JULY 1, 2008—PAST CHAMPIONS PAVIN, CRANE, FRANCO AND MARUYAMA COMMIT TO U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

PAST CHAMPIONS PAVIN, CRANE, FRANCO AND MARUYAMA COMMIT TO U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

MILWAUKEE (JULY 1, 2008)—Corey Pavin, Ben Crane, Carlos Franco and Shigeki Maruyama, all past champions of the event, have committed to play in this year’s U.S. Bank Championship, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Corey Pavin is a 15-time winner on the PGA TOUR, including a major championship victory at the 1995 U.S. Open. He is one of eight two-time winners in Milwaukee and one of three to win a title at more than one site, earning victories in 1986 at Tuckaway Country Club and in 2006 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course. Corey set or tied several PGA TOUR records en route to his victory in 2006. Pavin birdied the first six holes of his first round on his way to a nine-hole TOUR record 26 for his front nine. He finished the first round with a career-low 61, tying the Brown Deer Park Golf Course record (Steve Lowery also shot 61 during his final round in 1999). Pavin matched the lowest first 36-hole total (61-64–125) in TOUR history.

Pavin earned a major championship victory at the 1995 U.S. Open. After shooting 72- 69-71 over the first three rounds, Corey entered the final round at Shinnecock Hills three strokes behind Greg Norman. Pavin’s closing round 68 was highlighted by a 228-yard 4-wood shot to the 18th green where the ball came to rest 5 feet from the hole. A par on the final hole earned him the win. He is a three-time member of the Ryder Cup Team, in 1991, 1993, and 1995, and a two-time member of the President’s Cup Team, in 1994 and 1996. Pavin has six top-25 finishes to date this season including in each of the past two weeks, tying for 12th at the Buick Open and tying for 10th at the Travelers Championship.

Ben Crane is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR. In addition to his wire-to-wire victory in Milwaukee, Crane won the 2003 BellSouth Classic. In 2005, Crane joined Ed Sneed, who turned the trick in 1974, as just the second wire to-wire winner (no ties) in the history of the U.S. Bank Championship (Corey Pavin became the third such winner a year later). Ben recorded four rounds in the 60s, including a career-best opening round of 8-under-par 62.

Crane’s three-day total of 19-under-par 191 was the best 54-hole start on the PGA TOUR in 2005 and just one stroke shy of the tournament record set by Jeff Sluman in 2002. His four-shot win was the largest margin of victory at the tournament since Loren Roberts won by eight in 2000. A native of Portland, Oregon, Crane was a three-time All-Pac 10 selection at the University of Oregon and won the 1998 Pacific Coast Amateur before turning professional in 1999. Ben has made 13 of 14 cuts to date this season on the PGA TOUR and has three top-10 finishes, a tie for 4th at the FBR Open, a tie for 6th at THE PLAYERS Championship and a 5th place finish at the Crowne Plaza Invitation at Colonial.

Carlos Franco is a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR. He has won twice in New Orleans at the 1999 and 2000 COMPAQ Classic of New Orleans and has won twice in Milwaukee at the 1999 Greater Milwaukee Open and the 2004 U.S. Bank Championship. Carlos was the first player in PGA TOUR history to win more than $1 million in each of his first two seasons on the circuit. A member of the International Presidents Cup Team in 1998 and 2000, Franco was the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in 1999. Carlos will be making his tenth consecutive and overall start in Milwaukee. He carded rounds of 65-66-67-66 en route to a 20-under-par 264 in 1999 and earned his first win here, besting runner-up Tom Lehman by two shots. Franco notched his second victory at Brown Deer Park five years later with a 13- under-par 267, good for a two-shot margin over Fred Funk and Brett Quigley. Carlos is one of four players to win twice at Brown Deer Park.

Shigeki Maruyama is a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR, most recently at the 2003 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. Maruyama became the first Japanese player to win a PGA TOUR event on the United States mainland at the 2001 Greater Milwaukee Open. Shigeki posted scores of 68-65-67-66 en route to an 18-under-par 266. He birdied the first hole of a sudden death playoff with Charles Howell III to take the title. A nine-time winner in Japan, the win was his first on the PGA TOUR. Maruyama, known for his ever-present smile on the golf course, was a member of the International President’s Cup Team in 1998 and 2000 and has a 6-2-0 record to his credit in the match-play competition. Shigeki will be making his fifth start at the U.S. Bank Championship.

JUNE 27, 2008—SAMMY AND KURT OF THE BODEANS TO PLAY LIVE ACOUSTIC SET AT U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

SAMMY AND KURT OF THE BODEANS TO PLAY LIVE ACOUSTIC SET AT U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

MILWAUKEE (JUNE 27, 2008)—The U.S. Bank Championship will host Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann of The BoDeans for a live acoustic set, free with paid admission to the tournament, following play on Saturday, July 19, approximately 4 p.m.

Sammy and Kurt of The BoDeans, a local favorite and popular rock ‘n’ roll band homegrown in Waukesha, will be the feature musical guests for the U.S. Bank Championship’s special entertainment and activities night titled “The Evening Round.” The live acoustic show will take place in the corporate village, alongside the 18th hole at Brown Deer Park Golf Course, home of Milwaukee’s U.S. Bank Championship.

“This is a great opportunity for golf fans, and non-golf fans alike, to experience the thrill of being in the middle of all of the action at the region’s only permanent PGA TOUR event,” says Dan Croak, Tournament Director. “The U.S. Bank Championship is more than just a golf event. This year will feature live entertainment, food and fun for the community to enjoy.”

“We are excited to help bring Sammy and Kurt of The BoDeans to this wonderful, charitable event that has contributed so much to the community,” says Bill Bertha, President of U.S. Bank of Wisconsin. “U.S. Bank is committed to the U.S. Bank Championship and working to energize Milwaukee and build momentum for 2008 and beyond.”

All proceeds from the U.S. Bank Championship will be donated to local charitable causes throughout Wisconsin. In 2007, the U.S. Bank Championship presented over $525,000 to a wide variety of organizations, including youth development associations and sporting programs, hospitals and food banks.

The 41st annual U.S. Bank Championship will be Monday, July 14 – Sunday, July 20 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course. Information and tickets for the event are available by calling 414-431-GOLF (4653) or visiting www.USBankChampionship.com.

JUNE 24, 2008—WISCONSINITES READY FOR ANNUAL PGA TOUR HOME GAME AT U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

WISCONSINITES READY FOR ANNUAL PGA TOUR HOME GAME AT U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

MILWAUKEE (JUNE 24, 2008)—Wisconsinites Jerry Kelly, Mark Wilson, J.P Hayes and Skip Kendall have committed to play in this year’s U.S. Bank Championship, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Jerry Kelly, a native of Madison, is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR. A perennial top-40 finisher on the PGA TOUR money list, Kelly has earned that distinction in six of the last seven years. He is enjoying another strong season in 2008 with five top-25 and three top-10 finishes to date including two 2nd place showings, at the Puerto Rico Open and the Memorial Tournament. Jerry currently ranks 32nd on the FedExCup Points list, 20th on the Ryder Cup Points list and 56th on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Kelly will be making his 16th start at the U.S. Bank Championship. He is one of eight players to finish 2nd twice at the tournament and is the event’s leading money winner without a victory. Kelly has shot under 70 in each of his past ten rounds at Brown Deer Park, the longest such current streak at the tournament. Jerry carded 67-69 in the 3rd and 4th rounds in 2004, 64-68-69-69 in 2005 and 64-67-64-67 in 2006. Mark Calcavecchia, with 11 consecutive rounds under 70, holds the tournament record in this category. Winner of the Wisconsin State Open in 1992, Kelly was elected to the Wisconsin State Golf Association Hall of Fame last year. At last week’s USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links, held at Erin Hills Golf Course, he padded his golfing resume by cadding during Sunday’s practice round and Monday’s first round for 16-year-old Kristina Merkle, keeping a promise to the girl who he first met at a pro-junior event at the Sony Open in Hawaii three years ago.

Currently not eligible for the British Open, Jerry is entered in the American section of the International Final Qualifying at the TPC of Michigan on Monday, June 30th. The top six finishers from a field of sixty will qualify for the Open. Should Kelly qualify, he could choose to play in either event.

Mark Wilson, a native of Pewaukee, earned the first victory of his PGA TOUR career last year at the Honda Classic. Mark won a four-man, three-hole playoff, making three critical par saving putts on two of the last three holes of regulation and on the first playoff hole. He then sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to capture the win. Wilson be making his 11th consecutive and overall start in Milwaukee. His best finish at the event came last year when he tied for 9th, carding rounds of 67-70-67-69. Mark has made 12 of 15 cuts to date this season on the PGA TOUR with four top-25 and two top-10 finishes, a tie for 9th at the FBR Open and and tie for 10th at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

J.P. Hayes, a native of Appleton, is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, at the 1998 Buick Classic and 2002 John Deere Classic. Hayes will be making his 14th consecutive and 15th overall start at the U.S. Bank Championship. He has five top-20 and three top-5 five finishes at the tournament. J.P. finished tied for 22nd at last years event.

Skip Kendall, a native of Brown Deer, will be making his 14th consecutive and 18th overall start at the U.S. Bank Championship. It will be his sixth PGA TOUR start of the year.

Playing mainly on the Nationwide Tour this season, as he did in 2007, after 14 straight seasons on the PGA TOUR, Kendall is looking to regain his full exempt status for next year. The top- 25 money winners from the Nationwide Tour earn their way onto the PGA TOUR for the next season. Kendall is a two-time winner of the Wisconsin State Open, capturing victories in 1988 and 1989, and grew up playing Brown Deer Park Golf Course, the track the U.S. Bank Championship currently calls home.

JUNE 17, 2008—U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP ADDS FOURSOME OF 2008 PGA TOUR WINNERS TO FIELD

U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP ADDS FOURSOME OF 2008 PGA TOUR WINNERS TO FIELD

MILWAUKEE (JUNE 17, 2008)—Daniel Chopra, D.J. Trahan, Brian Gay and Johnson Wagner, all winners on the PGA TOUR this season, have committed to play in this year’s U.S. Bank Championship, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Daniel Chopra earned the second victory of his PGA TOUR career at the season opening Mercedes-Benz Championship. Chopra, who qualified for the winners-only tournament with his first career win at the second-to-last event of last year, the Ginn sur Mer Classic at Tesoro, earned $1.1 million and a Mercedes-Benz sports car. Daniel won on the fourth extra hole of a sudden-death playoff over Steve Stricker. Chopra currently ranks 28th on the FedExCup Points list. A native of Stockholm, Sweden who currently resides in Orlando, Florida, he will be making his fourth start at the U.S. Bank Championship. Daniel joined the PGA TOUR in 2004 after spending two years on the Nationwide Tour, where he was a twotime winner. He has finished among the top-125 money winners in each of his four years on the circuit, including a top-50 finish last year.

D.J. Trahan earned his second career PGA TOUR win at this year’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. The 27-year-old Trahan, who had won once before, at the 2006 Southern Farm Bureau Classic, charged from four shots back on Sunday to overtake Justin Leonard and win by three strokes. Trahan birdied the final hole to finish the 90-hole tournament at 26-under-par 334. Trahan had an impressive showing at last week’s U.S. Open, finishing tied for 4th. He currently ranks 18th on the FedExCup Points list. D.J. will be making his fifth U.S. Bank Championship start. He has made the cut in each of his last two appearances at the event, finishing tied for 28th last year and tied for 4th in 2006. A heralded amateur player before turning professional in2003, Trahan won the 2000 U.S. Public Links Championship, was a member of the 2001 U.S. Walker Cup Team and was NCAA Player of the Year during his junior year at Clemson. He received a sponsors exemption to the 2003 U.S. Bank Championship, one of six events he played that year.

Brain Gay notched the first victory of his PGA TOUR career earlier this year at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun. The PGA TOUR's second annual visit south of the border became Gay's to lose when he closed the third round with birdies on five of the last six holes. He took a five-stroke lead into the final round and led by at least four throughout the first 16 holes Sunday before ultimately prevailing by two shots. In his 293rd career start, Brian finally was a winner, only 12 active players have entered more events without breaking through. Short off the tee but terrific with a putter, Gay never struggled for victories until moving up to golf's highest level. He's the only two-time winner of the SEC championship and he helped Florida win the national title in 1993. He won nine of 40 mini-tour starts in 1995, but has been a regular on the PGA TOUR since 1999 without ever finishing higher than a tie for second. Brian, who currently ranks 40th on the FedExCup Points list, will be making his eighth start in Milwaukee. He has made four of seven cuts at the tournament with his best finish coming in 2000 when he tied for 14th.

Johnson Wagner won for the first time on the PGA TOUR in April at the Shell Houston Open. Wagner who had missed six cuts in nine previous starts and was ranked 193rd on the money list when he arrived in Houston shot a 1-under 71 to finish at 16 under, two shots ahead of Chad Campbell and Geoff Ogilvy. Johnson joined the PGA TOUR last season after four years on the Nationwide Tour, where he was a two-time winner, and kept his playing card by finishing 98th on the 2007 money list. He currently ranks 35th on the FedExCup Points list. Wagner, a Texas native who currently resides in North Carolina, will be making his second start at the U.S. Bank Championship.

JUNE 10, 2008—CHRIS DIMARCO, J.J. HENRY, VAUGHN TAYLOR AND BRETT WETTERICH JOIN FIELD

CHRIS DIMARCO, J.J. HENRY, VAUGHN TAYLOR AND BRETT WETTERICH JOIN FIELD

MILWAUKEE (JUNE 10, 2008)—Chris DiMarco, J.J. Henry, Vaughn Taylor and Brett Wetterich, all members of the last U.S. Ryder Cup Team, in 2006, have committed to play in this year’s U.S. Bank Championship, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Chris DiMarco is a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR, victorious at the 2000 SEI Pennsylvania Classic, the 2001 Buick Challenge and the 2002 Phoenix Open. In addition, he won the 2006 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates on the European Tour with his wife, Amy, on the bag. Later that year, Chris finished 2nd to Tiger Woods at the British Open. He set the Royal Liverpool course record during that event with a 7-under-par 65 in the second round. DiMarco was a member of the 2003 and 2005 Presidents Cup Teams and the 2004 and 2006 Ryder Cup Teams. His most notable performance on those squads came in 2005 when he posted a 4-0-1 record and clinched the matches with a 13-foot birdie putt to win 1-up over Stewart Appleby in Singles. A professional since 1990 and a member of the PGA TOUR since 1994, Chris will be making his fourth start at the U.S. Bank Championship and first since 1999.

J.J. Henry picked up his first career PGA TOUR title in his home state of Connecticut at the 2006 Buick Championship. The victory jumped him to sixth on the U.S. Ryder Cup team points list with seven weeks to go. He ultimately finished eighth on the list to make his first Ryder Cup team. Henry has finished among the top-125 money winners on the PGA TOUR in each of his seven years on the circuit, dating back to 2001. J.J. will be making his sixth start at the U.S. Bank Championship. He has made the cut in each of his five previous appearances at the event.

Vaughn Taylor is a two-time champion on the PGA TOUR, winning the Reno-Tahoe Open twice, in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, Taylor posted a career-high six top-10 finishes and made his first U.S. Ryder Cup Team.

Vaughn, last year, earned more than $1 million for the fourth consecutive season and finished 70th on the PGA TOUR money list. Taylor will be making his third appearance in Milwaukee. He has made the cut in his three previous events, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, the Memorial Tournament and the Stanford St. Jude Championship. He tied for 8th earlier this year at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Brett Wetterich earned the first victory of his PGA TOUR career at the 2006 EDS Byron Nelson Championship. He finished that year 10th on the circuit’s money list and competed for United States on the Ryder Cup Team. Brett had a strong follow-up season in 2007, making 17 of 28 cuts and earning four top-10 and seven top-25 finishes, good for a 28th place finish on the PGA TOUR money list. He has made seven of eleven cuts to date this season. Wetterich will be making his fourth U.S. Bank Championship start. Brett has a scoring average of 68.50 at the event over the course of ten rounds. He fired four rounds in the 60s during his last appearance in 2006 on his way to a 9-under-par 271 and a top-25 finish.

JUNE 3, 2008—KENNY PERRY BRINGING HIS RYDER CUP CHASE TO THE 2008 U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

KENNY PERRY BRINGING HIS RYDER CUP CHASE TO THE 2008 U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

MILWAUKEE (JUNE 3, 2008)—Kenny Perry, a ten-time winner on the PGA TOUR including at last week’s Memorial Tournament, has committed to play in this year’s U.S. Bank Championship, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Kenny Perry, arguably, is the hottest player on the PGA TOUR. Currently ranked fourth on the Regular Season FedExCup Points list, he has made the cut in 14 of the 15 events he has played to date this season and has seven top-25 finishes, including in three of his last four starts, tying for 15th at THE PLAYERS Championship and finishing 2nd in a playoff at the AT&T Classic, in addition to last week’s victory. Perry’s stated goal for the year is to be a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team which will compete against the Europeans in September at Vahalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, his home state. Players earn Ryder Cup Points by virtue of their performance in tournaments through the PGA Championship, which is just three weeks after the U.S. Bank Championship.

Perry, who currently ranks fifth on the Ryder Cup Points list (the top eight on the list automatically qualify for the team), should be able to add to his total in Milwaukee. One of the most consistent performers in the tournament’s history, he has made the cut in 11 of his 12 starts, including his last ten consecutively, the longest such current streak at the event. He has played the weekend in all eight of his appearances at Brown Deer Park Golf Course, with seven top-10 finishes, including a victory in 2003. He tied for 5th at last year’s event. Kenny sits atop the tournament’s all-time career stroke average list with a mark of 68.522 over 46 total rounds. His stroke average at Brown Deer Park is 67.313 over 32 total rounds. He has carded only one round over par, a 1-over-par 71 in last year’s fourth round, since the year of his win here in 2003. He is second on the U.S. Bank Championship career money list with earnings of $1,422,857.73 and has earned $50,000 or more in each of his last eight starts in Milwaukee.

A professional since 1982, Perry is a three-time winner at the Memorial Tournament, victorious previously in 1991 and 2003, and a two-time winner at the Bank of America Colonial, in 2003 and 2005. In addition to wins at those invitationals, Kenny won the Bay Hill Invitational in 2005. He has finished as high as sixth on the PGA TOUR money list, accomplishing that feat twice, in 2003 and in 2005. He was a member of the Ryder Cup Team in 2004 and a Presidents Cup Team member in 1996, 2003 and 2005.

A native and current resident of Kentucky, Perry attended Western Kentucky University. He is a member of the Western Kentucky University and Kentucky Golf Halls of Fame. He was named the 2002 Charles Bartlett Award winner, an honor given yearly by the Golf Writers Association of America to a professional golfer for his unselfish contributions to the betterment of society. Perry donates five percent of his winnings to Lipscomb University in Nashville to provide scholarships for Simpson County students. Kenny, in 1995, designed and built the only public golf course in his hometown of Franklin, Kentucky. Designed for mid-tohigh handicappers, he works from time to time behind the counter.

MAY 27, 2008—FRED FUNK READY FOR ACTION AT THE 2008 U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

FRED FUNK READY FOR ACTION AT THE 2008 U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

MILWAUKEE (MAY 27, 2008)—Fred Funk, an eight-time winner on the PGA TOUR and a three-time winner on the Champions Tour, has committed to play in this year’s U.S. Bank Championship, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Fred Funk, at age 50, captured events on both the PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour last season. In his second Champions Tour appearance of the season, he won by a record 11 strokes at the Turtle Bay Championship. Weeks later, in his fourth start of the year, at the age of 50 years, 8 months and 12 days, Funk earned the eighth victory of his PGA TOUR career at the inaugural Mayakoba Golf Classic. In doing so, Fred became the fifth-oldest champion in PGA TOUR history and the oldest since Art Wall won the 1975 Greater Milwaukee Open at the age of 51 years, 7 months and 10 days.

Funk, if he is able to capture the 2008 U.S. Bank Championship title, would become the second-oldest winner in PGA TOUR history, surpassing Art Wall. Sam Snead tops the list of oldest winners, earning a victory at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open at the age of 52 years, 10 months and 8 days. There is good reason to think that Funk will be in the mix at Brown Deer Park later this year. He has made six of ten cuts at the venue and has three top-10 finishes to his credit, tying for 9th in 1996, 7th in 1998 and 2nd in 2004. Fred ranks third on the tournament’s career best stroke average list with a mark of 68.658 over a total of 38 rounds.

He trails only Kenny Perry (68.522, 46 rounds) and Frank Lickliter (68.6, 40 rounds) in the category.

Fred has made five of eight cuts to date this season on the PGA TOUR and has one top- 10 finish, a tie for 10th at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Additionally, he has made eight starts on the Champions Tour in 2008. He earned his third career title on that circuit at the MasterCard Championship at Hualalai in January, finishing at 21-under-par with rounds of 67-63-65.

Funk, captured THE PLAYERS Championship title in 2005, besting Tom Lehman, Scott Verplank and Luke Donald by a stroke after having to play 33 holes on Monday due to bad weather during the event. He has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA TOUR since joining in 1989, finishing in the top-100 on the money list in 18 of his 19 seasons, including the last 18 straight. Fred was a member of the 2004 Ryder Cup Team and the 2003 and 2005 President’s Cup Teams.

A professional since 1981, Fred was the golf coach at the University of Maryland from 1982 to 1988. A native of Takoma Park, Maryland, he currently resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

MAY 22, 2008—VOLUNTEERS MAY SIGN UP NOW FOR THE U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

VOLUNTEERS MAY SIGN UP NOW FOR THE U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
PGA TOUR event will be July 14-20 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course

MILWAUKEE (MAY 22, 2008)—The U.S. Bank Championship is seeking area volunteers to help during the tournament, July 14-20, at Brown Deer Park Golf Course.

Volunteers may sign up on the golf tournament’s Web site, www.usbankchampionship.com, or by calling 414-431-4653. Volunteers are requested to sign up for at least two, four-hour shifts, which may be worked anytime during the tournament. Positions most in need of volunteers include marshals, transportation and laser operators. Explanations of these duties are available on the Web site.

The U.S. Bank Championship is truly a unique event. As the region’s only permanent PGA TOUR stop, it has contributed millions of dollars to Wisconsin charities since 1994. Local businesses host clients and customers, building deeper, more extended relationships with affordable corporate packages. And no other sporting event lets golf fans and non-golf fans alike get closer to the excitement of professional athletes in action. In 2007, the U.S. Bank Championship became part of the PGA TOUR FedExCup competition that establishes the seeding for the PGA TOUR Playoffs.

MAY 19, 2008—U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP PASSES $6 MILLION MARK IN CHARITABLE GIVING

U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP PASSES $6 MILLION MARK IN CHARITABLE GIVING

MILWAUKEE (MAY 19, 2008)—The U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee donated just over $525,000 to various charitable causes and organizations in 2007, it was announced today by Paul Knoebel, President of the tournament’s Board of Directors. With the donation, the annual non-profit event passed the $6 million mark in charitable giving.

The $525,000 contribution brings the total amount donated in the nine years since the tournament’s return to the summer golf schedule to just over $4.85 million. “Today’s announcement that the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee donated over $525,000 to charity last year, bringing its total contribution to over $6 million during the course of its history, is a singular accomplishment in Wisconsin sports and entertainment,” said Knoebel.

“With the continued support of our many sponsors and volunteers, this unique event continues to bring the excitement of the PGA TOUR to our city and state. Not only impacting the community during tournament week, but leaving a lasting legacy on a year round basis,” Knoebel said.

“A momentous milestone was achieved at the end of the 2005 season as the PGA TOUR and its tournaments surpassed $1 billion in charitable donations in its history,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “With that goal achieved, the PGA TOUR has set a new goal of hitting the next billion dollars in 10 years, proving that giving back is indeed at the heart of the PGA TOUR,” Finchem continued. “With the help of the sponsors and the efforts of the volunteers, the U.S. Bank Championship will continue to have a significant impact through its charitable donations,” Finchem said.

Joe Ogilvie earned the first win of his PGA TOUR career at last year’s U.S. Bank Championship. He will attempt to become the first player to ever successfully defend his title at the tournament when he tees it up at the event in July.

MAY 19, 2008—JOE OGILVIE SET FOR TITLE DEFENSE AT THE 2008 U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

JOE OGILVIE SET FOR TITLE DEFENSE AT THE 2008 U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

MILWAUKEE (MAY 19, 2008)—Joe Ogilvie, winner of last year’s U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, is set to defend his title at this year’s event, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Joe Ogilvie earned the first win of his PGA TOUR career at last year’s U.S. Bank Championship. A four-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, winning twice in 1998 and twice in 2003, Joe was one of 12 first-time winners on the PGA TOUR in 2007. Ogilvie posted rounds of 67-63-69-67 over the par-70 Brown Deer Park Golf Course layout en route to his four-shot victory over runners-up Tim Clark, Tim Herron and Charlie Wi. Joe’s final round was highlighted by an eagle-2 on the par-4 16th hole where he holed out from 119 yards with a sand wedge. Ogilvie became the tournament’s ninth first-time champion and first since Shigeki Maruyama captured the title in 2001.

Since rejoining the PGA TOUR in 2004, after a year back on the Nationwide Tour in 2003, Joe has finished among the top-100 money winners in each of those past four seasons, ranking as high as 37th in 2005. He finished 69th on last year’s money list. Ogilvie has made nine of thirteen cuts to date this season and has two top-25 finishes to his credit, a tie for 12th at the Mayakoba Golf Classic and a tie for 9th at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

A native of Lancaster, Ohio, Joe currently resides in Austin, Texas. Before turning professional in 1996, Ogilvie played collegiately at Duke University where he distinguished himself both on and off the course. A 1995 honorable mention All-American selection and two-time all-ACC player while in college, Joe graduated with a degree in Economics. A respected financial mind among his TOUR peers, Ogilvie remains a keen follower of financial markets, appearing previously on CNBC. He started his own investment advisory firm, Ogilvie Capital, in 2007.

In addition to his full tournament schedule, Joe is one of four player directors on the eight member PGA TOUR Policy Board, an important part of the organization’s governing body. According to Golf World writer Tim Rosafore, “Ogilvie is well educated, businessminded, opinionated and a good communicator who is not afraid to debate the establishment on tough issues.”

Joe’s knowledge, confidence and quick wit all help make him one of the more unique individuals on the PGA TOUR. When not competing, Joe enjoys spending time with his family which includes his wife and three children.

Ogilvie will attempt to become the first player to ever successfully defend his title at the U.S. Bank Championship when he tees it up at the event in July. Of the 34 events in the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup Regular season that have been contested more than twice, the U.S. Bank Championship is one of only two tournament in which a champion has not successfully defended his title. The other is THE PLAYERS Championship.

MARCH 27, 2008—RAISING THE GRASS CEILING EVENTS KICKS-OFF REGISTRATION

‘RAISING THE GRASS CEILING’ EVENT KICKS-OFF REGISTRATION
Golf event supports youth golf in Milwaukee County

MILWAUKEE (MARCH 27, 2008)—Although you may not be able to see your grass yet, the U.S. Bank Championship has announced that registration is open for the “Raising the Grass Ceiling” golf event to be played June 26 at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course. Teams of four will compete for a chance to golf in the July 16 Aurora Health Care Professional-Amateur (Pro-Am) tournament and the July 14 U.S. Bank Championship Pro-Am tournament.

The event supports The First Tee of Milwaukee County, which provides free golf programs to the youth of Milwaukee County who otherwise may not have been introduced to the game of golf. The First Tee program encourages girls and boys to grow as individuals through the values inherent in golf, such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. Now in its second year, “Raising the Grass Ceiling” encourages women to participate in competitive golf by requiring each foursome to contain at least two women.

“Women’s golf has become one of the fastest growing segments in the golf industry,” said Kim Hodgkinson, committee co-chair of the event. “‘Raising the Grass Ceiling’ is an opportunity for women to participate in a PGA TOUR-related event, while supporting Milwaukee’s youth.”

The event format is one best ball per foursome, with each team recording its best individual score per hole. Appropriate scores per hole will be determined based on the handicaps of each team member. Entrance to the event is $1,500 per foursome, which includes 80 grounds tickets good for any day at the U.S. Bank Championship to be held Thursday, July 14 through Sunday, July 20 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course in Milwaukee.

The winning team will be awarded a foursome in the Aurora Health Care Pro-Am on Wednesday, July 16, and the runner-up will receive four spots in the U.S. Bank Championship Pro-Am on Monday, July 14. The 2007 “Raising the Grass Ceiling” winning team was Johnson Insurance of Madison. For more information and to register for the golf event, call 414-431-GOLF.

“Raising the Grass Ceiling” Committee Co-Chairs include: Kim Hodgkinson, Director Finance & Operations, Aurora Health Care Ventures and Pat Kraft, Past-President of the Wisconsin Women’s State Golf Association (WWSGA). Committee members include: Courtney Buchach, Program Director for First Tee Milwaukee; Tracy Johnson, Executive Director for Tempo Milwaukee; Kim Marotta, Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility for Miller Brewing Company; Dan Meyer, Owner and Publisher of the Small Business Times; Francis Morton, Owner, Remedi Creative Inc; Curt Neudecker, The First Tee of Milwaukee County and John Sendik, Owner of Sendik's grocery stores.

JULY 14, 2008—SAMMY AND KURT OF THE BODEANS TO HEADLINE “THE EVENING ROUND” EVENTS AT THE U.S. BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

Milwaukee, WI – July 14, 2008 – Spa services, wine and beer tasting, an art auction and Sammy and Kurt of the BoDeans are scheduled to hit the back nine at the U.S. Bank Championship’s The Evening Round. These Milwaukee events and live entertainment will offer fun for the entire family and take place Saturday, July 19 following tournament play at 4 p.m. in the corporate village, alongside the 18th hole at Brown Deer Park Golf Course. 

Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann of the BoDeans, a local, homegrown favorite and popular rock ‘n’roll band, will headline the festivities with a live acoustic set. The U.S. Bank Championship’s special entertainment and activities at The Evening Round are free with paid admission to the tournament.  Tickets for Saturday’s tournament play and event featuring Sammy and Kurt of the BoDeans are available at www.usbankchampionship.com.

Spa services, including chair massages, light therapy on the hands, and education on acupuncture will be provided by two local relaxation venues – White Sage Spa and Lakeside School of Massage. Wine tasting will be presented by Sendik’s Market of Milwaukee, and beer tasting will feature Leinenkugel products and Miller Brands Distributing imports.  Weather permitting, Sammy and Kurt of the BoDeans’ live set, spa services and wine and beer tasting will begin at 4 p.m., or directly following tournament play.

“This is a great opportunity for golf fans, and non-golf fans alike, to experience the region’s only permanent PGA TOUR event,” says Dan Croak, Tournament Director. “The Evening Round is a fresh and first-of-its-kind approach for people to experience PGA TOUR golf in Milwaukee, live entertainment, food and fun for the entire community to enjoy.”

In addition, paintings will be rendered by three Wisconsin-based artists, to be raffled for charity during The Evening Round. Art will be created on-course near the corporate village on Saturday, July 19. Scheduled paintings will include: a depiction of Tiger Woods at his first PGA TOUR event at Brown Deer Park Golf Course in 1996, a scene of crowds at the 18th hole, and a floral view from the more than 50,000 annuals planted for the U.S. Bank Championship. 

All proceeds from the U.S. Bank Championship will be donated to local charitable causes throughout Wisconsin. In 2007, the U.S. Bank Championship presented over $525,000 to a wide variety of organizations, including youth development associations and sporting programs, hospitals and food banks.

“The U.S. Bank Championship is more than just a golf event,” says Bill Bertha, President of U.S. Bank of Wisconsin. “It’s also a charitable event that contributes to the Milwaukee community.”

The 41st annual U.S. Bank Championship will be Monday, July 14 – Sunday, July 20 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course. Information, schedule of events and tickets for the U.S. Bank Championship are available by calling
414-431-GOLF (4653) or visiting www.usbankchampionship.com.

The U.S. Bank Championship – ‘This You Gotta See’
The U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee is a one-of-a-kind event, and the region’s only permanent PGA TOUR stop. The U.S. Bank Championship offers businesses the unique opportunity to host customers and employees with customizable, affordable corporate sponsorships, helping businesses of all sizes achieve multiple goals at a single event. Golf fans and non-golf fans alike can enjoy the excitement at a PGA TOUR event. With the help of its

The Evening Round, page 2
volunteers, the not-for-profit U.S. Bank Championship has contributed millions of dollars to Wisconsin charities since 1994.

About U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), with $242 billion in assets, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 2,522 banking offices and 4,844 ATMs, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, and trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.