery will be Fred Couples, joined by 25 children whose parents are actively serving
in the military. Two of the children, Maggie Rollins and Jeff Dahl will hit the ceremonial "shot from around the world" with
Fred and kick off the official start of the tournament. Jeff, whose father is a member of Army Special Forces, is from Somers
Point, N.J. While Maggie, whose father just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, is from Woodbridge, VA.
"I wanted this year's ceremony to honor the men and women who serve in our military and their families," Tiger Woods said.
"I grew up in a military household, which gave me an understanding of the sacrifices these soldiers and their families make
for all of us. It's our way of saying thanks to them."
The opening ceremony will also include performances by the U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Brass Quintet, the Joint Honor Guard
representing the five branches of the military, and an a cappella rendition of the National Anthem sung by 14-year-old Anna
Nicholson from Bowie, Maryland.
The 25 young people selected to participate in the opening ceremony were invited through a partnership with America Supports
You and Our Military Kids. All the children in Wednesday's ceremony have a parent who is currently deployed.
In addition to Fred Couples and 25 special guests, Leon Harris, news anchor at WJLA Channel 7, will serve as emcee for
the opening ceremony. Greg McLaughlin, President of The Tiger Woods Foundation, will deliver a special dedication in honor
of the late Ben Brundred Jr.
The AT&T National will be held July 2-6 and is expected to host some of the finest names in golf, including defending
2007 Champion K.J. Choi, Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Charles Howell III, Fred Funk, Zach Johnson, Trevor Immleman, Fred Couples,
Drew Weaver, Anthony Kim, Rocco Mediate and Stuart Appleby.
Tickets, which start at just $25 and can be ordered by calling 1-800-594-TIXX or visiting the tournament website at www.attnational.org.
About the Tiger Woods Foundation Since its inception in 1996 by Tiger Woods and his father Earl, the Tiger
Woods Foundation has reached an estimated 10 million young people through character development, career exploration, scholarships
and grant making programs. Programs developed and supported by the Tiger Woods Foundation all share a similar mission of empowering
young people to dream big and to set specific goals to achieve their dreams.
Specific programs of the Foundation include the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a youth-education facility and curriculum
based in Anaheim, California that will soon expand to Washington, D.C., and Tiger's Action Plan, a nationwide character development
program based on Earl D. Woods' book entitled Start Something. The Tiger Woods Foundation recently launched the Fist Pump
Challenge, an online program allowing young people to post videos celebrating a personal goal or achievement. More information
on the Tiger Woods Foundation and its programs can be found at www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org.
About AT&T AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries
and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world.
Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless,
high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising
sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in
such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment
offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list
and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products
and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein
are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
About Congressional Country Club The Congressional Country Club, which opened in 1924, is par-72 course
covering 7,173 yards. The course has played host to four majors--two U.S. Opens (1964 and 1997), one PGA Championship (1976)
and the U.S. Senior Open (1995) and will host the U.S. Open once again in 2011. The Kemper Open was played there from
1980-86 and the Booz Allen Classic was held there in 2005.
Congressman Oscar E. Bland and O.R. Lubring of Indiana, founders of the Club, set out to provide an informal common ground
where politicians and businessmen could meet as peers, unconstrained by red tape. They took their idea to Herbert Hoover,
then Secretary of Commerce, who agreed to serve as Founders' Club President and, from 1922-1923, Honorary Founding President
of a soon-to-be-built Congressional Country Club. Primarily because of the determination of these original two visionaries,
the Club was incorporated in December 1921. Construction of the Club took two and one-half years from concept to completion.
Its international recognition, intended for the world of politics, has been achieved instead in the world of golf.
About America Supports You America Supports You is an ongoing, nationwide program organized by the Department
of Defense to showcase Americans' support for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its launch in
November of 2004, America Supports You has welcomed more than 370 homefront organizations, in all 50 states, and 40 corporations
to the program. Many America Supports You homefront groups demonstrate their support for the troops through letter writing,
care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families, sending an email and much more-to learn
more about how you can support military personnel please visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
About the PGA TOUR The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary
purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour
and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the
world. In 2007, the three Tours will compete in approximately 110 events for approximately $340 million in prize money.
Tournaments are being held in six countries outside the U.S. and in 36 states. In addition to providing competitive
opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours
have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions. The PGA TOUR's web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
Contact: Emily Taylor/Rachel Rees, Tiger Woods Foundation, 301-365-6363
Brian Bishop, Brotman•Winter•Fried Communications, 703-534-4600 <BR> Susan
McCain, AT&T, 314-982-8664
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