PGA TOUR, Ridgewood CC announce kickoff for '08

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The Ridgewood Country Club, which was recently announced as host venue for the 2008 Barclays, and the PGA TOUR have announced the kickoff of ticket and sponsorship sales and volunteer recruitment efforts. The Barclays, one of the premier events on the PGA TOUR schedule and the first of four events in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, is scheduled for Aug. 18-24.

Steve Stricker celebrates his first playoff victory on the 18th green at the 2007 Barclays event. (Condon/PGA TOUR)

"The Ridgewood Country Club membership and staff, as well as the Paramus, N.J., community, have already embraced this event with open arms, and we're excited to get things underway in order to present a world-class PGA TOUR event in August," said The Barclays Executive Director Peter Mele.

"As the first event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, golf fans in this community and the surrounding area have the opportunity to witness the best players in the world competing in a unique and pressure-packed event. We look forward to hosting an enthusiastic crowd here at Ridgewood."

"Our club is proud to host a premier PGA TOUR event such as The Barclays, and we look forward to welcoming the TOUR and all of the great players to Ridgewood later this year," said Alex Khowaylo, The Ridgewood Country Club president. "I believe our hybrid Championship course layout will provide a fair test for the players and an exciting viewing event for the spectators."

The Ridgewood Country Club was founded in 1890, and the 27-hole golf course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1929. Ridgewood has hosted two professional major championships, the 2001 Senior PGA Championship (won by Tom Watson) and the 1990 U.S. Senior Open (won by Lee Trevino), as well as the 1935 Ryder Cup and the 1974 U.S. Amateur (won by Jerry Pate). The course was ranked 87th in the United States by Golf Magazine in September 2007 and No. 84 in the Most Prestigious Clubs in America by Golf Connoisseur in 2006. The 2008 Barclays will be staged over a hybrid 18 holes from the Center, West, and East Courses.

Grounds badges for the 2008 Barclays at The Ridgewood Country Club are on now on sale for the following prices: a combined Tuesday/Wednesday ticket, $25; Daily tickets for Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, $35; and Weekly badges (tournament admittance Tuesday-Sunday), $100.

To purchase tickets or obtain sponsorship information, call 800-765-4742. Those wishing to volunteer for The Barclays can call the same number.

The Barclays has been a part of the PGA TOUR schedule since 1967 when Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural event at Westchester Country Club. Since that time, some of the greatest players in the game have earned the title including World Golf Hall of Fame members Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, Raymond Floyd, Seve Ballesteros, Hale Irwin, Curtis Strange and Vijay Singh, who has won The Barclays three times.

Many of the world's current top players have won the event as well, including two-time champions Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia, as well as 2007 Barclays champion Steve Stricker, whose emotional win at the sport's first Playoff event ended his victory drought that dated back to the 2001 season.

The 2009 Barclays will be held at Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J. The rotation for The Barclays for 2010 and beyond will be announced at a later time, but will include at least one return trip to Westchester Country Club by 2012.