AT&T Championship 2009 at Oak Hills Country Club |
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Celebrates Silver Anniversary
Cooks Eyes Three-Peat This month one of the Champions Tours original events, San Antonio’s own AT&T Championship presented by Alcatel-Lucent, is turning 25. Seventy-eight of the top players on the 50-and-over circuit, including two-time defending champion John Cook, will descend upon Oak Hills Country Club Oct. 19-25 to compete for a $1.7 million purse and make a few last minute modifications before the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup. Founded as the Dominion Seniors in 1985, the AT&T Championship has become a fixture on the Central Texas golf calendar over the years. Past winners of the 54-hole event include Lee Trevino, Fred Funk, Jay Haas, Craig Stadler and Cook. Tournament Director Colby Callaway said the ability to conduct a successful event year after year falls on the shoulders of a reliable title sponsor, and without AT&T this 25th anniversary wouldn’t have been possible. “Their willingness to participate in the community, belief in community service and dedication to giving back has been paramount to our success,” Calloway said. “We’ve extended our contract with them through 2014, so we’ll be able to celebrate our 30th anniversary in a few years. It’s much easier to run an event like this when you have that stability”.
Among those appearing at the AT&T Championship are Bernhard Langer, Loren Roberts, Mark O’Meara, Haas, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Raymond Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Hale Irwin, Fred Funk, Hal Sutton and Stadler. Many of the players are quite familiar with the layout, which also hosted the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open from 1977 - 1994. Irwin, Trevino, Haas, Crenshaw and O’Meara were all winners at Oak Hills during that time period. Theres no doubt, the course, the city and the event are all held in high esteem by the players. “The cream always rises to the top on this golf course,” said Callaway. "The AT&T always has one of the best fields because players love playing the Oak Hills course,” Roberts said. “Most of us played when it hosted the Texas Open and enjoy playing it now. "Plus with its length, everybody is in the game, from the shorter hitters like Raymond Floyd and Gary Player to the long guys like Tom Purtzer,” he added. “The weather is always warm and San Antonio is just a fun place,” Roberts added. I can’t wait to get down there.” 
In 2007 Cook bested O’Meara by two shots to capture his first-ever Champions Tour victory, and last year he fired a 6-under 65 during the final round and was able to enjoy a Sunday stroll down the 18th fairway on the A.W. Tillinghast-designed course while holding a three-stroke lead over Keith Fergus. “It’s always fun to come back to where you have had success,” Cook said. “I’ve certainly clicked with Oak Hills and San Antonio. The course requires distance control and good iron play, and when I’m playing good that’s something I’m able to do pretty well.” Only the fiery Trevino has won three times at the AT&T, but no one has ever done it in three consecutive years. Not only would Cook establish a new high water mark with his third straight win, he would become only the 10th non-rookie to win at Oak Hills. 
Excitement on the course at the AT&T Championship has been matched, if not exceeded by the generosity exhibited in conjunction with the tournament during its 25-year run. In 2008 alone the championship raised more than $350,000 for 345 different charities in the San Antonio area. Since the tournament’s inception, more than $4.75 million has been raised for local charities. For further information about the tournament, including ticket packages and a schedule of events, visit the AT&T Championship online at www.attchamp.com. AT&T Championship 2009
Date: Oct. 19-25, 2009 
(210) 698-3582
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With the year-end Schwab Cup
competition looming the following week, each and every player that
steps to the first tee at Oak Hills will be looking to build positive
momentum. Twenty-eight of the top 30 players on the current Champions
Tour money list have committed to the event, and there is a strong
possibility that all 30 will be in San Antonio, which would make it the
strongest field in AT&T Championship
