18th Annual Merrill Lynch Shootout Hosted by Greg Norman…
Great Golf for a Great Cause
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| View more photos from the 2006 Merrill Lynch Shootout |
NAPLES, FL, November 27, 2006 – When The Shark meets The Bull, golf is not the same game. Golf legend, Greg Norman welcomed Merrill Lynch as the new title partner of the 18th Annual Merrill Lynch Shootout held November 8-12 at the Tiburón Golf Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples. CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation is the tournament’s primary charitable beneficiary.
A popular stop on the PGA TOUR, the Shootout is a one-of-a-kind competition for 24 of the world's top professional golfers to play on two-person teams in a mixed-format of modified alternate shot, better ball and scramble. This year, Norman assembled the strongest field ever with 11 major champions including Annika Sorenstam, one of the best female golfers of all time and the first female participant in Shootout history.
The team of Rod Pampling and Jerry Kelly used a tap-in bogey on the first hole of a sudden death play-off to capture the 2006 Merrill Lynch Shootout title over Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank. USA Network televised Friday's coverage and CBS Sports handled broadcasting duties over the weekend.
Norman founded the Shootout in 1989 to help raise money and awareness for children who suffer from disease or social difficulties. With help from family, sponsors, players, volunteers, fans and the team at Great White Shark Enterprises, Norman’s Shootout has raised more than $10.5 million to help fund pediatric cancer research.
“Greg Norman has been a tremendous supporter of childhood cancer research,” said Tricia Benson, CureSearch Vice President of External Affairs. “The Shootout is a true testament to the work he’s done over the years to help fund the work of the Children’s Oncology Group that is increasing survival rates for young people fighting cancer.”
“Our partnership with Greg represents not only the best in golf and sportsmanship, but also in philanthropy,” said Bob McCann, Vice President and Chairman, Merrill Lynch Global Private Client. “We share in CureSearch’s dream to reach the day when every child with cancer can be guaranteed a cure.”
Each year, Norman invites a young person who has been touched by pediatric cancer to attend the Merrill Lynch Shootout as his personal guest and tell his or her story during the tournament’s Pro-Am Awards Dinner. Gregory and Kaitlyn Lang from Naples – brother and sister who are surviving their battles with the disease – were thrilled to be invited along with their mother, Ann; adopted father, Tim; adopted brother, Peter; and Gregory’s girlfriend, Brianna.
Gregory is a 17-year-old high school senior and a two-time childhood cancer fighter. He was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in September 1992 at age three. Four months later, his right leg was amputated below the knee.
In September 2005, Gregory was diagnosed with pediatric cancer again, this time with an aggressive strain of colorectal cancer, which had spread to his liver. Surgery removed half his liver and part of his colon. He was hospitalized for six weeks with massive infections and finished chemo on July 23, 2006 – 13 years to the day of finishing his Rhabdo treatment.
“This is probably the best night of my life,” said Gregory speaking of the Awards Dinner. “It was an honor to stand up on the stage in front of some of my golf heroes and tell our story.”
With his big grin, Gregory chuckles and thinks it is funny and fitting to be part of the Shootout since he has a shark drawn on his prosthetic leg, right at the knee.
“I would get tired of explaining how I lost my leg, so I used to jokingly tell kids that a shark bit it off,” recalls Gregory. He says “it’s awesome” to meet this Shark, Greg Norman.
Gregory’s younger sister, Kaitlyn, was diagnosed in May 2000 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age eight. Today, she is in remission and a high school freshman. Both Langs suffer from a rare inherited condition that predisposes them to cancer. Their biological father passed away in 2001 after his second battle with cancer, a brain tumor.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to unite our passion for golf with our family’s dedication to raising awareness of childhood cancer,” said Ann, who also spoke at the Awards dinner. “At diagnosis, pediatric cancer patients are instantly made lifelong members of an elite group they never asked to join. Let us all continue this fight to win and permanently prevail so that no new member is introduced in the future.”
“If you ever get a chance to see what these young kids go through; believe it or not, there is still happiness on their faces,” said Norman addressing his guests at the dinner. “I thank you for stepping up.”
CureSearch Trustee and Pro-Am participant, Mike Carter, introduced the Langs and presented Norman and Paula Polito, Merrill Lynch Sr. Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Brand Management, with framed artwork created by two CureSearch Young Artists. Carter knows all too well what it means to lose a child to cancer. His son, Scott, passed away from bone cancer at age 13.
Another Merrill Lynch Shootout highlight was the free, CureSearch Family Golf Clinic, which was held after the opening round of play on Friday, November 10. Norman and golf superstar, John Daly, traded barbs, golf tips and techniques and answered questions from the crowd. Daly also hit some incredible long drives on the driving range.
“I see Greg has made over $10 million for [CureSearch].” said Daly. “I mean, that's the bottom line. That's what it's about. We want to win [the tournament] badly, but at the end of the day, it's for the kids, and he's done a remarkable job.”
Ultimate golf trick shot artist and cancer survivor, Ben Witter, also wowed the crowd with an exhibition that left everyone shaking their heads in amazement. Afterwards, PGA pros from the area gave free lessons with golf clubs provided by MacGregor Golf and U.S. Kids Golf. Calistoga Bakery & Café donated fresh-baked cookies.
Norman, Daly and the pros were joined at the clinic by more than 20 children from Royal Palm Academy in Naples. The students presented CureSearch with get well letters for children who have recently gone through chemotherapy. CureSearch will distribute the letters on their behalf to Children’s Oncology Group member institutions.
In 2007, the Merrill Lynch Shootout moves to early December with broadcast coverage provided by NBC.
For more information about the Merrill Lynch Shootout and Greg Norman’s commitment to supporting childhood cancer research, log on to www.mlshootout.com.