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 Justin Timberlake will host a PGA Tour event this month. (Photo: JD Cuban/Golf Digest) In a game of odd man out, the last guy goes — at least to a certain segment of society. But, at only 27, Timberlake has already joined the others on that eclectic list as a celebrity host of a PGA Tour event. Timberlake begins a five-year stint this month as host of the Justin Timberlake Shriners’ Hospital for Children’s Open, to be played at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. Las Vegas has been on the PGA Tour’s calendar since 1983, when Fuzzy Zoeller won the inaugural Panasonic Las Vegas Pro-Celebrity Classic. And some famous players have won various-named events in Sin City over the years, including Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk. But, like other events on the PGA Tour’s Fall Finish, the Las Vegas tournament has become more of a platform for younger players trying to move up the money list or for veterans trying to stay in the top 125 to keep their cards. “The addition of Justin as title host has already had a noticeable increase in ticket sales, and will increase the celebrities who play in our pro-am,” said Gary Davis, chairman of the event’s executive committee. “And we feel that our field of professionals will be the strongest in years based on the early conversations we’ve had. I know a lot of players’ wives we’ve spoken to are really excited.” As part of his duties, Timberlake’s name and image will accompany all marketing materials, and he’ll also participate in the trophy presentation and pre-tournament events, such as a concert on Oct. 17, midway through the tournament. “Justin has had a keen interest in getting involved with professional golf for a long time,” Davis said. “He’s a great golfer who loves the game and he contacted the PGA Tour about getting involved with an event, and said he specifically likes Las Vegas. Around the same time, Shriners were in the process of becoming involved and it’s turned out to be a great marriage between them, the PGA Tour and Justin.” Davis doesn’t expect the pairing of PGA Tour events and celebrities in the title to become a trend because corporate sponsors are the driving force behind the purses. “I think this is a more special thing for Justin,” Davis said. “He likes golf and is passionate about it. That’s not to say there won’t be other celebrities who won’t want to attach themselves to a golf event, but I don’t think there’s a huge list of them lining up.” A history of stars on Tour Eight current PGA Tour events have had celebrity names attached to the tournaments over the years: 1937: Bing Crosby Professional-Amateur. Crosby’s name was attached to this event the six years it was held at Rancho Santa Fe Country Club and the first 38 years it was held on the Monterey Peninsula. In 1986, it was changed to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. 1965: Bob Hope Desert Classic. Formerly the Palm Springs Golf Classic and now known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Hope’s name is still part of the event and will remain so as long as funds are raised for charity. 1968: Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational. Formerly the San Diego Open Invitational and now the Buick Invitational. 1970: Danny Thomas Memphis Classic. Formerly known as the Memphis Open Invitational, the event is now the FedEx St. Jude Classic. 1972: Jackie Gleason’s Inverrary Classic. Gleason helped launch this event in Florida. It’s now the Honda Classic. 1973: Dean Martin Tucson Open. The crooner lent his name to the Tucson Open for three years before Joe Garagiola took over host duties in 1977 for seven years. 1973: Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open. The entertainer’s name was associated with the event, now known as the Travelers Championship, for 15 years. 1975: Ed McMahon-Jaycees Quad Open. Formerly the Quad Cities Open, the Illinois event is now the John Deere Classic. |
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