Timberlake sings praises of his new golf tournament

It has been 10 months since Justin Timberlake agreed to get involved with the Shriners Hospitals for Children and host the Shriners' PGA Tour event at TPC Summerlin. But it wasn't until just recently that it hit the pop star his golf tournament is only a month away from becoming reality.

"I happened to see one of the flags with my name on it, and when I saw it, I said, 'Wow,' " Timberlake said Wednesday during a teleconference to promote the Oct. 13-19 tournament. "We're going to have a good field out there, and I'm looking forward to developing some new fans of golf."

The tournament announced Wednesday that Hunter Mahan and J.B. Holmes, two members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, have committed to play Las Vegas.

Timberlake knows he will be busy that week, hosting a celebrity pro-am on Oct. 15, headlining a concert at Planet Hollywood on Oct. 17 and following the proceedings with the Tour pros as they chase the first prize of $738,000. He's already busy lining up celebrity friends for the pro-am.

"We want to make it a marquee stop on the (PGA) Tour for the players," he said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want us to be part of the (FedEx Cup) points race. But we have some cool things lined up for the players, their families and the fans.

"The Shriners are committed to this event for the next five years, and so am I."

Growing up in Tennessee, Timberlake was a basketball player, not a golfer. But when he was 21 and out on tour he needed something to relieve the tension. His tour manager got him out to a golf course one day and he was hooked.

Today, at age 27, Timberlake plays to between a "4 and 8" handicap, depending upon how often he gets on the course.

"I had cabin fever when I was on tour, playing inside three or four nights in a row, so I love being outdoors," Timberlake said. "I get lost in the beauty of the course and the beauty of the game. For me, it's a great way to escape for a couple of hours."

According to the PGA Tour, Timberlake becomes the 14th celebrity to have his name attached to one of the Tour's events. Timberlake said he hopes to grow the Las Vegas event that bears his name into the kind of success Bing Crosby's Pebble Beach, Calif., event once enjoyed.

"I'm hoping I'll compare more to Bing Crosby in terms of being a host and a golfer," Timberlake said. "When I was looking to get involved a year and a half ago and was talking to the PGA Tour, someone suggested Las Vegas, and I thought it was a perfect fit for me. Throw in the Shriners and the incredible work they do and, to me, it's a natural."

Timberlake said he's waiting to receive commitments from celebrities to play in the pro-am. His concert at Planet Hollywood already has lined up Rihanna, Rascal Flatts and the Jonas Brothers.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.