MEDINAH, Ill. (July 11, 2012) – The PGA of America is pleased to partner with the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Hall of Fame Invitational to be held Sept. 27 at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia, Ill.

This officially sanctioned Ryder Cup event combines two of the world's greatest sports and gives participants the rare opportunity to play a classic championship golf course with a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All proceeds from the event will benefit the PGA Foundation and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

To date, confirmed Pro Football Hall of Fame participants include Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Marshall Faulk, Dan Hampton, Mike Haynes, James Lofton, Randall McDaniel, Warren Moon, Anthony Munoz, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Kellen Winslow.

"The PGA of America is thrilled to host the Hall of Fame Invitational in conjunction with the Pro Football Hall of Fame," said Michael Belot, 2012 Ryder Cup Director. "This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to spend a day golfing with their football heroes and gain admittance to the 2012 Ryder Cup, which is a sold-out event."

The 2012 Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 25-30 at historic Medinah (Ill.) Country Club near Chicago.

Hall of Fame Invitational: Participant Experience
A limited number of individual spots in the Hall of Fame Invitational are available for purchase. Each package is $6,000 per player, but individuals who purchase by July 17 will receive a $500 early sign-up incentive for a total cost of $5,500.

Each package includes the following:

• Two (2) weekly season tickets to the 2012 Ryder Cup (Tuesday-Sunday)
• Admittance to "draft" reception with Pro Football Hall of Famers from 4-6 p.m. CDT on Sept. 26 at Ruth Lake Country Club, during which participants will find out which Hall of Famer they will be playing with the next day
• Golf in the Hall of Fame Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club on Sept. 27, with registration beginning at 7 a.m. CDT, shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., and lunch and awards reception at 1:30 p.m.
• Unique apparel only available to event participants
• Exclusive gift package only available to event participants
• Signed memorabilia by all participating Pro Football Hall of Famers

The Hall of Fame Invitational format and details are as follows:

• Participants will be divided into four-person teams playing all 18 holes with an accompanying member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• During the 18-hole round, the best two net scores on each hole will be used to calculate the team's score
• Weeks prior to the event, each participant will receive a tea uniform consisting of a golf shirt, a wind jacket and a hat
• On the day of the event, each team will pose for a team photo with their Pro Football Hall of Famer
• USGA Handicaps will be used at the event

"The Hall of Fame Invitational is a wonderful way to bring together the great sports of football and golf while celebrating the 2012 Ryder Cup," said George Veras, President/CEO of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises. "Participants are going to have an unforgettable experience, and on behalf of everyone at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we're looking forward to a terrific day on the course."

To purchase a spot in the event, please contact Meghan Shanfelter at (630) 788-5593 or mshanfelter@pgahq.com.

For more information on the 2012 Ryder Cup, please visit rydercup.com.

About the 2012 Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup, among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward, spans 38 competitions over 84 years. In 1927, enterprising English seed merchant Samuel Ryder commissioned the casting of a gold chalice that bears his name, and the inaugural Ryder Cup was contested at Worcester (Mass.) Country Club. The U.S. Team defeated Great Britain, 9 1/2 to 2 1/2, with the matches played June 3-4.

The Ryder Cup, recognized as the pre-eminent international team event in golf, has since expanded to involve the finest players of Europe. The United States has posted 25 victories, Great Britain/Europe has won 11 times, and there have been two ties. Europe currently has possession of the Ryder Cup trophy, thanks to a thrilling 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory over the United States in October 2010 in Wales.

The 39th Ryder Cup will be held September 25-30 at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.

Media Site: rydercup.com
Facebook: facebook.com/RyderCupTeamUSA
Twitter: twitter.com/RyderCupTeamUSA

About the PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

About the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprise
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises is a for-profit organization established in 2006 to represent the Pro Football Hall of Fame and its members in the creation of commercial ventures, featuring Hall of Famers and the marks and logos of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, for television shows, new media, merchandise, sponsorships and events. Enterprise thus serves the mission of the PFHOF to enable football fans and the general public to have greater access and interactions with Hall of Famers and the Hall of Fame.

Olympia Fields Country Club
Olympia Fields Country Club is an enduring monument to the Golden Age of American Golf, a storied era when leading industrialists teamed with legendary architects – including Ross, Tillinghast, McKenzie, Park and Bendelow – to fashion from incomparable native landscapes what would become known as America's crown jewels of golf. Ranked No. 60 among Golf Digest's "America's Greatest Golf Courses" (2011/2012), Olympia Fields-North Course has hosted two U.S. Open Championships (1928, 2003), two PGA Championships (1925, 1961) and a U.S. Senior Open Championship (1997). The course is also slated to host the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship.