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December 10, 2012

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance earns "Best Of" award at PGA TOUR Tournament Meetings

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance (Dublin, Ohio) was honored by the PGA TOUR at the TOUR’s Tournament Meetings on Thursday, December 6.

The second annual Legends Luncheon presented by Nationwide Insurance earned the Memorial Tournament an award for "Best Special Event" during the 2012 Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

"On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the outstanding job and special recognition the Memorial Tournament has received for its efforts," said Andy Pazder, PGA TOUR executive vice-president and chief of operations. "The Tournament committee should be extremely proud for being recognized as the best among their peers on the TOUR."

The Memorial Tournament successfully created the Legends Luncheon presented by Nationwide Insurance in 2011. The unique fundraiser to central Ohio brings to life the alliance between the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. All proceeds of the Legends Luncheon directly benefit the young patients treated and cared for each day at Nationwide Children’s.

The goal of the Luncheon is to increase awareness of and further advance the incredible care given in the most needed areas of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Jack and Barbara Nicklaus along with the CEO and spouses of Nationwide Insurance and Nationwide Children’s Hospital are the Executive Chairs leading a group of approximately 40 additional Columbus figureheads that drive participation in the luncheon.

In the first two years, $550,000 has been donated to Nationwide Children’s, including $285,000 in 2012 with more than 500 guests in attendance. In 2012, speakers at the luncheon included Tournament host Jack Nicklaus and defending winner Steve Stricker, while two-time U.S. Open champion and ESPN commentator Andy North served as the moderator.

Also important was event exposure through not only Tournament website imagery and active social media amplification but also through traditional regional and local media coverage.

"The Legends Luncheon grew out our desire to continue to help the community through our support of Nationwide Children’s Hospital through the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Nationwide Children’s Hospital alliance," said Memorial Tournament executive director Dan Sullivan. "We have had two very successful years, and are looking at additional ways to grow the event in the future. Our thanks to Jack and Barbara Nicklaus for their participation, to Nationwide Insurance, as well as everyone that has supported the Legends Luncheon over the last two years."

The 2013 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, won this year by Tiger Woods, will be held May 27-June 2 at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

ABOUT PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada.

The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to approximately 715 million households in 225 countries and territories in 29 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2011, tournaments on the three Tours generated more than $121 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to more than $1.7 billion.

The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.com, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.