PGA tourney in Nicholasville lands star rookie, Ryder Cup champ. See who else is playing.
Organizers for next week’s PGA Tour Barbasol Championship in Nicholasville continued this week to reveal players who will participate.
The latest commitments come from Charles Howell III, Hunter Mahan, Ben Crane, Jonathan Byrd and Beau Hossler. Also named were two players with Kentucky ties — University of Louisville graduate Derek Fathauer and Owensboro’s Matt Atkins.
The deadline for players to commit to the 132-player field is Friday at 5 p.m. The tournament, to be held at Keene Trace Golf Club, takes place July 19-22.
“The commitment by players of this caliber is a great reflection of the confidence PGA Tour pros have in our inaugural tournament, the golf course, our organization, and frankly, the positive image of Kentucky,” said Brooks Downing, executive director of the event. “We sense their excitement in coming here to play, and we’re certainly excited to host and show them all our Bluegrass hospitality.”
The Barbasol Championship is scheduled for the same weekend as one of golf’s major tournaments, the British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. The world’s elite golfers will be playing overseas, but the $3.5 million event in Central Kentucky is attracting its share of top-flight players
Previously announced participants include major winners Davis Love III, Angel Cabrera, Y.E. Yang and Brittany Lincicome. Former University of Kentucky golfers Chip McDaniel and Cooper Musselman were awarded sponsor exemptions into the field as was ex-Henry Clay High School and Morehead State golfer Josh Teater.
Howell III, from Augusta, Ga., is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour who also won the 2000 NCAA Division I individual championship at Oklahoma State.
Mahan, who has six Tour wins, was a member of the United States squad that won the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.
Crane has won five Tour events, most recently the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis in 2014.
Byrd, the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2002, is back on the upswing after winning the Web.com Tour Championship last year and returning to the PGA Tour this year.
Hossler, a rookie from the University of Texas, has five top-10 finishes including two runner-up finishes this year and is 23rd on the FedEx Cup points list.
▪ Daily and weeklong grounds passes for the Barbasol Championship can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. A Thursday grounds pass is $30 with Friday priced at $35 and the Saturday/Sunday rate at $40 per day. All four-day pass can be purchased for $100, with upgraded ticket options available as well.
PGA Barbasol Championship schedule of events
At Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville
Monday, July 16
▪ Player practice (Course closed to the public)
Tuesday, July 17
▪ Gates open: 7 a.m.
▪ Player practice (Free admittance to the public)
Wednesday, July 18
▪ Gates open: 7 a.m.
▪ Player practice (Free admittance to the public)
▪ Tournament Pro-Am
Thursday-Sunday, July 19-22
▪ Gates open: 7:30 a.m.
▪ Barbasol Championship (tee times TBA)