HARTFORD, Conn. - (Business Wire) Travelers (NYSE: TRV) will proudly tee up Connecticut’s PGA TOUR event, the Travelers Championship, with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. ET on Monday, June 22, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. The festivities on course will include remarks from Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, Travelers Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette and other distinguished guests including representatives from the primary charity beneficiaries of the tournament, the Greater Hartford Jaycees and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Travelers executives, including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay S. Fishman, and PGA TOUR professionals including Stuart Appleby and J.J. Henry are scheduled to participate in the Opening BellSM Ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange at 9:30 a.m. ET to wrap up the day’s ceremonies and officially begin a week of exciting, PGA TOUR golf.
“The Travelers Championship is something that everyone at Travelers has gotten behind to help raise significant charity dollars for the primary beneficiaries of the tournament and the 120 other charities in the area that benefit from this event,” said Bessette. “We appreciate all the support the tournament has received from sponsors, volunteers and the community and we look forward to delivering a truly outstanding sporting event.”
Some of the best PGA TOUR players are expected to make up the field including Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, Stuart Appleby, Hunter Mahan and defending champion Stewart Cink. In addition, seven players who have already won on TOUR this year have committed to play at the Travelers Championship including Zach Johnson, Brian Gay, Jerry Kelly, Kenny Perry, and Y.E. Yang.
The tournament, whose net proceeds go entirely to charity, will deliver many new features and enhancements making it an event not to be missed in New England. On Tuesday, as PGA TOUR professionals begin their practice rounds, they may choose to take a shot at The Umbrella at 15 1/2 – a 40’ floating green in the shape of Travelers’ iconic red umbrella logo on the pond between 15 and 16 complete with pin flag and cup. The first pro to sink a hole in one will earn $10,000 from Travelers for the charity of their choice.
On Wednesday, the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am also expects Hollywood stars and sports greats like Ray Allen, Bill Belichick, Sandy Koufax, Joe Pesci, Aidan Quinn, Roger Staubach and Luke Wilson. Later in the week, fans can enjoy the Subway Fan Zone, an expanded entertainment area in the center of the course; Women’s Day, offering golf 101, clinics and events for women; and the Michelob Ultra 19th Hole Concert Series on Friday and Saturday evening after play.
In recognition of the official start of the 2009 Travelers Championship on June 22, the lights on the beacon of Travelers Tower will shine a bright red for the week, matching the color of the company’s famous logo, the red umbrella, which is infused throughout the branding of the tournament.
The competition rounds of the Travelers Championship will be played June 25 - 28. The competition rounds will be broadcast live from 3 to 6 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel on Thursday and Friday, and on CBS on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit TravelersChampionship.com.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve customers is to deliver insurance in-synch with evolving risks. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in the auto, home and business settings. The Official Property Casualty Insurer of the PGA TOUR, Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2008 revenues of approximately $24 billion. The company has 33,000 employees. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
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