HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Travelers (NYSE: TRV) will proudly tee up Connecticut's PGA TOUR event,
the Travelers
Championship, with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. ET on Monday, June
22, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. The festivities on course
will include remarks from Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, Travelers
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette
and other distinguished guests including representatives from the
primary charity beneficiaries of the tournament, the Greater Hartford
Jaycees and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
Travelers executives, including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay
S. Fishman, and PGA TOUR professionals including Stuart Appleby and J.J.
Henry are scheduled to participate in the Opening
BellSM
Ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange at 9:30 a.m. ET to wrap up
the day's ceremonies and officially begin a week of exciting, PGA TOUR
golf.
"The Travelers Championship is something that everyone at Travelers has
gotten behind to help raise significant charity dollars for the primary
beneficiaries of the tournament and the 120 other charities in the area
that benefit from this event," said Bessette. "We appreciate all the
support the tournament has received from sponsors, volunteers and the
community and we look forward to delivering a truly outstanding sporting
event."
Some of the best PGA TOUR players are expected to make up the field
including Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, Stuart Appleby,
Hunter Mahan and defending champion Stewart Cink. In addition, seven
players who have already won on TOUR this year have committed to play at
the Travelers Championship including Zach Johnson, Brian Gay, Jerry
Kelly, Kenny Perry, and Y.E. Yang.
The tournament, whose net proceeds go entirely to charity, will deliver
many new
features and enhancements making it an event not to be missed in New
England. On Tuesday, as PGA TOUR professionals begin their practice
rounds, they may choose to take a shot at The Umbrella at 15 1/2 - a 40'
floating green in the shape of Travelers' iconic red umbrella logo on
the pond between 15 and 16 complete with pin flag and cup. The first pro
to sink a hole in one will earn $10,000 from Travelers for the charity
of their choice.
On Wednesday, the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am also expects Hollywood
stars and sports greats like Ray Allen, Bill Belichick, Sandy Koufax,
Joe Pesci, Aidan Quinn, Roger Staubach and Luke Wilson. Later in the
week, fans can enjoy the Subway Fan Zone, an expanded entertainment area
in the center of the course; Women's Day, offering golf 101, clinics and
events for women; and the Michelob Ultra 19th Hole Concert
Series on Friday and Saturday evening after play.
In recognition of the official start of the 2009 Travelers Championship
on June 22, the lights on the beacon of Travelers Tower will shine a
bright red for the week, matching the color of the company's famous
logo, the red umbrella, which is infused throughout the branding of the
tournament.
The competition rounds of the Travelers Championship will be played June
25 - 28. The competition rounds will be broadcast live from 3 to 6 p.m.
ET on the Golf Channel on Thursday and Friday, and on CBS on Saturday
and Sunday. For more information, visit TravelersChampionship.com.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV) is a leading property casualty
insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers.
Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and
that the best way to serve customers is to deliver insurance in-synch
with evolving risks. The company's diverse business lines offer its
global customers a wide range of coverage in the auto,
home
and business
settings. The Official Property Casualty Insurer of the PGA TOUR,
Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2008 revenues of approximately
$24 billion. The company has 33,000 employees. For more information on
being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.
Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Contact: The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Media:
Jennifer Wislocki, 860-277-7458
Cell: 860-391-2605
or
Matt Bordonaro, 860-277-7014
Cell: 860-202-3034