Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am

TAMPA, FL - Officials at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am have confirmed that rock ‘n roller Huey Lewis will play in the 2007 tournament as well as the Tuesday Aussie Bash, along with his band, Huey Lewis and the News.  The tournament is scheduled for February 12 - 18 at the TPC Tampa Bay.

Musician and occasional actor, Lewis is best known for his lead vocals in Huey Lewis & The News.  He was the voice of the 80s. Huey Lewis & The News soared to the top with many top hits: "Do You Believe in Love," "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do," "Workin' for a Livin'," "Heart and Soul," "I Want a New Drug," "The Heart of Rock and Roll," and "If This Is It," and "The Power of Love."

The Aussie Bash is the official kick-off party for participants of the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. In the Past years, featured performers have included: Hootie & the Blowfish, Jimmy Buffett, and Vince Gill. The Aussie Bash will be held at the A La Carte Event Pavilion on Tuesday night, February 13.

Other celebrity commitments to the tournament include former World No. 1 professional tennis player Jim Courier, former NFL quarterback and current television football announcer Joe Theismann and current NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Derrick Brooks and Rhonde Barber.
Former baseball great, Ray Knight (and husband of LPGA Golf Legend, Nancy Lopez) will play as a guest of one of the sponsors, The Villages.

Tickets are still available by calling the tournament office at 813-265-GOLF or visiting www.outbackproam.com.

About the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am & Tournament Format
The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am is the first-ever winner of the Inaugural Champions Tour President's Award that is given to the event that best exemplifies the Champions Tour commitment to presenting its product, charity and community involvement.
In its first three years, the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am Foundation, Inc. raised over $1,870,000 through corporate sponsorships and other charitable donations.  Since its inception 19 years ago, this tournament has contributed over $6.8 million to Tampa Bay area charities.
This year's charities are: Blooming Place for Kids, Derrick Brooks Charities, LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care, Tampa General Hospital Foundation and The Children's Home.

The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am Charity Foundation Inc. is a 501 C 3 not-for-profit organization founded in October of 2003.

The tournament format includes a full 76-player Champions Tour field.   In addition, 76 amateurs and celebrities will have the opportunity to play under actual tournament conditions throughout the weekend.  The Champions Tour players will compete with each other in the normal scoring format.  On Friday & Saturday - One (1) amateur with one (1) professional will play in a team format (76 twosomes).  Team scoring will be one best ball of two.  The pairing will remain the same throughout the competition.  On Sunday, 16 pro-am teams will advance based on low score.  Of the 16 amateurs, five (5) are guaranteed to be celebrities.  Starting times will be made based on the professionals score in the competition. 

The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am will be played at the TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, FL, February 12-18, 2007 and will be aired on The Golf Channel (Friday) and NBC Sports (Saturday and Sunday).

Champions Tour Facts
- There are now two new Champions Tour events in Florida that now comprise the five Florida events (Allianz Championship, Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, ACE Group Classic, GINN Championship @ Hammock Beach and the Boeing Championship at Sandestin) in February, March & May.

- Part of a 29/30 event schedule (Mexico still pending)

- 35 hours minimum of original broadcast exposure for the state of Florida over five weeks

- Nick Price to make his debut at Allianz Championship and Mark O'Meara is scheduled at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am

- Question: Will Tom Watson finally nab a professional win in the State now he has a course of his own design to compete on (course)?

About The Champions Tour

The Champions Tour is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older.  Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it started with just four events and purses totaling $475,000.  The Champions Tour will feature a minimum of 29 official Charles Schwab Cup events offering $54.1 million in prize money in 2007 and its highest average purse ever of $1.86 million.  The Champions Tour's primary purpose is to provide significant competitive and earnings opportunities for players age 50 and older; 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 addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, Champions Tour events also generate significant sums of money for charity.  The commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem.  Rick George is president of the Champions Tour.  TOUR headquarters is in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  Our web site address is PGATOUR.com.