Mediate First Commitment To Merrill Lynch Shootout

Courtesy of Naples Daily News

Naples, Fla. - Naples resident Rocco Mediate is the first commitment for this year's Merrill Lynch Shootout.

The tournament is Dec. 10-14 at Tiburón Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. This marks the 20th anniversary of the Merrill Lynch Shootout.

"What a great way to kick off the Merrill Lynch Shootout season with the announcement that one of Naples' own will be joining us," tournament director Taylor Ives said. "Given Rocco's ties to the community and successful 2008 season, I am certain that he will be a popular choice with our galleries in December."

Mediate, partnered with Lee Janzen, captured the 2002 Shootout title with a birdie on the 54th hole.

Mediate and Tiger Woods captured the attention of millions during their play in the U.S. Open in June with a head-to-head battle that will long be remembered as one of golf's greatest moments. Following a Monday playoff, Woods emerged victorious after 19 holes were needed to decide a champion.

Mediate's outgoing personality endeared him to fans, and his popularity soared after battling Woods.

Mediate partnered with former college teammate Lee Janzen to win the 2002 Merrill Lynch Shootout at Tiburón. This December's Shootout will be Mediate's fifth.

Host Greg Norman will be in Naples on Oct. 13 to announce many of the 24 players who will be a part of the 12-team field looking to challenge defending champions Woody Austin and Mark Calcavecchia.

A Taste of WCI ticket package is currently on sale.

For the fifth straight year, golf fans have the opportunity to purchase this special package for $110. It includes one weekly grounds ticket and more than 50 golf vouchers allowing play on 12 championship courses for cart fee only. For more information, visit www.mlshootout.com or call 888-66-SHARK or 239-254-9770 to reserve.

The week of the Shootout also will include a CEO Golf Challenge on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The top two performers will accompany Norman to the pro-am pairings party and play in the two pro-am rounds Dec. 10-11.

About Merrill Lynch

Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies with offices in 40 countries and territories and total client assets of approximately $1.5 trillion. As an investment bank, it is a leading global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a broad range of asset classes and serves as a strategic advisor to corporations, governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. Merrill Lynch owns approximately half of BlackRock, one of the world's largest publicly traded investment management companies with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. For more information on Merrill Lynch, please visit www.ml.com.

About Tiburón Golf Club

Tiburón, a 36-hole Greg Norman-design course was carved from 800 acres of prime southwest Florida real estate. The courses reflect Norman's appreciation for pristine natural settings and his passion for great golf. The Black and The Gold courses contain a combination of stacked sod-wall bunkers and tricky coquina waste bunkers. Certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International, Tiburón reflects a strong commitment to enhancing and protecting the natural resources.

About CureSearch

CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation proudly supports the collaborative research efforts of the world's largest and most prestigious childhood cancer research organization, CureSearch Children's Oncology Group. At more than 200 member institutions - representing every pediatric cancer program and treating 90 percent of children with cancer in North America - CureSearch is making rapid scientific progress to identify cancer causes and pioneer better treatments and cures. CureSearch is dedicated to reaching the day when every child with cancer can be guaranteed a cure. For more information visit www.CureSearch.org or call 800.458.6223.

About The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples is the proud recipient of AAA's highest honor: The Five-Diamond Award, establishing it as one of the greatest resorts in the country. The resort also scored an impressive ranking as the #1 resort in Florida in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's annual reader's poll and #3 in Florida by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. In the November 2004 issue of Golf Digest magazine, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort was ranked as the No. #1 luxury golf resort in Florida and No. #25 in North America, beating out some of the long-standing top golf resorts in the country. The 295-room resort is Florida's finest luxury golf resort and is renowned for its incredible cuisine, outstanding service and luxurious rooms with panoramic views of the Greg Norman-designed golf course.

Contact

Lee Patterson, 704-553-4790, pattersonprinc@yahoo.com

Click here to return to the Merrill Lynch Shootout News Index.