Special bargain-priced tickets for the 2007 Buick Invitational Golf Tournament are available now at local high schools. The tournament will be played Jan. 25-28 at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on the bluffs north of La Jolla.
The discount ticket program, which generated $600,000 last year for local high school and middle school sports, features a policy of returning 100 percent of the proceeds back to the school that sold the tickets.
The “Support Our Schools” (SOS) fund-raiser program is in the final swing of providing a double bonus again this year ” access to a great tournament while benefiting local school programs. Ticket purchasers can specify the sports team or other extra curricular program to receive the funds, from baseball to volleyball or the band, cheerleaders or even the golf team.
For the bargain price of $15 each, the SOS tickets are good any day of the tournament. Regular admission at the gate will be $23 on weekdays and $30 on the weekend of the event. Even senior discount tickets cost more than SOS.
The Buick Invitational tournament will be held during the week of Jan. 23-28, including the full week of pro-am and tour activities. The main pro action will run Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 25-28.
Most of the greatest names in golf will be in the tournament.
Tiger Woods ” who took home top money from the San Diego PGA Tour stop last year ” will be returning to defend his title. Woods will be making his 2007 tour debut at Torrey Pines.
Woods is a Southern California native with a lot of experience at Torrey Pines. The 2006 win was his fourth here since turning pro in 1996, including wins in 2005, 2003 and 1999.
The field is also expected to include 2004 champion John Daly, 2000-01 champion Phil Mickelson, 1996 champ Davis Love III, 2002 winner Jose Maria Olazabval, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and many more popular PGA players among the 155 pros and one lucky amateur.
Most pros are anxious for the chance to learn the Torrey Pines course, which has been selected to host the 2008 US Open.
SOS tickets are available from Mission Bay High athletic director Dennis Pugh. He can be contacted by calling (858) 273-1313, ext. 277.
The Foundation of La Jolla High School has tickets. Talk to Sandy Paul for SOS ticket information and directions at (858) 551-1250, between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The University City High Boosters has tickets. Talk to Norma Smith by calling (858) 457-3040, ext. 202.
Point Loma High athletic director Mike Hastings has tickets; call (619) 223-3121, ext. 1142.
Each has acknowledged that the SOS tickets are an easy way for the school to get some much-needed funds pumped directly into important after-school programs for the kids.
Tournament information is available at www.buickinvitational.com.