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 ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Eastman Kodak Company and the PGA TOUR recently announced the creation of the Kodak Challenge, a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players that celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR.
The Kodak Challenge begins in January 2009. Select PGA TOUR tournaments will feature a Kodak Challenge hole. Players must play at least 18 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to be eligible to win. Players will post their lowest score relative to par on 18 of the Kodak Challenge holes to compete for the Kodak Challenge title and $1 million.
The Kodak Challenge holes will be selected by Kodak and the PGA TOUR with input from an Advisory Board made up of representatives from a cross-section of the golf industry. Holes will be selected based on their aesthetic beauty and their connection to memorable moments in the game of golf. The first one - the par-3 17th at Warwick Hills - was announced Wednesday and the rest will be released later this year.
"We are thrilled to partner with the PGA TOUR to introduce the Kodak Challenge - a unique, exciting and engaging competition for the players and fans," said Jeffrey Hayzlett, Chief Business Development Officer and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company.
"True to the spirit of our company, the Kodak Challenge will celebrate the beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf - the 'Kodak Moments' - and add excitement and anticipation that will build throughout the season. Players simply have to do what they do best - play. But with a million dollars on the line, they might just grip the club a little tighter."
The members of the Kodak Challenge Advisory Board are CBS Sports golf analyst David Feherty, renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, renowned golf photographer Jules Alexander, PGA Tour Senior VP of Tournament Administration Andy Pazder and CBS Sports golf Coordinating Producer, Lance Barrow.
"I'm pleased to be a part of the Kodak Challenge Advisory Board," said Feherty. "This is a unique and compelling competition that I believe TOUR players and fans will be excited about. When players are on the Kodak Challenge hole, they'll want to play it well, particularly because it could mean a million bucks at the end of the year."
Tom Wade, Chief Marketing Officer of the PGA TOUR, said the TOUR is looking forward to the first year of the Kodak Challenge and believes fans are the ultimate winners of the newly announced competition.
"We believe the Kodak Challenge will add a unique dimension to avid fans' interest in PGA TOUR tournaments from the early part of the season through the Fall Series, and engage casual fans by emphasizing the memories created each week as TOUR players routinely achieve the seemingly impossible in some of the most picturesque scenes in all of golf," said Wade.
"For some time we wanted to bring a concept like this to players and fans, and in Kodak we have a partner that is a perfect fit to celebrate the beautiful holes and memorable moments of the TOUR."
Later this year, Kodak will announce plans to engage golf fans in the Kodak Challenge, with interactive content available at kodakchallenge.com. Information will also be available at pgatour.com/kodakchallenge (not yet available).
Earlier this year, Kodak and the PGA TOUR launched a six-year marketing partnership that along with the Kodak Challenge, includes corporate hospitality and Kodak branding on digital scoreboards.
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