Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

First Time Participants Look To Make Impact At
2006 MasterCard Championship at Hualalai

(Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii) - Six first time participants will look to start their year with a victory as the Champions Tour kicks off its 2006 season at the MasterCard Championship at Hualalai.  Jay Haas, Mark Johnson, Mike Reid, Loren Roberts and Ron Streck combined for six victories, including two major championships, and won over $3.9 million in 2005 earning invitations to one of the Champions Tour's premier events.  Also making his first appearance will be Ben Crenshaw, one of this year's four sponsor invitees.   The 2006 MasterCard Championship at Hualalai will be played January 16-22 at Hualalai Golf Club on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

After splitting time between the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour during much of 2005, Haas focused solely on the Champions Tour during the last month of the season and made an immediate impact.  The nine-time PGA TOUR winner finished the season with five straight top-five finishes, including victories at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn and the AT&T Championship.  Haas' strong October propelled him to a top-10 finish in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and earned him 2005 Rookie of the Year honors.

Johnson followed up his medalist honors at the 2004 Champions Tour National Qualifying tournament with a victory at the 2005 Toshiba Senior Classic in March.  A former beer delivery truck driver, Johnson quickly became a fan favorite on the Champions Tour.  He ended the year with five top-20 finishes, finishing 28th on the Champions Tour official money list and earning an invitation to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

A two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, Reid produced a solid 2005 campaign, his first full year on the Champions Tour.  He posted six top-10 finishes, including a dramatic playoff victory at the Senior PGA Championship.  A staple on the PGA TOUR from 1977-2001, Reid notched two top-five finishes in his last four PGA TOUR starts in Hawaii, finishing second in a playoff to Paul Stankowski at the 1997 Sony Open in Hawaii. 

Roberts turned 50 in June of 2005 and immediately made his presence felt on the Champions Tour.  In only six starts, the former Ryder Cup team member finished no worse than 11th and recorded three top-five finishes in major championships, including a victory at the JELD-WEN Tradition.  Despite his limited appearances, Roberts ended the season fifth in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and 16th on the Champions Tour official money list.

A member of the PGA TOUR from 1977-1999, Streck had eight top-25 finishes during his first full year on the Champions Tour.  His 2005 season was highlighted by a win in July at the Commerce Bank Championship on Long Island. 

Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002, Crenshaw recorded 19 PGA TOUR victories, including the 1984 and 1995 Masters.  His best finish on the Champions Tour is T4 at the 2003 3M Championship.  Gary Player, making his fifth trip to Hualalai, Lee Trevino, competing for the 14th time, and Lanny Wadkins, making his third appearance, are the other sponsor invitees.

The MasterCard Championship at Hualalai features winners of Champions Tour major championships of the last five years (2001-2005) and winners of Champions Tour official money cosponsored and approved tournaments of the last two years (2004-2005), plus four tournament invitees. 

The MasterCard Championship at Hualalai will air live on The Golf Channel on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 20, 21, and 22.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the 2006 MasterCard Championship at Hualalai are $25 for an all-week pass, good for all days of the tournament, and $10 for one any day ticket, good for any one day of the event.  Tickets may be purchased by calling Tournament Headquarters at 1-800-417-2770.