Pop star Timberlake teams with Shriners Hospitals, will host PGA event in Las Vegas

When the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open announced its new format, which included a celebrity pro-am, the speculation was how big a celebrity could the Las Vegas PGA Tour event attract?

The answer came Monday when the Shriners announced that A-list celebrity and pop star Justin Timberlake was lending his name to the Oct. 15-19 event at TPC Summerlin.

Timberlake, a four-time Grammy award winner and a member of the former group NSYNC, has signed on for five years and has added his name to the tournament. He will play in the Oct. 15 pro-am and will perform at a concert that week.

"We've been looking for a little younger crowd," said Gary Davis, the tournament's chairman. "We've been talking to Justin for the past few months but we had to get through this year's tournament first."

Timberlake, who plays to a 6-handicap according to Davis, had approached the PGA Tour last year about lending his name and support to the tour.

When he was told that the Las Vegas stop was looking to increase its visibility through celebrities, Timberlake became interested in partnering with the Shriners.

"I couldn't be more excited to host the upcoming 2008 Las Vegas tournament and to be involved with the Shriners Hospitals for Children," Timberlake said in a statement. "Raising money to better children's lives while playing golf? I can't think of a better way to pass the time."

According to PGA Tour officials, Timberlake becomes the 14th celebrity to host a Tour event. Others have included Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. The tournament's new official name is the "Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open."

Davis said Timberlake will be in town all week and his presence is sure to attract other A-listers.