Shaw Charity Classic – CALGARY—Three adopted Calgarians – Jeff Maggert, Fred Couples and Rocco Mediate – will be wearing their white champion’s Smithbilt cowboy hats when they return to Calgary this summer — at the end of August.

 

The three former champions of the Shaw Charity Classic – Maggert (2015), Couples (2014) and Mediate (2013) – have all confirmed they will compete in the fourth annual Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country, August 31 – September 4, 2016.

 

Jeff Maggert stole the thunder one year ago when he blitzed the field and the greatest names in the game with a final round 6-under-par 64, sparking a four-shot win. The Texan looked right at home when he put on the winner’s cowboy hat on the 18th green.

 

“I’ve lived in Texas for 40 years so I’ve seen a few cowboy hats in my time. It felt good to put it on, and I definitely cherish this one,” said the 52-year-old Maggert, who was trailing heading into Sunday at the 2015 Shaw Charity Classic. “Winning in Calgary was the icing on the cake last year in my first full year on the PGA TOUR Champions. I made a plan to make birdies early and I walked off the ninth green with the lead. It is such a great event and I’m looking forward to coming back!”

 

Maggert’s four wins on the senior circuit in 2015, including two majors, topped his total of three wins during his 25 years on the PGA TOUR. In addition to the Shaw Charity Classic title in 2015, he also captured the Regions Tradition, U.S. Senior Open and Dick’s Sporting Goods Open. The 52-year-old also won in his PGA TOUR Champions debut at the 2014 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. Maggert is one of eight players to win on all PGA TOUR sponsored tours (PGA TOUR, Web.com, and PGA TOUR Champions).

 

Another one of the Tour’s featured players with connections to Texas, Fred Couples, will also return to the delight of Calgary golf fans. A crowd favourite, Couples won the 2014 event in thrilling fashion after a career-best final round 61 that included a chip-in eagle on the 54th hole. Couples got sized up for a white cowboy hat of his own after winning the first playoff hole over Billy Andrade.

 

It was the 11th and last victory for Couples on the PGA TOUR Champions. A winner of 15 PGA TOUR events, the smooth swinging Couples won the 1992 Masters Tournament. He joined the PGA TOUR Champions in 2010. After finishing second in his first start, he went on to win his next three events, becoming the first player ever to win three of his first four tournaments. He also has two major championship victories on PGA TOUR Champions: 2011 Senior Players Championship, and The Senior Open Championship in 2012.

 

“Calgary has been a very enjoyable place for me. I have always said that I really like the course, and I feel like I can play it well. To win in 2014 was such a great feeling,” said Couples, who was briefly tied for the lead last year before bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes dropped him out of contention.

 

“As long as I’m healthy I plan on coming to Calgary every year. The people at Shaw are incredible. The crowds are huge and the course is always in great shape. Hopefully we can put on another great show in August.”

 

Calgary has always been a special place for Rocco Mediate. His love for the Stampede City became stronger after getting white hatted following the inaugural Shaw Charity Classic in 2013.

 

Mediate, who missed last year’s tournament to be at home with his family, is looking to relive some of the magic from his impressive seven-shot victory three years ago. The adopted Calgarian tied the lowest 54-hole total at 22-under-par 191 on the PGA TOUR Champions. Mediate comes into Calgary this summer having won his first major on the senior swing, and first win since his Shaw Charity Classic title, when he finished on top at the 2016 Senior PGA Championship.

 

“I have had good days, but never weeks like I had in 2013. That was my lowest score ever in three days. It was one of those things where you get done and you’re like, ‘What the heck did I shoot?’ Everything was going, a lot of things happened that year. It was just freaky,” said Mediate. “I hated missing last year. Calgary is one of my favourite places so I can’t wait to get back up there again.”

 

Likely remembered by golf fans most for taking Tiger Woods to 91 holes before succumbing in the epic 2008 U.S. Open, the colourful Mediate won six PGA TOUR events. His only other victory on the PGA TOUR Champions also came in 2013 when he won the Allianz Championship.

 

The three former champions add additional fire power to a star-studded field that includes World Golf Hall of Fame members, Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer. The newest star of the PGA TOUR Champions, John Daly, will also bomb it off the tee at Canyon Meadows. Scott McCarron has also confirmed he will be back in Calgary in hopes of claiming his second victory of the year. McCarron and his wife Jenny will also lead the fun 5 kilometre Birdies for Kids Champions Run.

 

Tickets, hospitality and sponsorship packages for the Shaw Charity Classic are available online at www.shawcharityclassic.com. Youth 17-and-under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. For more information on the sponsorship and hosting opportunities at the 2016 Shaw Charity Classic August 31 – September 4, please visit 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 31 – September 4, 2016. The field, which will consist of 81 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 and 352 Charles Schwab Cup Points. The only annual PGA TOUR Champions stop in Canada will showcase Calgary to the world through its broadcast on the Golf Channel. Led by a philanthropic Patron Group including Tournament Chairman – Clay Riddell, Vice Chairman – Allan Markin, Keith MacPhail, Jim Riddell, Guy Turcotte, Gary Peddle and PGA Tour Professional – Stephen Ames, along with title sponsor, Shaw Communications, the Shaw Charity Classic won the PGA TOUR Champions prestigious President’s Award in 2015 and 2014. The Tournament has raised more than $8.5 million in its first three years, with a PGA TOUR Champions record setting donation of $3,942,712 raised in 2015 that was distributed amongst 99 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. The Shaw Charity Classic is managed by Bruno Event Team and Shaw Communications Inc.

 

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For further information, please contact:                 

Chris Dornan                                        

Shaw Charity Classic               

T: 403-620-8731