BY MIKE FIELDS

Yes, it rained on the parade that was the first regular PGA TOUR event in Kentucky in more than half a century, but the Barbasol Championship was nevertheless a successful big-time sports happening that should only grow and get better in coming years.

That’s the takeaway of tournament director Brooks Downing, whose bd Global company was the driving force behind bringing the $3.5 million Barbasol Championship to Champions at Keene Trace in Nicholasville two weeks ago.

“We controlled everything that we could control,” Downing said. “The one thing we couldn’t control was Mother Nature, which obviously played a major role in the tournament.

“Having said that, the reviews we got back from our patrons as well as our participants were all so positive. I think we hit the mark on what we were trying to establish, including the premium hospitality offering, the fan experience, and the level of golf that was played.

“I think our fans really enjoyed it, and they recognized that this was a PGA TOUR-caliber event, just like we told them it would be.”

More than 5 inches of rain swamped Champions at Keene Trace during the week and forced delay or suspension of play several times. All the bad weather, including a severe storm on Friday, had to affect attendance.

“Saturday and Sunday should be our two biggest days, and we were dodging lightning bolts,” Downing said. “If Saturday and Sunday are sunny and dry, and we’re able to have a normal schedule, how do things look?

“We still had over 25,000 people on our property for the week, but if the weather cooperates, does that become 40,000 or 50,000? I think it might.”

Despite all the rain, the course held up fairly well thanks to the extraordinary efforts of superintendent Carl Gray and his grounds crew.

Evan Mossbarger, who along with B Frye owns Champions at Keene Trace, said that while the wet weather “showed us some areas where we’ve got to improve the drainage,” he was encouraged to hear that the players found the greens to their liking.

“Despite all the rain, the greens maintained their integrity and they putted true, and the pros love it when that happens.”

Tom Heilbron, who founded Champions 30 years ago, thought the bad weather might ultimately prove to have been a good thing because it showed that Gray and his staff were up to the challenge.

“That should give the PGA TOUR confidence that they can handle just about anything that comes along down the road,” Heilbron said. “You don’t plan for 5 ½ inches of rain, but they dealt with it. So maybe all the trouble worked in their favor because they showed their inherent capabilities.”

Besides addressing drainage issues in some areas (including the driving range, which got pretty messy), Downing said the course will undergo a few changes. Those tweaks may include a new tee (or two), renovation of bunkers and enhancement of the lake’s edges.

Downing also said the sponsors’ and vendors’ “village”, which was on the front lawn of the clubhouse this year, didn’t get enough foot traffic. Next year it will be moved to the main walkway off the bus depot, where spectators enter the grounds.

The 2019 Barbasol Championship (July 20-23) will need more volunteers, too.

“We had 750 this year, and that proved to be a little light,” Downing said. “To get this right, and to provide all the services, we’ve got to get that number up to 1,000 at a minimum.”

Overall, Champions at Keene Trace looked like a PGA TOUR event in its debut.

“A common phrase we kept getting was, ‘I had no idea,’” Downing said. “People were just amazed by what we were able to put on.”

Mossbarger was among those impressed.

“It really blew me away,” he said. “And our membership can’t stop talking about how much fun they had and what a great experience it was for them.”

Heilbron thought Champions at Keene Trace presented itself well on the Golf Channel, too.

“It looked really, really good,” he said. “I started watching other tournaments with a critical eye to see how they looked compared to how we looked on TV, and we stacked up pretty doggone well. We have a lot of contour, a lot of movement hole to hole. It’s not boring. I thought it showed extremely well.”

Even though it was the same week as the British Open (and Tiger Woods’ resurgence), the Barbasol Championship didn’t lack for interesting storylines.

Giving Brittany Lincicome a sponsor’s exemption was a genius stroke. The first woman to compete on the PGA TOUR in 10 years, Lincicome created a national buzz and she drew some of the biggest galleries of the week.

Hometown favorite Josh Teater’s strong play drew the biggest roars. Recent UK graduates Chip McDaniel and Cooper Musselman boosted local interest by making the cut.

And the close, final-round battle among Troy Merritt, Billy Horschel, Tom Lovelady and Richy Werenski made for a dramatic Monday.

Merritt, who matched the course record with an opening 62, finished 23-under, one ahead of his challengers. The bearded 32-year-old was a popular winner. He was obviously thrilled, and couldn’t have been more gracious in victory.

The nines at Champions at Keene Trace were flipped for the tournament, which meant the Barbasol Championship’s 18^th hole was a par-3 over water.

“I think people loved it,” Downing said. “We’re only the second tour event with a par-3 finishing hole. (The Greenbrier is the other). I’m surprised more don’t have it because it really ends things with a bang.”

Heilbron was delighted with how the Barbasol Championship played out on the course he opened in 1988.

“I always hoped to have a blimp overhead of a major tournament here,” he said. “This had everything but the blimp, and more. What made me proudest was how professionally it was done. It was first-class all the way.”

Mossbarger hopes this year’s tournament whetted the appetite of area golf fans.

“I think there were a lot of people sitting on the sidelines this year saying, ‘Let’s see what this thing looks like.’ I hope the community really responds with faith next year.”

On a scale of 1-to-10, Downing rated the inaugural tournament an 8.

“Operationally, I thought we hit the mark. From a fan experience, we were pretty close,” he said. “All things considered, I thought it was a tremendous success. But we know it can be even bigger and better in the future.”

BY MIKE FIELDS

A light rain started to fall just when the Barbasol Championship trophy ceremony got underway on the 18^th green at Champions at Keene Trace early Monday afternoon, but there were bright smiles all around, the brightest worn by Troy Merritt, the winner of the first PGA TOUR event in Kentucky in almost 60 years.

After a long, wet week, Merritt wasn’t about to let a little drizzle dampen his delight. He was enjoying the moment and all that came with it.

By winning the Barbasol Championship, he earned $630,000, a spot in next month’s PGA Championship, 300 FedEx points, but most important, a two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR.

“Just knowing I can play these last few weeks of the season not stressing about having full status next year, knowing I’ve got that security for two years is awesome,” he said.

Merritt was strong from the start in the Barbasol Championship.

He matched the course record with a 10-under par 62 in the first round, and followed it up with 67-67-69 to finish 23-under, one better than Billy Horschel, Richy Werenski and Tom Lovelady.

Merritt was playing so-so golf Monday until he eagled the par-4 8^th hole, spinning a 9-iron back into the cup from 128 yards out.

But he thought he won the tournament when he birdied the 15^th to get to 23-under and take a one-shot lead.

He kept a close eye on the scoreboard after that. Once he saw that his closest challengers failed to birdie the par-5 17^th, he figured he could par in and take home the trophy.

Merritt, a bearded 32-year-old who makes his home in Boise, Idaho, won the Quickens Loan three years ago for his first PGA TOUR victory. Since then some doubt began to creep into his mind about whether he could win again.

He credited his new caddie, Wayne Birch, for giving him a boost in confidence. Since Birch picked up his bag nine events ago, Merritt has made 8 cuts, including Monday’s victory.

“Wayne’s the most positive person I’ve ever met,” Merritt said. “There’s a nice little spark there.”

Horschel was the highest ranked player in the Barbasol Championship, and he played like it. He had only two bogeys all week while carding 65-66-68-67—277.

“The last two days I couldn’t get a putt to fall, and when you’re in a shootout like this, you’re going to have to have a little bit of luck. I didn’t have any,” he said.

Horschel was effusive in his praise for the first Barbasol Championship in Kentucky.

“The course is awesome,” he said. “It’s unfortunate we had so much rain. I tip my hat to the maintenance crew. We’ve had a lot of water here, and to have the course somewhat playable is pretty special. If the course is playing fast and firm, I think the scores would be 10 shots higher.

“Barbasol puts on a great event. I think it’ll have a long-lasting life here.”

Merritt, as you would expect, enjoyed his time in the Bluegrass State.

“This is my first time spending time in Kentucky,” he said. “There were a lot of smiles, a lot of very nice conversations with the volunteers, spectators and staff. And the people I talked with were thrilled to be out here watching golf. That makes our job a lot more fun.”

Merritt was busy winning a golf tournament so he didn’t have time to get out and see the sights of Central Kentucky. But he’s a fan of Woodford Reserve and hopes to return to do the Bourbon Trail.

“I’ll be back for sure,” he said.

LEXINGTON – The Bluegrass State’s only annual official PGA TOUR tournament, the Barbasol Championship, announced its initial player field today, headlined by five former major championship winners with a total of eight majors between them.

Davis Love III (1997 PGA Championship), Retief Goosen (2001, 2004 U.S. Open), Brittany Lincicome (2009, 2015 ANA Inspiration [LPGA]), Angel Cabrera (2007 U.S. Open, 2009 Masters), and Y.E. Yang (2009 PGA) have all committed to the Barbasol Championship, to be held July 19-22 at Champions at Keene Trace in Nicholasville, just outside Lexington.

“We could not be more pleased with the initial list of player commitments, including these major champions,” said tournament Executive Director Brooks Downing. “With these accomplished stars in the field along with all the young up-and-coming talent on the PGA TOUR, the four days of competition will be very intriguing and entertaining to watch.”

The field of 132 players currently represents more than 150 total PGA TOUR victories as well as multiple Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team appearances.  The commitment deadline for players to play in the Barbasol Championship is Friday, July 13.

“This is just a quick view of some of the stars that have signed up on the preliminary list,” Downing added.  “We will announce more next week as the list continues to take shape.” The field will not be final until the Friday before the tournament, when all TOUR members must submit their names if they intend to play in the event.

Daily and week-long grounds passes can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. A Thursday grounds pass is $30 with Friday priced at $35 and the Saturday/Sunday rate at $40 per day. A four-day grounds pass can be purchased for $100, with upgraded ticket options available as well.

“Central Kentucky has attracted attention from all over the world for our horse-racing industry, and now we will be attracting worldwide attention for golf,” said Bluegrass Sports Commission President & CEO Brian Miller. “We look forward to showcasing the Bluegrass to local and regional golf fans, and a national and international TV audience.”

Love III’s commitment, previously announced, includes the participation of his son, Dru, a former Alabama standout now striving to gain PGA TOUR eligibility.  The elder Love, in addition to his PGA crown, also captured THE PLAYERS Championship in 1992 and 2003 among this 21 TOUR victories, and has served several terms on the PGA TOUR Policy Board as a Player Director.

Goosen, nicknamed “Iceman” for his calm on-course demeanor and affectionately called “Goose,” was the winner of the 2001 and 2004 U.S. Open.  The South African is one of the most accomplished international golfers with 36 victories around the world, including seven on the PGA TOUR, and led the PGA European Tour’s Order of Merit (money list) on two occasions. He has been an International team member in the Presidents Cup six times.

Lincicome, also previously announced, is one of the longest hitters on the LPGA, earning her the nickname “Bam Bam.”  She will be the fifth LPGA member ever to compete in an official PGA TOUR event.  In addition to her two majors, her eight total LPGA wins also include back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018 in the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic.

Cabrera from Argentina has been a member of both the PGA TOUR and European Tour.  He captured the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters, and lost in a playoff to Adam Scott in the 2013 Masters.  Nicknamed “El Pato” (“The Duck”) for his walking style, Cabrera learned the game as a caddie, and now has 46 professional victories in his career.

Yang has 12 professional victories but his biggest was defeating Tiger Woods in a come-from-behind duel to capture the 2009 PGA Championship.  The South Korean is the only Asian-born male to win a major championship.  He also captured the 2009 Honda Classic as well as two European Tour wins and five victories on the Japan Tour.

Additional player commitments will be announced over the coming weeks.  For detailed tournament information, visit www.barbasolchampionshipky.com

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – As part of the PGA TOUR’s long-standing support for our military, the Barbasol Championship will collaborate with Birdies for the Brave and the non-profit Kentucky Wounded Heroes (KWH) to host a variety of military outreach and appreciation activities throughout tournament week.  From club-fitting for two wounded veterans, a fundraiser at the Blue Grass Sportsmen’s Club, free tickets on Military Day to military members and first responders to a Blackhawk flyover prior to the first tee shot, the first-year Central Kentucky event has a host of activities it plans to employ.

“As we’ve said all along, the biggest impact the Barbasol Championship will have on Kentuckians is through its charitable giving,” said Brooks Downing, Executive Director of the event. “Likewise, honoring those who have faithfully served us, both home and abroad, both military and first responders, is vitally important. Our team has partnered with the PGA TOUR to implement a number of initiatives that fully embrace this effort.”

In addition to the many activities, one of the more popular players on the PGA TOUR is Billy Hurley III, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Hurley, who is among the field for the Barbasol Championship, has played on the TOUR since 2012, winning the Quicken Loans National in 2016. He has totaled more than $5 million in career earnings. His caddie is Berea-native Clay Duerson, who Kentucky fans may know was the former UK Wildcat mascot from 2001-05. Duerson has been caddying since 2009.

Scheduled to be held July 16-22 at Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, the Barbasol Championship’s military appreciation activities will kick off on Tuesday, July 17, when it plays host to a Callaway Warrior Club Fitting at the practice facility. Two wounded heroes from Kentucky will have an opportunity to be fitted with their own set of custom golf clubs. The program is designed to aid in the rehabilitation process as well as express gratitude to military members for their service and sacrifice. Participating in the fitting will be Purple Heart recipients Brett Bondurant and Nicholas Buchhaas.

U.S. Army SPC Bondurant was six months into his first deployment as a mine sweeper with the 25^th infantry division out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, in Khandar Province, Afghanistan, when his sweeper did not detect an IED and he stepped on a pressure plate. The explosion resulted in the loss of both legs, near amputation of his left arm and a broken right hand and wrist. Medically retired, he credits golf with helping him stay on his feet, enjoy the outdoors, and heal both mentally and physically. Joining him in the fitting will be medically retired U.S. Marine Corps CPL Nicholas Buchhaas. While on deployment to Afghanistan just 10 hours prior to his first child being born, he was injured in two serious IED blasts. The second, more severe blast left him with TBI, PTSD, shrapnel wounds, and lower back injuries resulting in numbness in his extremities. According to Buchhaas, playing golf gives him peace of mind and provides him with the competitiveness he enjoyed playing sports prior to his injuries.

Also on Tuesday, the Barbasol Championship will play host to its first “Pars X Pigeons,” a sporting clays shooting event hosted by the Blue Grass Sportsmen’s League in which each team entered will be paired with a hero or PGA TOUR golfer. The event will be held from noon to 5 p.m., with proceeds benefiting KWH – a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to honoring and empowering the emotional wellness of military service members, police, fire, and emergency medical responders through outdoor activities, programs and services. The organization provides opportunities for these heroes to hunt, fish, travel and reconnect with nature’s healing properties. Four-man shooting teams are priced at $1,500 and the fee includes lunch and a gift package. Portions of the fee will be tax deductible. To enter the Pars X Pigeons event or for more information, please email [email protected].

On Wednesday, the Barbasol Championship will provide local military members with the opportunity to caddie for PGA TOUR players on the 18^th hole during the Pro-Am, as part of the Birdies for the Brave Military Caddie Program. The program offers active duty military personnel a unique inside-the-ropes experience during a professional golf championship, while enabling PGA TOUR players to personally extend their gratitude to those who proudly serve our country.

The tournament has designated Thursday as “Heroes Day” at the Barbasol Championship. All active duty and Reserve military members, military retirees and their dependents, as well as first responders, can enjoy complimentary tournament admission that day. Guests may obtain complimentary military tickets by visiting www.barbasolchampionshipky.com/tickets, having their military or first responder status verified, and then downloading a ticket voucher. The ticket vouchers must be presented at the gate along with a Department of Defense-issued ID or Photo ID for admission. A $1 verification fee will be charged for each ticket downloaded.  From Friday through Sunday, military members and first responders can receive a 20% discount on tickets with the same registration procedure required.

The tournament officially gets underway on Thursday with a Military Appreciation Ceremony featuring a flyover by a Black Hawk helicopter, guest speakers, and the National Anthem performed by Kentucky-native Marlana VanHoose. A ceremonial first tee shot by will follow. Also on Thursday, the Barbasol Championship will provide active duty military members with the opportunity to tend the pin flag on the No. 8 hole, which will be replaced by an American flag. In addition, the tournament will welcome military guests and first responders in the Patriots’ Outpost, a military-exclusive hospitality venue located adjacent to the No. 8 hole. The venue will be open every day from Thursday through Sunday, offering military guests complimentary food and beverages and premium views of the tournament action.

On Thursday, July 19, and Saturday, July 21, the tournament and Kentucky Wounded Heroes will enable tournament fans to give back by participating in the Patriots’ Parcels program. KWH volunteers will help fans pack snacks, personal items, toiletries and other items for troops stationed overseas.

The Barbasol Championship is Kentucky’s only PGA TOUR event. It will be played the same weekend as the British Open, and will be broadcast live each evening on Golf Channel. The tournament is one of only 45 regular-season tournaments before the FedExCup Playoffs.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.barbasolchampionshipky.com. For more information about Kentucky Wounded Heroes, visit www.kentuckywoundedheroes.net.

LEXINGTON – The field for this year’s Barbasol Championship will feature Davis Love III, a World Golf Hall of Famer with 21 PGA TOUR victories and a major title, when the tournament tees off for the first time, July 19-22 at Champions at Keene Trace in Nicholasville, Ky.

Love, who entered his name into the preliminary field list last week, will play alongside his son in Lexington, Dru Love, who has earned a sponsor’s exemption into the tournament. The elder Love won the 1997 PGA Championship and finished second on two occasions at the Masters (1995, 1999) and at the U.S. Open (1996). He captained the U.S.-winning Ryder Cup team in 2016. The younger Love, a former standout golfer at the University of Alabama, qualified for his first U.S. Open in 2017 and was joined by his father as his caddie.

“Our tournament will be dominated by some of the world’s best young golf talent, but to have one of the greatest golfers in Davis Love in the event brings tremendous excitement to our first event,” said Brooks Downing, Executive Director.

Love’s best finish this season was a T28 at the CIMB Classic which Justin Thomas won last October. He also made the cut this spring at the Arnold Palmer, the Punta Cana event and the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head. His last victory came in the 2015 Wyndham Championship in Greensboro. He could still qualify for the Open, which is played the same weekend as the Barbasol Championship, but would need a high finish in next three weeks at the National, the Greenbrier or the John Deere Classic.

Players previously announced for the Barbasol Championship field include two-time LPGA major winner Brittany Lincicome, Lexington-native Josh Teater, recent University of Kentucky stars Cooper Musselman and Chip McDaniel and local pro Grover Justice.

Spectator Parking and Shuttle Information

All spectator parking for the Barbasol Championship will be at Keeneland with shuttle buses running to the course continuously throughout the day. Daily parking during competition rounds on Thursday-Sunday is $10 per day with free parking offered for practice days on Tuesday/Wednesday.

There will be no spectator parking at Champions at Keene Trace. In addition, Delaney Ferry Road near the course will be “restricted access,” and no local “park and walk” opportunities will be available. Those spectators utilizing a ride-share drop-off and pick-up lot will be available off Keene South Elkhorn Road (KY-1267) with local shuttle transporting spectators to the course.

Spectator parking passes for Thursday-Sunday at Keeneland are available for purchase now at www.BarbasolChampionshipKY.com. Keeneland also will play host to the Concours d’Elegance car show on Saturday, July 21, so spectators are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance to secure a spot at the track.

Parking/Shuttle Fast Facts

• All general parking will be at Keeneland and patrons must enter at Gate 2 (Old Clubhouse entrance)
• Keeneland shuttles will start running at approximately 7 a.m. on Thursday-Sunday and run approximately 90 minutes following the conclusion of play each evening
• Price: $10 per tournament day with free parking available on Tuesday/Wednesday
• No parking or drop-offs allowed at the course or within a 1.5 mile stretch of Delaney Ferry Road around the course
• Ride-share (Uber, Lyft, taxi) lot will be available on Keene South Elkhorn (KY-1267) with local shuttles to the course

Daily Man O’ War Paddock Tickets Available Now

Daily tickets (Thursday-Sunday) for the Man O’ War Paddock are now on-sale at Ticketmaster.com. This upgraded ticket offers grounds access and entry to the air-conditioned Man O’ War Paddock which includes a premium food and beverage menu available for purchase, flat-screen TVs and restrooms for club patrons. Daily tickets for the Paddock are $110 each with a four-day pass priced at $400.

Daily and week-long grounds passes also can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. A Thursday grounds pass is $30 with Friday priced at $35 and the Saturday/Sunday rate is $40 per day. All four-days can be purchased for $100.

LEXINGTON – The Barbasol Championship kicked-off the festivities for Kentucky’s only PGA TOUR event this July with its Media Day on Monday and announced several of its sponsor exemptions as well as the tournament’s schedule of events.

Among the players competing in this year’s Barbasol Championship on July 19-22 at Champions at Keene Trace will be the LPGA’s Brittany Lincicome, Lexington-native Josh Teater and UK senior golfers Chip McDaniel and Cooper Musselman.

Lincicome, participating on a sponsor exemption from title sponsor Barbasol, will be the first woman to compete in a PGA TOUR event since Michelle Wie in 2008. Currently ranked 32nd in world rankings, Lincicome has eight wins on the LPGA tour including two major wins (ANA Inspiration in 2009 and 2015).

Teater, a former player at Henry Clay High School and Morehead State University, has won more than $4.6 million in total earnings on the PGA TOUR with a career-high rank of 73rd in FedExCup points. This season, he finished T-37 at the RSM Classic and most recently finished in a tie for second at the Web.com Tour’s Nashville Golf Open one week ago.

The University of Kentucky duo of Chip McDaniel and Cooper Musselman both announced their intentions to start professional careers at the Barbasol Championship. The two seniors led UK to one of the greatest seasons in school history. UK finished in a tie for 21st overall on the team leaderboard of the NCAA Championship after winning four regular season tournaments. The team only advanced from the regional when McDaniel holed out from 118 yards on the 18th hole of the final round the week before. McDaniel is the reigning Kentucky Amateur champ while Musselman is the reigning Kentucky Open champion.

Birdies for the Bluegrass presented by Lexus of Lexington launched

The Barbasol Championship announced its Birdies for the Bluegrass charitable initiative today. Managed by the Blue Grass Community Foundation, the campaign kicked-off its pledge program on June 1 where donors can commit to donate a specific amount for every birdie made in the tournament in support of any of the 166 charities in the state that registered in advance. The Barabsol Championship will then donate an additional 10% to each of those charities (up to the first $1.7 million in commitments).

“For more than 50 years, Blue Grass Community Foundation has focused on making our communities the most generous, vibrant and engaged they can be,” said Scott Fitzpatrick, Vice President of the Blue Grass Community Foundation. “We believe Birdies for the Bluegrass can be an impactful reflection of this mission, and we are thrilled to administer this initiative as the official philanthropic partner of the Barbasol Championship.”

All donors will be eligible to win a 2-year lease on a new Lexus ES 350, courtesy of presenting sponsor Lexus of Lexington, by guessing the total number of birdies in the tournament. Individuals also will have the opportunity to register for the Lexus lease at the tournament.

Pledges for the campaign can be placed now at www.birdiesforthebluegrass.com.

Schedule of special events announced

This year’s tournament week will include an impressive slate of special events as part of the Barbasol Championship including a charity concert, Executive Women’s Day and Heroes Day.

The Lexington Opera House will play host to the Barbasol Championship Acoustic Jam on Tuesday, July 17 featuring Billy Currington, Jordan Davis, David Lee Murphy, Chris Lane Travis Denning and Maddie & Tae. Tickets are on-sale now at www.lexingtonoperahouse.com and proceeds will directly benefit UK HealthCare’s Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

The tournament’s Executive Women’s Day presented by Merrill Lynch will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at Champions at Keene Trace. The day will bring together may local business leaders and provide opportunities for professional and personal development.

The tournament’s Heroes Day will be on Thursday, July 19. Active and retired military and first responders will receive free admission to that day’s first-round (pre-registration to verify status required). All military and first responders will also be entitled to receive a 20% discount on tournament tickets for the rest of the tournament. Full info can be found on www.barbasolchampionshipky.com.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – LPGA professional Brittany Lincicome has accepted a Sponsor Exemption to compete in the 2018 Barbasol Championship, to be held July 16-22 at Keene Trace Golf Club outside Lexington, Kentucky. In doing so, Lincicome will become just the fifth female in history to compete in a PGA TOUR event, joining Babe Zahraias, Annika Sorenstam, Suzy Whaley and Michelle Wie.

Lincicome, 32, is an eight-time LPGA winner, including back-to-back titles at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic champion in 2017 and 2018. The six-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member was the first professional athlete to be signed by Perio, Inc., the parent company of the Barbasol brand, in 2009.

“Brittany holds a very unique and special place within Perio,” said Tom Murray, CEO of Perio, Inc. “Signing Brittany nine years ago for a Pure Silk TV commercial has blossomed into a significant position for our company within golf (two tournaments and 32 professional golfers across the four major tours). Furthermore, her talent as a champion golfer and her character as an exceptional individual make her a most worthy Sponsor Exemption.”

One of the longest hitters on the LPGA, Lincicome looks forward to the challenge of competing at the Barbasol Championship. “I feel very grateful to Barbasol for its confidence in my abilities and for affording me the opportunity to play amongst the top male athletes in professional golf,” she said. “While I am aware of the strength of competition I will be up against, I am looking forward to the event and can only promise to put forth my best effort and be proud whatever the outcome.”

The Barbasol Championship, an official event in the PGA TOUR’s 2018 FedExCup Season, has selected the Kentucky Children’s Hospital as one of the primary charitable beneficiaries of the event, using its Birdies for the Bluegrass initiative to rally financial support for the cause. For more information on Birdies for the Bluegrass or to receive updates related to the event, follow @BarbasolChampionshipKY on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

For more information on Brittany Lincicome, please visit LPGA.com/players/brittany-lincicome/80142/overview.

For more information on the Barbasol Championship, please visit PGATOUR.com.