"We couldn't be happier about continuing the long-standing relationship that we have enjoyed over the last 48 years," said Buick General Manager Steve Shannon. "Warwick Hills is one of the premier venues on the PGA Tour and we look forward to working with the tournament committee and our dedicated staff of volunteers for a long time to come." The Buick Open was the first major corporate-sponsored PGA Tour event. The current contract with the golf club expires after the 2006 tournament. The 2007 Buick Open is scheduled for June 25-July 1. The defending Champion of the Buick Open is Vijay Singh, who will attempt to become the first player to win his third consecutive Buick Open title. Tony Lema is the only person to win the tournament two years in a row (1964-65). Almost eight million dollars has been raised for southeastern Michigan charities through the Buick Open since 1982. The tournament set a record for charitable donations in 2005 with $764,000. Among the players scheduled to play in the 2006 Buick Open are Tiger Woods, Singh, Jim Furyk, John Daly, David Toms, Chris DiMarco, Camilo Villegas, Woody Austin, Scott Verplank, Mike Weir, Stephen Ames, Billy Mayfair, Jeff Sluman, Lee Janzen, Kenny Perry, J.B. Holmes, Paul Azinger, J.J. Henry, Carlos Franco and Grand Blanc's Billy McKay. The 2006 Buick Open field will compete for a record $4.8 million purse, including the $864,000 first prize and the keys to a 2007 Buick Lucerne. For Buick Open tickets and information, call 1 (800) 878-OPEN or go to www.buickopen.pgatour.com. Tickets at the gate are $35.00. Buick is title-sponsor of three PGA Tour events in 2006: The Buick Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.; the Buick Open; and the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn. (June 26-July 2). Buick has been the official car of the PGA Tour since 1984. Through its title-sponsored PGA Tour events Buick has donated more than $33 million to local charities in its tournament cities since 1982. Buick has had a sponsorship agreement with Tiger Woods, the world's number one player, since 1999. # # # Source: Buick |