This & That On The 2004 Merrill Lynch Shootout Field

NAPLES, Fla. (November 4, 2004) - Once again, an impressive collection of PGA TOUR players will arrive in Naples next week for the 16th Merrill Lynch Shootout. Here are some interesting facts about the careers of this special group.

Qualified for THE TOUR Championship:

Seven of the 24 players in the field have qualified for this week's THE TOUR Championship in Atlanta. The field consists of the top 30 players on the Official PGA TOUR Money List through October 31. Shootout participants playing this week are Steve Flesch, Rory Sabbatini, Chad Campbell, John Daly, Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Kenny Perry.

PGA TOUR Victories:

The 24 players in the field have 158 total victories.

Hall of Fame Members:

Two players -- Greg Norman and Nick Faldo.

World Golf Rankings:

Ten players in the field are ranked among the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings -- Chad Campbell (13th), Kenny Perry (15th), Jay Haas (23rd), Rory Sabbatini (31), Justin Leonard (33), Steve Flesch (36), Chris Riley (41), John Daly (43), Fred Funk (48).

Major Championship Titles:

17 major championships have been won by the 24 players in the field. Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Mark O'Meara and John Daly lead the group of 10 players who have multiple major triumphs.

Q-School Champs:

PGA TOUR Qualifying School is being conducted at this time. The only player in the field to win the Q-School Finals was Paul Azinger in 1984. During the 1985 season, Azinger played in 33 tournaments, had the first of his nine straight multiple top-10 seasons and earned $81,179 to finish 93rd on the money list.

Player of the Year Honors:

Two players in the Merrill Lynch Shootout field have been selected for this honor. Greg Norman was voted Player of the Year 1995 and Mark O'Meara was the PGA Tour's best in 1998.

Rookie of the Year Honors:

Three players in the field have been voted Rookie of the Year. John Daly claimed the award in 1991 followed by Steve Flesch, 1998 and Charles Howell III, 2001.

College Teammates:

Chad Campbell and Chris Riley, who are paired together for this year's Merrill Lynch Shootout, also played together in college at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in the late 1990s.

Wire-To-Wire Winners:

Three players in the field led a PGA TOUR event outright all four rounds on their way to victory. Paul Azinger did it at the 2000 Sony Hawaiian Open, Steve Elkington at the 1997 THE PLAYERS Championship, Greg Norman at both the 1994 THE PLAYERS Championship and the 1984 Kemper Open.

Top 50 All-Time PGA TOUR Winners:

Two players are among this elite group -- Greg Norman with 20 victories and Mark O'Meara with 16.

Vardon Trophy Winners:

Two players in the field won Vardon Trophy honors which is given annually by the PGA of America to the professional golfer with the lowest scoring average for a season. Greg Norman won it three times - in 1989 (69.49), 1990 (69.10) and 1994 (68.81). Steve Elkington won it in 1995 (69.62).

U.S. Amateur Champions:

Three players in the field have won one of the most prestigious amateur titles in the world. Mark O'Meara was the best U.S. amateur in 1979. Justin Leonard won it in 1992 and Hank Kuehne in 1998.

Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup:

Sixteen of the 24 players have participated in these two prestigious team events. Nick Faldo leads the group with 11 Ryder Cup appearances while Mark O'Meara has the most American starts with five.

Father-Son Teams:

This year will mark the second time in tournament history that a father and son will participate in the Merrill Lynch Shootout. Jay and Bill Haas are one of the 12 teams. Jay is completing one of his best years on the PGA TOUR. At age 50, he was a member of the Ryder Cup team and finished among the top 30 on the PGA TOUR money list. His son Bill turned professional after finishing at Wake Forest University and is seeking to earn his TOUR card. Earlier this year on a sponsor exemption at the Deutsche Bank Championship, Bill was paired with tournament leader Tiger Woods in the final group on Saturday and finished in the top 10 at that event. In 2000, Jack and Gary Nicklaus were a team. Gary was also a professional at the time and a member of the TOUR.

Multiple Victories:

Three players in the field have enjoyed seasons with three or more victories in a year. Paul Azinger did it twice, in 1987 and 1993 with three titles each year. Greg Norman won three times in 1986 and 1995 and Kenny Perry won three times in 2003.

Haas Honored:

This week at The TOUR Championship, Jay Haas received The Payne Stewart Award, given annually to a player sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support and his professional presentation of himself and the sport.

How Long Can You Go?

Fans will be able to watch two of the top three drivers on the PGA TOUR this year. Hank Kuehne is ranked No. 1 in this statistical category with a 314.4 average. John Daly is ranked third at 306.4.

How Well Can You Putt?

Two players in the field are currently ranked among the top-10 putters on TOUR -- John Daly (5th) and Loren Roberts (10th).

How Well Can You Scramble?

Jay Haas is currently ranked 8th in scrambling on the PGA TOUR. So, when you see Jay miss a fairway or a green, you can guess he will save par somehow.

About CureSearch NCCF

The CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) represents the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the world's largest and most prestigious childhood cancer research organization, comprised of a cooperative team of over 5,000 physicians, nurses, scientists and researchers dedicated to discovery and compassionate cures. There are more than 200 member institutions of the COG throughout North America where over 90 percent of all children with cancer are treated. The CureSearch NCCF and the COG are committed to conquering childhood cancer and share the vision to reach the day when every child with cancer can be offered the chance for a cure. Visit - or call 800-458-6223 for more information.

About Merrill Lynch

Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies with offices in 40 countries and territories and total client assets of approximately $1.5 trillion. As an investment bank, it is a leading global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a broad range of asset classes and serves as a strategic advisor to corporations, governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. Merrill Lynch owns approximately half of BlackRock, one of the world's largest publicly traded investment management companies with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. For more information on Merrill Lynch, please visit www.ml.com.

About Tiburón Golf Club

Tiburón, a 36-hole Greg Norman-design course was carved from 800 acres of prime southwest Florida real estate. The courses reflect Norman's appreciation for pristine natural settings and his passion for great golf. The Black and The Gold courses contain a combination of stacked sod-wall bunkers and tricky coquina waste bunkers. Certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International, Tiburón reflects a strong commitment to enhancing and protecting the natural resources.

About CureSearch

CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation proudly supports the collaborative research efforts of the world's largest and most prestigious childhood cancer research organization, CureSearch Children's Oncology Group. At more than 200 member institutions - representing every pediatric cancer program and treating 90 percent of children with cancer in North America - CureSearch is making rapid scientific progress to identify cancer causes and pioneer better treatments and cures. CureSearch is dedicated to reaching the day when every child with cancer can be guaranteed a cure. For more information visit www.CureSearch.org or call 800.458.6223.

About The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples is the proud recipient of AAA's highest honor: The Five-Diamond Award, establishing it as one of the greatest resorts in the country. The resort also scored an impressive ranking as the #1 resort in Florida in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's annual reader's poll and #3 in Florida by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. In the November 2004 issue of Golf Digest magazine, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort was ranked as the No. #1 luxury golf resort in Florida and No. #25 in North America, beating out some of the long-standing top golf resorts in the country. The 295-room resort is Florida's finest luxury golf resort and is renowned for its incredible cuisine, outstanding service and luxurious rooms with panoramic views of the Greg Norman-designed golf course.

Contact

Lee Patterson, 704-553-4790, pattersonprinc@yahoo.com

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