SAVANNAH, GA- Tournament officials today announced that last year’s three winning teams will return to the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort to defend their respective division titles at the 32^nd annual Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf on April 20-26.
Andy North and Tom Watson became the first pair to win under the division’s new team and official win format in 2008 after their wire-to-wire victory over runner-ups Jeff Sluman and Craig Stadler. The three-time Raphael Division champs will compete together for the fifth consecutive year in Savannah.
A World Golf Hall of Fame member and eight-time major champion, Watson will make his seventh appearance at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. The 39-time PGA TOUR winner has recorded 12 official wins on the Champions Tour since his debut in 1999.
North has enjoyed continued success at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. In addition to his fourth consecutive win with Watson, the two-time U.S. Open champion (1978, 1985) also nabbed back-to-back Legends Division titles with Jim Colbert in 2000 and 2001 when it was still an unofficial team event. North, who serves as an analyst on ESPN telecasts, will make his third start of the year in Savannah.
Watson and North enter this year on a streak of 162 bogey-free holes dating back to their first win in the Raphael Division in 2005. What is the four-time winning duo’s formula for success? “We both practice very hard prior to the event so we don’t let each other down,” said Watson. North echoed his partner’s sentiments and added, “Mentally, I come ready to play and watching Tom's swing gives me great confidence.”
Also returning to Savannah will be Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie, who will tee it up in the two-day, better-ball Raphael Division for players ages 50+ (unofficial money). The winning duo claimed their second title in 2008 with a come-from-behind victory over first-round leaders Bob Charles and Stewart Ginn. Koch and Maltbie, who work as golf analysts for NBC Sports, set a new Raphael Division scoring record with their 12-under-par 60 in last year’s final round. Koch is a six-time winner on the PGA TOUR, while Maltbie has five PGA TOUR titles.
Last year’s Demaret Division champions Al Geiberger and Jimmy Powell will team again in the two-day better-ball format for players age 70+ (unofficial money). The pair cruised to their first win together with a five-stroke victory over 2007 champs Butch Baird and Bobby Nichols.
The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf’s fun-filled week of competition kicks off with the Demaret Division on Monday and Tuesday followed by the Raphael Division on Friday and Saturday (unofficial money). Official competition begins with the first round of the Legends Division on Friday, April 24.
Tickets are on sale now with daily ticket prices starting at $20 (The price of single day tickets increases to $25 at the gate). Weeklong Emerald Club passes are $75 ($65 for age 60+). Emerald Club passes include admission into the National Car Rental Emerald Club Pavilion Wednesday-Sunday. Tickets may be purchased by calling toll free, 877-942-1123 or 912-234-5700 or by visiting the tournament’s web site at www.LMLOG.com.
The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is part of the Champions Tour's “The Road to the Charles Schwab Cup”, a season-long points race that kicks off in Hawaii with 25 official events and culminates in Northern California at Sonoma Golf Club October 26 – November 1, with $2.1 million in payouts awarded to the season’s top five leading performers.