Summerlin to host PGA Tour’s FRYS.com Open

The master-planned community of Summerlin will once again serve as the host community for the PGA Tour's FRYS.com Open, formerly known as the Las Vegas Invitational. The event benefits the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The tournament will be played exclusively within Summerlin for the fourth time in the tournament's history.

Scheduled for Oct. 11 through 14, the PGA Tour event will be played at Nevada's only Tournament Players Club courses -- TPC Summerlin and TPC Canyons, both in Summerlin.

The final two days of play will occur exclusively at TPC Summerlin and the tournament is being broadcast all four days on the Golf Channel.

The tournament, now in its 25th year, moved to Summerlin in 1992, where it has been played for the past 15 years.

With a $4 million purse, the FRYS.com Open will draw some of the biggest names in golf to Las Vegas and Summerlin while helping to support this network of North American facilities that provide superior medical care at no charge to children under the age of 18.

Leading the field this year is 2006 champion Troy Matteson, who hopes to defend his title.

Other committed players to date include Davis Love III, John Daly, Lee Janzen, Mark Calcavecchia, Tom Lehman, Rich Beem, Lucas Glover, and international stars Jesper Parnevik and Shigeki Maruyama. The winner will take home $720,000.

According to Kevin Orrock, top division executive of The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties and developer of Summerlin, TPC Summerlin is a suitable venue for the event.

"TPC courses are designed with built-in amphitheaters and viewing areas to accommodate large tournaments that attract large galleries," he said. "Several additional improvements have also been made to the golf course this year, including the creation of The Hill, a viewing and party area overlooking the 16th, 17th and 18th greens that is accessible to the general public. It's the next generation of tournament-watching and we're pleased to see this evolution at TPC Summerlin."

Long touted as a golfer's haven, Summerlin is currently home to nine public and private golf courses, including Jack Nicklaus' Bear's Best Las Vegas in The Ridges Village, three courses in Sun City Summerlin, two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses in Red Rock Country Club, and a course in Siena, another age qualified Summerlin village developed by Sunrise Colony Co.

"We know its October in Summerlin when the golf tournament rolls around," Orrock said. "With more than a decade behind us, this tournament has become a tradition for local golf fans of all ages who enjoy coming out for this prestigious event."

Tickets for the tournament with access to The Hill are $15 for a day pass. Tickets and additional tournament information are available on the Web site at TheFrysOpen.com or by phone at 873-1010.

For more information on the master-planned community, visit summerlin.com or call 888-898-5015.