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North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters tournament organizers announced today that LPGA Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam will make her first appearance at the annual Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament to be held this year on April 14th at the Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 
The most successful player in women’s golf, Sorenstam has rewritten the record books during her storied 14-year career on the LPGA TOUR with 70 tournament victories, 10 Major championships and more than $20 million in career earnings. Sorenstam was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.
“We are looking forward to the 2008 Monday After the Masters Tournament and having Annika Sorenstam participate,” said Darius Rucker, lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish. “I got to know Annika at the opening of her golf academy in Orlando, Florida, and invited her to join us this year. She just won her first tournament of the year last Sunday and as a member of my foursome, we’ll definitely be the team to beat.”
Other guests scheduled to appear at the 14th annual celebrity charity golf tournament include NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino and the cast of the new GOLF CHANNEL golf reality show, Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley, ESPN commentator Charlie Rymer and Duramed FUTURES TOUR golfer Perry Swenson. PGA golfers scheduled to appear include President’s Cup team member Woody Austin, John Daly, Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, Jim Thorpe as well as LPGA golfer Laura Davies.
Monday After the Masters tournament tickets go on sale Saturday, February 23rd at 10:00 a.m. at the House of Blues, the Barefoot Resort & Golf pro shops and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are $10 with children 12 years of age and younger admitted free. All ticket proceeds benefit the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of children in South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. Last year, the event recorded its second consecutive sell-out and raised $456,000 for the charities.
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday has been involved in all five of the Monday After the Masters Tournaments held on the Grand Strand, and was joined as a co-presenting sponsor in 2007 by Intel Corporation.
“We are excited to host our sixth Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament here in Myrtle Beach,” said Bill Golden,vice president and director of marketing of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The Monday After the Masters Tournament has meant so much to the state of South Carolina and we are proud to help present an event that helps fund the state’s junior golf and education programs and attract more national media attention to the Myrtle Beach area.”
The field for past Monday After the Masters tournaments has typically included many of the biggest names in music, television and movies, sports and the professional golf world. Musicians from many different genres have competed, including jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis; R&B singer Javier; pop rock performer Edwin McCain; Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips and country singers Steve Azar, Johnny Lee and Jake Owen. Celebrities who have participated in the annual tournament have included ESPN hosts Stuart Scott and Dan Patrick; Gary Valentine of “King of Queens”; Kevin Sorbo of TV’s “Hercules” and “Andromeda”; actor Anthony Anderson from “The Departed” and Lucas Black of “Friday Night Lights” and “Jarhead”.
From the sports world, the annual tournament has welcomed former NFL stars Dwight Clark, Jim McMahon and Sterling Sharpe; University of South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier and former Major League Baseball players Kevin Elster and Eric Karros. The professional golf field has always been well represented with Arnold Palmer, Tom Kite, Andy North, Woody Austin, J.B. Holmes, Ricky Barnes, Rich Beem, Lee Elder, Robert Gamez, Charley Hoffman, Billy Kratzert, Mark Lye, Troy Matteson, Jim McGovern and Erica Blasberg having participated in past years.
Monday’s post-golf concert from the House of Blues has featured legendary performances from Hootie & the Blowfish and their musical guests. The concert has enjoyed tremendous popularity over the past 13 years with the list of past performers including Meatloaf, Branford Marsalis, Jason Mraz, Josh Kelley, Sister Hazel and Edwin McCain. The concert has drawn many other celebrities to the stage including John Daly, Samuel L. Jackson, Stuart Scott and Dan Patrick. This year's concert will be limited to the sponosors of the pro-am only.
About the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament
Recently named by Golf for Women Magazine as one of the most popular celebrity pro-am golf tournaments in the country, the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament attracts thousands of people who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award winners as well as the friendly competition between the band and their celebrity and PGA professional friends. Over the past 13 years, the Monday After the Masters has donated more than $3.5 million to the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.
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