CHICAGO and PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- With its new title sponsorship of the PGA TOUR's historic tournament at Riviera Country Club, Northern Trust announced today a series of tournament enhancements, starting with the 2008 Northern Trust Open, February, 11-17.
"In planning for this year's inaugural Northern Trust Open, we looked at how we could improve the experience for everyone involved, from the players and their families to tournament viewers worldwide," said Frederick H. Waddell, president and chief executive officer of Northern Trust Corporation.
This year's Northern Trust Open is projected to raise $2.5 million to support charities in Southern California, an increase of more than 30 percent from last year's event. To further align the event with the Los Angeles community, the tournament will include new celebrity and media components. The Michael Douglas and Friends Celebrity Golf outing will be held at Riviera Country Club on February 10, and GOLF CHANNEL will broadcast live the entire tournament week from a custom-built on-site studio.
Players will share a larger, $6.2 million purse and will enjoy smaller Pro-Am teams, and fans around the world will be able to use the new interactive Web site (http://www.northerntrustopen.com/) to check the leaderboard and talk with others online about the tournament -- 24 hours a day.
"We look forward to working with the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce and the PGA TOUR to expand on what is already a world-class event," Waddell explains. "We are committed to improving the tournament each year, shining the spotlight on this historic event, establishing Southern California as the destination for the TOUR's global spectators and increasing the amount we give back to the community."
"We are very pleased about Northern Trust's plans to elevate the profile of this tournament, which has such a wonderful history on the PGA TOUR," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "Northern Trust understands the importance of a title sponsor becoming fully engaged with all aspects of the tournament in order to maximize the overall experience. We are very excited about the future of the Northern Trust Open."
For additional information on the 2008 Northern Trust Open enhancements, please see attached.
About the Northern Trust Open
The tournament, held at the Riviera Country Club, is one of the most respected and revered tournaments on the PGA TOUR schedule, attracting many of the best professional players in the world of golf. It is one of the longest-running tournaments on the PGA TOUR and is the oldest civic-sponsored event, debuting in 1926 at Los Angeles Country Club. Since its inception, the tournament has generated more than $50 million for philanthropic projects and programs within Southern California.
Northern Trust announced its title sponsorship of the tournament Oct. 15, 2007, which is a five-year agreement running through 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.northerntrustopen.com/.
About Northern Trust Corporation
Northern Trust Corporation is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a multibank holding company based in Chicago, has a growing network of 85 offices in 18 U.S. states and has international offices in 13 locations in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. As of December 31, 2007, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$4.1 trillion, and assets under investment management of US$757.2 billion. Northern Trust, founded in 1889, has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining high-touch service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit http://www.northerntrust.com/.
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 2008, the three Tours will compete in 108 events for approximately $355 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in nine countries outside the U.S. and in 37 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 http://www.pgatour.com/ and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
Creating an Exceptional Tournament Experience
Northern Trust is proud to announce the following enhancements to improve the experience for everyone involved in the Northern Trust Open:
Players -- Increased purse to $6.2 million -- Smaller Pro-Am groups -- three amateurs and one professional per foursome -- Courtesy cars for all players (up from approximately half the field) TOUR Players' Families -- A private players' family lounge providing viewing and respite on course -- Exclusive brunch for spouses and companions with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis -- myLEADERBOARD* devices -- Special Valentine's Day recognition for spouses and companions, near or far Philanthropy -- Northern Trust Open is projected to raise $2.5 million in charitable contributions, a 32% increase over 2007 The PGA TOUR -- Heightened national presence through expanded advertising -- including North American print, television and online campaigns -- New outdoor advertising in the greater Los Angeles area, elevating the tournament's profile locally -- Celebrity engagement via the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Event at Riviera Country Club, which kicks off tournament week -- admission is free and open to the public Fans -- Free parking and shuttle bus service included with tickets -- Improved staging -- new, easier-to-read electronic leaderboards, and easier on-site spectator flow -- myLEADERBOARD* devices will be provided to the first 400 fans each day -- Live week-long broadcast on The Golf Channel from an on-site studio, including the debut of "Gearing Up," which will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Northern Trust Open -- A new interactive web site -- http://www.northerntrustopen.com/ -- providing daily tournament highlights, new tracking features, and online discussions about the day's experience -- 24/7 Media -- myLEADERBOARD* devices available each day -- Larger media center with a designated hospitality area -- Improved technology in the media center, including video streaming capabilities -- Lockers for photographers
