NEW: CVS Charity Classic Finalizes 2014 Field, Pairings
Jack Andrade, GoLocal Sports Reporter
NEW: CVS Charity Classic Finalizes 2014 Field, Pairings
Tournament co-founders Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade have announced 3 more members of this year's field for the CVS Caremark Charity Classic, finalizing the 20-player field. The pairings for the upcoming event were also announced.
The players added are: Harris English, Russell Henley, and Erik Compton. English and Henley are talented young players with a pair of PGA Tour wins each. Compton leanred to play golf following a heart transplant at age 12 that forced him to give up contact sports. He's the only professional golfer in the world with a transplanted heart.
For more info on each member of the field, see the slideshow below.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTournament Week begins with the Pepsi Pro-Am Sunday, June 22nd, followed by the two-day tournament Monday, June 23rd and Tuesday, June 24th at the Rhode Island Country Club.
Tournament Pairings
Bo Van Pelt – Steve Stricker (won the event together last year)
Matt Kuchar – Zach Johnson (won the event together in 2011)
Russell Henley – Harris English
Hunter Mahan – Jason Dufner
Jimmy Walker – Peter Jacobsen
Morgan Pressel – Juli Inkster
Suzann Pettersen – Jonas Blixt
Lexi Thompson – Billy Horschel
Erik Compton – Brad Faxon
Bill Haas – Billy Andrade
Tournament Activities
Path to Better Health- A walking path around the course that features interactive health and fitness stations. Area health experts will host interactive and educational stations along the path, from skin screens to nutritional advice to simple exercise. The first 1,000 guests to check in at the tournament’s new health and wellness expo on Monday and Tuesday June 23-24 will receive a pedometer to track their steps around the course. Fans who take the most steps daily can enter to win special prizes during the tournament. This year’s tournament will also be tobacco-free.
All Kids Can Three-Hole Challenge- The Puma and Kimberly Clark All Kids Can Three-Hole Challenge features a specially designed challenge on holes 16-18 the morning of Monday, June 23rd. Five foursomes of children representing a variety of the tournament’s charity partners will participate, giving the youngsters an opportunity to show off their swings in front of the pros.
Pepsi Max Shootout- For the fourth consecutive year, the Pepsi Max Shootout takes place Monday and pits the first-place team from each of the Pepsi Pro-Am shotguns in a thrilling playoff.
Charitable Closest to the Pin Contest- The pros compete for designated charities to see who can stick it close for $25,000 of the charity they represent. The closest golfer to the pin on 17 off the tee on Monday and Tuesday wins.
Free Admission for Veterans and First Responders- The Tournament honors veterans by offering complimentary admission for all active, reserve, and retired Military Service Members and their dependents. Veterans simply present a valid Common Access Card or Retired Military Card at the gate throughout the day for all 3 days. First responders and their families also receive free admission with valid ID.
Charities
The list of beneficiaries includes:
American Heart Association
American Red Cross- Zach Johnson is playing on their behalf in 2014.
Arthritis Foundation- Steve Stricker is playing on their behalf in 2014.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence- Jason Dufner is playing on their behalf in 2014.
Bradley Hospital
Brain Injury association of Rhode Island
Children's Wishes of Rhode Island
City Year Rhode Island
Golf Foundation of RI Button Hole
March of dimes Rhode Island- Peter Jacobsen is playing on their behalf in 2014.
Meeting Street School
Rhode Island Family Shelter- Bo Van Pelt is playing on their behalf in 2014.
San Miguel School of Providence
Save the Bay- Matt Kuchar is playing on their behalf in 2014.
Serve Rhode Island- Juli Inkster is playing on their behalf in 2014.
Sojourner House
Special Olympics Rhode Island
Spurwink RI
The Learning Center for the Deaf
Tides Family Services
Youth Pride, Inc.
2014 CVS Charity Classic Field
Erik Compton
Compton underwent a heart transplant at age 12 and gave up contact sports for good. After taking up golf, he rose to become the #1 ranked junior golfer 6 years later. Compton had a second heart transplant in 2008, and made his first Top 10 on the PGA Tour in 2013.
Harris English
English has won twice on the PGA Tour, and won a Nationwide Tour event as an amateur (one of 3 players ever to do so). Not bad for a 24-year-old.
Russell Henley
Henley also won a Nationwide Tour Event before turning pro, and he's got a pair of PGA Tour wins on his resume as well. He and fellow Georgia-native English will be pairing up in this year's Classic.
Morgan Pressel
Pressel is the only female winner in CVS Classic history, winning the 2012 event with Jay Haas. Pressel is a 2-time winner on the LPGA Tour and won the Kraft Nabisco Championship (a major) in 2007.
Hunter Mahan
Mahan is a 5-time PGA Tour winner and the 38th ranked player in the world. Known for having one of the smoothest swings in golf, Mahan made headlines last summer by withdrawing from a tournament he was leading after 36 holes to be with his wife as she went into labor with their first child.
Billy Horschel
Horschel is a young professional and won his first PGA Tour Event last season. He also finished 4th at the U.S. Open in 2013. Horschel is known for his fashion sense, including his famous octopus pants.
Suzann Pettersen
Pettersen has won 14 times on the LPGA Tour, including a pair of majors. She's been ranked as high as #2 in the world and the Norway native has also won 7 events on the Ladies European Tour.
Lexi Thompson
The 19-year-old Thompson won her first major earlier this year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She qualified for the U.S. Women's Open at age 12 and has quickly ascended to the top of the LPGA as a teenager. She's currently ranked 5th in the world.
Brad Faxon
Faxon co-founded the Charity Classic in 1999 and has hosted the event every year since. He's an 8-time winner on the PGA Tour, a 1-time Champions Tour winner, and one of the most charitable golfers in the world today. Faxon led an alumni drive to save and fund the Furman (his alma mater) golf program earlier this year.
Billy Andrade
Andrade has also hosted the Charity Classic every year since 1999, and his reputation for charitable work is on par with Faxon's. He and Faxon run the junior golf program at Buttonhole Golf program in Providence and also run the Andrade-Faxon Charities for Children program. Andrade has won 4 times on the PGA Tour.
Peter Jacobsen
Jacobsen joins Faxon and Andrade as the only players to have played in every Charity Classic since its inception. He won 7 events on the PGA Tour and has won 2 majors on the Champions Tour. He's also worked as a commentator on NBC and the Golf Channel.
Matt Kuchar
Kuchar won the 2011 Charity Classic with Zach Johnson as his playing partner. Kuchar is the highest ranked player in the field (#4 in the world). He has won 7 PGA Tour Events in his career.
Zach Johnson
Johnson is an 11-time PGA Tour winner and won the 2011 Charity Classic with Matt Kuchar. Johnson is the only player in the field with a green jacket, winning The Masters in 2007. Johnson is the 13th ranked player in the world.
Jason Dufner
Dufner is a 3-time winner on the PGA Tour and the 2013 PGA Championship winner. Unflappable and seemingly emotionless on the golf course, Dufner inspired the "Dufnering" internet sensation. Dufner is currently the 15th ranked player in the world.
Steve Stricker
Stricker has won 12 times on the PGA Tour and is ranked 19th in the world today. He and Bo Van Pelt won the Charity Classic last year and set a new tournament scoring record. Faxon has hinted that the defending champions could be paired up again this year.
Juli Inkster
Inkster has won 31 times on the LPGA Tour and is a World Golf Hall of Famer. She's won 7 majors and earned over $13 million over her professional career.
Bo Van Pelt
Van Pelt is a co-defending champion at the Charity Classic and has also won events on the PGA Tour, Asian Tour, European Tour, and Australasian Tour over the course of his career.
Jimmy Walker
Prior to this season, Walker has never won a PGA Tour event in his 187 career starts. He won 3 of the first 8 events he played in 2014, breaking into the top 20 of the World Golf rankings in the process. He's the current FedExCup points leader (the winner of the FedExCup wins $10 million).
Bill Haas
Haas has won 5 times on the PGA Tour and is currently ranked 34th in the world. He and his father Jay won the Charity Classic in 2004, becoming the first and only father/son tandem to win the event.
Jonas Blixt
Blixt, a native of Sweden, is ranked 35th in the world rankings despite not earning his PGA Tour Card until 2012. He's won a pair of PGA Tour events in his young career,
