Teams shaping up for Legends

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SAVANNAH, Ga. -- With the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf returning to its historic roots and becoming an all-team event again for the first time since 2001, Champions Tour players are announcing their teams in the Legends Division (ages 50+). Held annually at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa in Savannah, Ga., the tournament will count as an official win with official money when the event returns on April 21-27, 2008.

Tom Watson (left) and Andy North celebrate in 2007. (Condon/PGA TOUR)

Three-time champs in the Raphael Division, Tom Watson and Andy North will tee it up together for the fourth consecutive year at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. After dominating the Raphael's two-day, better-ball format and earning over $340,000 in unofficial money as a team, the duo will now have the opportunity to vie for their first official victory after North accepted a sponsor's exemption allowing him to compete in the Legends division.

World Golf Hall of Fame member Watson will be making his sixth appearance at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. Prior to teaming with North, the eight-time major champion finished tied for 38th as an individual in 2002 and partnered with Lanny Wadkins to finish eighth in 2000 when the Legends Division was an unofficial team event. The 39-time PGA TOUR winner has recorded 10 official wins on the Champions Tour since his debut in 1999, tallying two last year at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am and Senior British Open.

North, who will make his second start of the year, has enjoyed continued success at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. In addition to his third consecutive win with Watson, the two-time U.S. Open champion (1978, 1985) also notched back-to-back Legends Division victories with Jim Colbert in 2000 and 2001.

Tom Purtzer and D.A. Weibring have also declared themselves a team. Purtzer is a five-time PGA TOUR winner. Often described as having the "sweetest" swing on TOUR, Purtzer has earned four Champions Tour victories since his debut in 2001. His best performance at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa came in 2005 where he finished tied for third behind winner Des Smyth.

Weibring is a five-time winner on the PGA TOUR with four Champions Tour titles under his belt, including last year's 3M Championship. The Texan has finished in the top 10 twice so far this season and will be making his fifth appearance in Savannah.

Rounding out the list of latest commitments in the Legends Division is the team of John Jacobs and Fuzzy Zoeller. Despite three-second place finishes during his 12-year PGA TOUR career, a professional win on U.S. soil eluded Jacobs until 1998 when he won the Nationwide Championship in his third year on the Champions Tour. Jacobs has gone on to win four more times on the Champions Tour, including a major victory at the 2003 Senior PGA Championship.

Zoeller is a two-time major champion (1979 Masters and 1984 U.S. Open) with a total of 10 PGA TOUR victories. The fan-favorite has two Champions Tour titles to his name including a major win at the 2002 Senior PGA Championship in his rookie season.

Weeklong Emerald Club passes are still available for $75 ($65 for age 60+) and include admission into the National Car Rental Emerald Club Pavilion Wednesday-Sunday. Daily passes are $25 in advance (price of single day tickets increases to $30 at the gate). Tickets may be purchased by calling toll free, 877-942-1123 or visiting the tournament's website at www.libertymutuallegends.pgatour.com.

The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is part of the Champions Tour's "The Road to the Charles Schwab Cup", a season-long points race that kicks off in Hawaii with 29 official events and culminates in Northern California at Sonoma Golf Club October 27 -- November 2, with $2.1 million in payouts awarded to the season's top five leading performers.