Patriot Cup Attracts Stars for 2012 Event
POKE PRODIGY: Former Oklahoma State phenom and current PGA Pro Rickie Fowler, right, autographs one of his balls for Tom Blackwell of Owasso at last years Patriot Cup.
GTR Newspapers photo
Spectators will have access to the Patriot Club’s golf course for the first time when The Patriot Cup returns on Memorial Day (May 28) to Owasso.
The one-day event will feature 38 professionals from the Tour or Champions Tour and celebrities along with top military golfers. Tickets for the event are $35 with children 16 and under admitted free. Tickets are available at www.thepatriotcup.com. Proceeds will benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.
Patriot Cup founder Dan Rooney recently discussed the possibility that the fund-raising event could eventually become a full-fledged event on The Champions Tour. The Folds of Honor and Budweiser have developed a deep sponsor relationship, and it’s not hard to imagine the brewery as title sponsor.
The full field has yet to be released but already committed for 2012 are such notables as Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bo Van Pelt, Corey Pavin, Tom Lehman, Gary Woodland, Peter Jacobsen, Tom Pernice Jr., Kyle Stanley, Craig Stadler, Hunter Haas and Josh Teater. Both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have been invited and are contemplating accepting.
Two professionals or celebrities, two top military golfers and a sponsor will form each group and it is expected that each group will pit a pro and military golfer in a match-play shamble with their opponent within the group.
From a spectator standpoint, the Patriot Cup will provide more of a tournament atmosphere this year, with bleachers on various holes and food and drink tents on each nine. Tournament organizers are looking at the expanded event as a good test of how the course can handle spectators. Logistically, the severity of the terrain on a few holes will be a challenge for organizers to overcome.
Free parking will be at the nearby Hard Rock Casino with shuttle buses running constantly.
There will also be 300 tickets available for a gala dinner and concert featuring Rascal Flatts. Those tickets are $300 each. The three members of Rascal Flatts, as well as country music star Vince Gill, are expected to play in the Patriot Cup.
Opening ceremonies will be at 9:30 a.m. on Memorial Day with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. The Budweiser Clydesdales will be on hand Monday morning as well.
For the 2012 major league baseball season, Budweiser has pledged to donate $5,000 for every walk off hit that ends an game, with a minimum donation of $2.5 million.
Updated 05-11-2012
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