Kodak Challenge Visits Wild Hole at TPC Scottsdale

For the second consecutive year the Kodak Challenge, a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players and fans, visits the wild par-3, 162-yard 16th hole of TPC Scottsdale at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on February 25-28 in Scottsdale, AZ. The Waste Management Phoenix Open is the 6^th of 30 tournaments to participate in the $1 million Kodak Challenge competition.

The Kodak Challenge was created to celebrate the beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf. Golfers must play at least 18 of 30 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to qualify. The golfer with the best Kodak Challenge score relative to par at the end of the season will win the Kodak Challenge trophy and $1 million. An Advisory Board of leading golf experts selected the par-3 16th at TPC Scottsdale as one of 30 holes that make up the Kodak Challenge.

Scottsdale resident, Kevin Streelman claimed the first Kodak Challenge title and the winner-take-all $1 million prize at the PGA TOUR’s final event of the 2009 season, the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Matt Kuchar, Brenden Pappas and Tim Clark are currently in a three-way tie for first at 4-under-par on the Kodak Challenge. Kuchar and 2009 Kodak Challenge champ, Streelman are in the field this week at TPC Scottsdale.

Kodak Fan Photo Zone

The Kodak Fan Photo Zone, located at the south end of the driving range, between the #10 and #16 greens, allows fans to have their picture taken at Hole #16 – a live shot during tournament play when cameras are not typically allowed. Fans can pick up a free copy of their photo at the Kodak Fan Photo Zone throughout the entire tournament. While visiting the Kodak Fan Photo Zone, fans can also learn about Kodak’s latest products and how they can even be used for their golf game.

About Kodak Challenge hole #16 at TPC Scottsdale

The par-3, 162-yard 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is among the most celebrated holes on the PGA TOUR. The enthusiasm of the fans in seating that surrounds the entire hole gives this short par-3 a "stadium" atmosphere and creates one of the most exciting settings in professional sports.

"We’re thrilled to have the Kodak Challenge visit #16 at TPC Scottsdale, one of the most unique and exciting holes in golf.  Hole #16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open is the perfect example of what the Kodak Challenge is all about for players and fans," commented Steve Powell, Director of Development for the Kodak Challenge.

Kodak and PGA TOUR Release 2010 Kodak Challenge Schedule

The 2010 Kodak Challenge schedule includes 21 of the original 30 holes, with two tournaments joining the Kodak Challenge: No. 15 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC, site of the Quail Hollow Championship; and No. 14 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, OH, home of the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley.

Kodak's marketing partnership with the TOUR includes the designation as Official Imaging Provider of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour, including cameras, printers and scanners. For more on the Kodak Challenge visit pgatour.com/kodakchallenge. 

Fans can also follow the Kodak Challenge at facebook.com/kodakchallenge, twitter.com/kodakchallenge, and 1000words.kodak.com/kodakchallenge.

About Kodak

As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.

To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com and follow our blogs and more at http://www.kodak.com/go/followus.

More than 75 million people worldwide manage, share and create photo gifts online at KODAK Gallery – join today at www.kodakgallery.com.

About the PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to expand the PGA TOUR domestically and internationally so as to substantially increase player financial benefits while maintaining our commitment to growth in charity and integrity to the game.

In 2010, the three Tours are competing in 102 events for more than $350 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in 10 countries outside the U.S. and in 35 states. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions.  The PGA TOUR’s web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Golf Channel coverage starts Thursday at 4PM EST.  You can also follow the action at www.pgatour.com/kodakchallenge.0

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PrideSports Debuts Evolution in Golf Tees

PrideSports, the world’s leading producer of wooden alternative golf tees and probably the number one golf tee on Tour, today further enhanced the Company’s leadership in the alternative tee market with the debut of PTS Evolution™ golf tees. The newest member of PrideSports’ Professional Tee System™ (PTS) family, the PTS Evolution™, is an environmentally-friendly, plastic performance golf tee engineered with a special low-resistance head design that creates less friction between the golf ball and tee, delivering enhanced aerodynamics for longer drives.

The launch of PTS Evolution™ comes on the heels of PrideSports’ 2009 introduction of PTS Offset™, the most advanced alternative golf tee allowed by the USGA and the first to feature an offset angle to increase ball visibility and contact with the club at its maximum speed and optimum trajectory, resulting in longer drives.

“PTS has become the standard in wooden golf tees, and players from the PGA TOUR, as well as amateur golfers, utilize this system to match their tee lengths with the club head sizes,” said John Hohman, Vice President of Marketing, PrideSports. “With PTS Evolution and PTS Offset, we now have the two most innovative, high performance alternative tees in golf, and we have further enhanced the leadership position of the PTS family.”

PrideSports’ Professional Tee System™ (PTS) was created based on golfer demand, at both the professional and amateur levels, for a system to identify the golf tee lengths that worked best for today’s diverse oversize and hybrid golf club models. A proprietary, color-coding system that makes it easy to identify each of the four tee sizes, PTS offers four distinct tee models: ProLength, ProLength-PLUS, ProLength-MAX and Shortee.

Available in the PTS ProLength (2¾”) and ProLength Plus (3¼”) models, the PTS Evolution™ tees are made of recycled/re-ground plastic, and are designed to last longer while providing less waste. They are also among a select group of eco-friendly golf tees that are sold in both plain unprinted bulk quantities, as well as with custom-imprinting options. The new tees will be available in spring 2010, and will be sold at retailers around the country. Suggested Retail Price for the PTS Evolution™ tees will be $7.99.

About PrideSports

PrideSports was formed in January 2003 following Pride Manufacturing Company’s purchase of Softspikes, Inc., and its sister company Trisport, Ltd. of England. This acquisition essentially formed the world’s premier golf accessories company, as Pride and Softspikes are the world’s leading golf tee and golf cleat lines, respectively. Today, PrideSports is the world leader in the design and manufacture of cleats, spikes and receptacles for the entire golf footwear industry.

Mom forgives Tiger Woods; does it really matter what his fans think?

An understandably weepy Tiger Woods humbled himself before family and friends today to apologize for his indiscretions. Did you feel sorry for him?

I felt bad for his mom, watching her downward-cast eyes glowering noticeably away from Tiger's gaze as he spoke directly to her, espousing the importance of his Buddist upbringing and his wandering eye. Was her forgiving hug at the end of the speech out of pity or comfort?

I felt even sadder for Elin and the kids who smartly chose to avoid the circus which Woods decided was an important step towards his recovery. Tiger probably should never have even mentioned the wife and partner who stood by his side during his indiscretions as it sullied her name. Why re-hash the vision of her swinging a golf club at him?

Still, today's self-imposed "intervention" was a step that Tiger Woods felt he needed towards recovery. The public is always ready to forgive, but will we ever forget? Most of the world is guilty of their own sins and would like forgiveness when the time calls for it.

Remember Marv Alpert's sex crime or the time Charles Barkley threw a bar patron threw a window? These two in particular re-invented themselves but there are a bevy more to choose from.

Will this kill the Tiger Woods spirit of competition? Will he be able to return with the same fervor to attack records of the great Jack Nicklaus? Only time will tell.


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Just in case you missed the Tiger Woods Press Conference, you can watch it here: Tiger Woods Press Conference Video Link