Stellar Field Set for HP Byron Nelson Championship
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IRVING, TX – Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh headline a stellar field of former champions and international stars that will be on hand at the 2012 HP Byron Nelson Championship to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Byron Nelson’s birth. Mickelson returns for the first time since 2007; Els for the first time since 2006. For the complete field list, click here.
They will be joined by a number of other Nelson champions, including defending champion Keegan Bradley, Rory Sabbatini, Scott Verplank and Brett Wetterich. The field also includes several international standouts, including South African Louis Oosthuizen and Irishman Padraig Harrington, both of whom will make their first career starts at the tournament.
“We’re excited to welcome back so many of our former champions and pleased to see some international players who are new to our event,” said tournament chairman Robert Smith. “When you combine this field of elite players with all the new fan and corporate experiences on the course, the result is a world-class event that benefits a great charity in our community.”
Players in the field have won a combined 20 major championships. Major winners including Mickelson, Singh, Harrington, Els, Bradley, Ooshuizen, Y.E. Yang, Justin Leonard, Rich Beem, David Duval and Mike Weir. In total, the field has 27 players who have won on the PGA TOUR in the last two years.
Other notables include:
• International standouts such as Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela), Arjun Atwal (India), Andres Romero (Argentina), Ryuji Imada (Japan) and Yang (South Korea).
• Nine former winners of the U.S. Amateur, including Matt Kuchar, Ricky Barnes, Kelly Kraft, Danny Lee, Colt Knost, Billy Mayfair, Scott Verplank. Leonard and Mickelson.
• Crowd favorites like Boo Weekley, Andres Gonzales, J.B. Holmes, Rocco Mediate and Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey.
• PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year candidate John Huh.
The 2012 HP Byron Nelson Championship will be played May 14-20 at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas in Irving. Children 13 and under receive free admission courtesy of Tom Thumb and free public parking and shuttle service is available at the intersection of SH 114 and Loop 12 in Irving.
