Events
PGA TOUR Champions Rookie Retief Goosen Heads to 2019 Insperity Invitational
THE WOODLANDS, TX – The newest rookie on the PGA TOUR Champions, Retief Goosen, will be searching for his first victory against the 50+ crowd when he hits the first tee at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course for the 2019 Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare, April 29 – May 5.
He may be a rookie once again, but his distinguished resume indicates there is no reason to believe “The Goose” will stumble in his first appearance at the Insperity Invitational while going head-to-head with the top stars in the world of golf over 50. The two-time U.S. Open winner will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame this June in recognition of his illustrious career where he has amassed 36 professional victories on three worldwide Tours (PGA TOUR, European Tour, and South African Tour).
“Having the Tour’s top rookie in 2019 join us in The Woodlands solidifies the Insperity Invitational’s stature as having one of the best fields on Tour,” said Bryan Naugle, Executive Director, Insperity Invitational. “Retief Goosen is synonymous with the greatest names in the golf world, so this is another huge addition to our tee sheet.”
Goosen was awarded the European Tour Player of the Year in 2001. He was also awarded with the European Tour Order of Merit in both 2001 and 2002. Goosen was part of the International Presidents Cup squad six times. He also represented South Africa at the World Cup four times. He is most recognized for winning seven times on the PGA TOUR including his U.S. Open triumphs in 2001 and 2004.
“I am really excited to begin this new chapter in my career competing alongside my peers on the PGA TOUR Champions,” said Goosen, who also had two runner-up finishes at the Masters. “The level of competition on this Tour is very high. All of these guys have been able to win multiple golf tournaments around the world, so they know how to get the job done, making it very difficult to win out here. I’m excited to see what I can do.”
Goosen will be amongst a star-studded line-up that includes World Golf Hall of Fame Members, Major Winners, and champions on all major international Tours who will be swinging their way into southern Texas later this month.
He joins previously announced World Golf Hall of Fame Members Tom Watson, Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara and Ian Woosnam. In addition to Langer and Woosnam, six other former Insperity Invitational champions will also be back in 2019 including: John Daly, Jesper Parnevik, Esteban Toledo, Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Mark McNulty.
To top things off, a 16-pack of golf’s women and men’s legends including 12 World Golf Hall of Fame members will put on a show at the eighth annual 3M Greats of Golf Competition on Saturday, May 4 at 12:30 p.m. Annika Sorenstam will be paired up with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. Pat Bradley will tee it up with Tom Weiskopf, David Graham and Tony Jacklin. Nancy Lopez will join forces with Dave Stockton, Larry Nelson and Hale Irwin, while Juli Inkster will team up with Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw and Bill Rogers.
A 16-pack of golf’s women and men’s legends including 12 World Golf Hall of Fame members will put on a show at the eighth annual 3M Greats of Golf Competition on Saturday, May 4 at 12:30 p.m.
The Insperity Invitational offers free grounds only admission tickets courtesy of Insperity, and Woodforest National Bank. The grounds ticket also includes free parking and shuttle service. General public parking will be at Woodforest Bank Stadium located at 19115 David Memorial Dr, Shenandoah, TX 77385. For updated information on all aspects of the Insperity Invitational, fans are encouraged to visit www.insperityinvitational.com.
A PGA TOUR Champions event, the Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare features the world’s premier golfers age 50 and older. Last year’s tournament winner, Bernhard Langer, will be returning to the Insperity Invitational to defend his title April 29-May 5, 2019. Managed and operated by Pro Links Sports, in 2008, the tournament received the prestigious Presidents Award as the best event on the Champions Tour, and in 2011 received the President’s Award for Excellence in Achievement. In 2012 and 2015, the tournament received The Players Award for having the “best of everything” for the players, sponsors and spectators. Interfaith of The Woodlands, one of the local charities benefitting from the tournament, was named the 2016 PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year.
Bernhard Langer, 2018 Insperity Invitational winner.
The Insperity Invitational is grateful to have support from these official corporate partners: Woodforest National Bank, 3M, United Airlines, Northside Imports Houston – Alfa Romeo, Keurig Dr Pepper, Bai, National Car Rental, Sports Radio 610, 9 Iron Wines, Houston Chronicle, Texas Sports Nation and Vander Dys Fine Jewelers. Past champions include Larry Nelson, Jay Haas, Mark McNulty, four-time winner Bernhard Langer, John Cook, Fred Couples, Brad Faxon, Fred Funk, Esteban Toledo, Ian Woosnam and John Daly. For more information about the Tradition of Excellence at the Insperity Invitational, visit www.insperityinvitational.com.
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 32 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. In 2019, the PGA TOUR Champions schedule includes 27 tournaments across the United States, Japan, England and Canada, with purses totaling nearly $58 million. The Charles Schwab Cup, which includes the Regular Season and the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, is used to determine the season-long champion. All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, telecasts air in excess of 170 countries and territories, reaching more than 340 million potential households, and distributed in 15+ markets via GOLFTV.
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