United States going for three-peat in third-annual UBS Cup

With team captain Arnold Palmer trying to remain unbeaten as a captain in international play, the United States will try for its third straight UBS Cup title at the third-annual UBS Cup, held at the spectacular Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club Nov. 20-23.

The $3 million UBS Cup features two 12-man teams competing in a Ryder Cup style format. Each team consists of six players 40-49 and six players 50 and older.

Tony Jacklin is the Rest of the World captain for the first time. Jacklin will lead a team consisting of 40-49-year-old players Nick Faldo, Barry Lane, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Eduardo Romero and Ian Woosnam, and 50-and-older players Rodger Davis, Vicente Fernandez, Bill Longmuir, Carl Mason and Des Smyth.

Palmer’s United States roster consists of 40-49-year-olds Brad Faxon, Scott Hoch, Rocco Mediate, Mark O’Meara, Curtis Strange and Hal Sutton, and 50-and-older players Ray Floyd, Hale Irwin, Bruce Lietzke, Craig Stadler and Tom Watson.

As U.S. captain, Palmer will try piloting the U.S. team to its third straight UBS Cup title and his sixth international team title. Before leading the Americans to victories in 2001 (12 ?-11 ?), and 2002 (14 ?-9 ?), Palmer captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team to wins in 1963 and 1975 and the U.S. President’s Cup team to victory in 1996.

„My players have always been quite good,” Palmer said. „I tried to juggle them into the right positions and get their interest and focus on what they were doing.”

Jacklin could make the same claim. In 1987, he guided the European Ryder Cup team to perhaps its most impressive victory in the event’s storied history – a 15-13 victory over the host Americans that gave Europe its first Ryder Cup victory on U.S. soil. This came two years after Jacklin captained the Europeans to their first victory in 28 years. Counting the European Team’s victory in 1989, he is 3-1 as a Ryder Cup captain.

2003 UBS Cup
The third annual UBS Cup will be played at the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia, November 20-23. The United States will be defending its title against the Rest of the World in the $3 million, match-play event that features two 12-man teams competing in a Ryder-Cup style format.

Jacklin takes over from Gary Player, who was the Rest of the World captain for the first two UBS Cups. The UBS Cup is sanctioned by the European Seniors Tour and the PGA TOUR.

Six Foursome matches will be played on Friday, Nov. 21, six four-ball matches on Saturday, Nov. 22 and 12 singles matches will conclude play on Sunday, Nov. 23. A pro-am will precede the competition on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Television
The Golf Channel will devote 45 hours of worldwide coverage to the UBS Cup, with much of that in prime time. The telecasts will begin with Opening Ceremonies, before moving into prime-time coverage of the six Foursomes matches Friday, Nov. 21 from 8 p.m. to midnight (ET). Six four-ball matches will air Saturday, Nov. 22 from 8 p.m. to midnight (ET), and the 12 singles matches will air Sunday Nov. 23 from 8 p.m. to midnight (ET). Replays of the action, which include the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, will begin Saturday, Nov. 22 and run through the week following the event. The Golf Channel is viewed in more than 60 million homes worldwide.

Ticket Information
Ticket pricing for the 2003 event will feature daily tickets for the first time. Comfortable viewing will be the rule as galleries will be limited to 10,000 spectators each day. Thursday pro-am tickets are priced at $30 and Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets will be $35 each day. Ticket and tournament information is available by calling the toll-free number: (866) 238-6596, or at the tournament website at www.ubs.com/golfcup.

Charity
Charitable beneficiary of the UBS Cup is A Better Chance, which identifies and recruits academically talented and motivated students of color and guides them toward a variety of educational opportunities.

UBS
UBS is one of the world’s leading financial services firms with more than 68,000 employees in more than 50 countries. UBS is comprised of three business groups: UBS Investment Bank, UBS Wealth Management and UBS Global Asset Management.

Sea Island
Sea Island, a world-class residential and resort destination, was recently selected to host the G-8 Summit next June (2004), when more than a dozen world leaders will meet to discuss economics, security and other world issues. Fourth generation CEO of Sea Island Bill Jones III is in the midst of parlaying a 70-year tradition of warm hospitality and superior amenities into the quintessential resort destination of the 21st century.

Brunswick-Golden Isles
Located on the Georgia coast, Brunswick & The Golden Isles—St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island—is an area of astonishing beauty, mild year ‘round weather and a natural radiance that inspires the name, The Golden Isles. Visitors enjoy sun-drenched beaches, 234 holes of golf, acres of tennis courts, rich historical sites, all sorts of fishing and water sports, wonderful shops, boutiques and galleries, and great restaurants, wherever they go. There are accommodations for every taste and tempo, from national chains to full-service resorts, bed-and-breakfast inns, rental cottages, campgrounds and even a private island retreat. For a free Visitors Guide, call the Brunswick-Golden Isles of Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1-800-933-COAST (2627) or visit online at bgicvb.com.

IMG
IMG, which is managing and staging the event, is the world’s largest, most diverse and only truly global company dedicated to the marketing and management of sport, leisure and lifestyle. IMG employs a staff of nearly 3,000 people and has offices, sports academies and IMG-managed real estate facilities in 34 countries.