Shaw Charity Classic  —Mediate commits to Calgary on 10-year anniversary of U.S. Open battle—

CALGARY—Rocco Mediate teed off the 10th anniversary of his epic U.S. Open playoff battle with Tiger Woods by booking his plane ticket to Calgary to play in the sixth edition of the Shaw Charity Classic, August 27 – September 2, 2018.

Mediate has captured the hearts of Calgarians since he hoisted the first Shaw Charity Classic championship trophy in 2013 following a seven-shot victory at the inaugural event.

“I’ve had days like it, but never weeks. That was my lowest score ever in three days,” said Mediate following his impressive debut in Calgary where he tied the lowest 54-hole total at 22-under-par on the PGA TOUR Champions.

“The crowds in Calgary are great every year and as good as we have all year pretty much, so it is a lot of fun to play here. I loved the golf course as soon as I saw it because of the little bitty fairways and lots of trees. It fits my eye and I’m excited to get back up to Calgary.”

Often seen sporting a Calgary Flames hat in each of his return visits to Canyon Meadows Golf and Country, one of the most colourful characters in golf has amassed six PGA TOUR victories through his career. Since dusting the field in Calgary five years ago, Mediate won his first major on the senior swing in 2016, when he finished on top at the Senior PGA Championship. His only other victory on the PGA TOUR Champions also came during his rookie season in 2013 when he won the Allianz Championship.

“What can I say – Calgary is one of my favourite places on earth so I can’t wait to get back up there,” said Mediate. “It really is the people who make this event what it is. Everyone in the community comes out to support the event with the primary goal to raise money for youth-based charities. The money they have raised for children’s charities is just crazy. I don’t know how they do it. It just doesn’t happen anywhere else so I’m very proud to always have my name attached to this tournament.”

The announcement comes on the 10th anniversary of Mediate’s riveting playoff with Tiger Woods in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The well documented David vs Goliath showdown was set up after Tiger hit a clutch 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a head-to-head battle with Rocco. Matching shot-for-shot with the golf legend over 18 holes, Rocco finally succumbed on the first sudden-death extra hole in what will go down in golf’s history books as one of the most compelling battles ever.

The memory remains fresh 10 years later – a story Rocco is asked about every day.

“It was an extraordinary 48 hours – to be a U.S. Open champion, I can’t even imagine what that would have been like. But, it was an amazing time and I learned a lot about myself,” said Mediate. “Everyone expected destruction that Monday. I never thought that was going to happen, even when I was three strokes down. I thought ‘if I just get my head out of my butt here, I’ll be fine’. And I was one up five holes later. That’s what changed it. If he’d beaten me by six, who cares? But all of a sudden, it was cuckoo there in the middle of the round. It was the loudest, most amazing four hours on a golf course in my life. You almost had to cover your ears walking between holes.”

One of the most entertaining characters on the PGA TOUR, good golf and fascinating storytelling is sure to follow Mediate around the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club fairways in August.

“Rocco is without a doubt one of the most popular players in golf and is at the core of what the Shaw Charity Classic is all about,” said Sean Van Kesteren, executive director, Shaw Charity Classic. “Whether it is putting on a show of skill and sportsmanship on the golf course, providing endless entertainment for our spectators, or his commitment to having a positive impact on the youth-based charities associated with our tournament, Rocco Mediate truly is a champion of Calgary and the Shaw Charity Classic. We are very lucky to have him back with us this summer.”

Golf fans planning to attend the 2018 Shaw Charity Classic have the opportunity to take advantage of discounted Early Bird Tickets until June 30. Corporate packages for the Shaw Charity Classic are available online at www.shawcharityclassic.com.

About the Shaw Charity Classic

The Shaw Charity Classic will host some of the greatest names in the game of golf in Calgary at the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, August 27 – September 2, 2018. The field, which will consist of 78 stars on the PGA TOUR Champions, will compete for US $2.35 million in a three-round, 54-hole stroke-play tournament. The winner will receive US $352,500. The annual PGA TOUR Champions stop in Canada showcases Calgary to the world through its broadcast on the Golf Channel. Led by a philanthropic Patron Group including Tournament Chairman – Clay Riddell, Allan Markin, Keith MacPhail, Jim Riddell, Guy Turcotte, Gary Peddle, Mike Culbert and PGA Tour Professional – Stephen Ames, along with title sponsor, Shaw Communications Inc, the Shaw Charity Classic won the prestigious President’s Award as the top event on the PGA TOUR Champions in 2017, 2015 and 2014. The Tournament has raised more than $22.1 million in its first five years, with a PGA TOUR Champions record setting donation of $8,391,413 raised in 2017 that was distributed amongst 159 youth-based charities in Alberta. For more information on the event, please visit www.shawcharityclassic.com. Follow the Shaw Charity Classic at facebook.com/shawcharityclassic and on Twitter @shawclassic.

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For More Information:                                              

Chris Dornan                                         

Shaw Charity Classic                 

T: 403-620-8731