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Untitled Document

World Golf Hall of Fame's Class of 2011 Inductee
exhibits feature major memorabilia

Cases and Lockers open to public on May 10

St. Augustine, Fla. (May 4, 2011) - The putters that Ernie Els used to win his two U.S. Opens and the green jacket Doug Ford earned for winning the 1957 Masters are just some of the items that will be on display when the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum opens its 2011 Inductee exhibits to the public on May 10. The exhibits include the Inductee Cases and Lockers of Els, Ford, Jock Hutchison, Frank Chirkinian, President George H.W. Bush and Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki, which will be filled with trophies, photographs and personal memorabilia.

The exhibits will be open to the public one day after the annual World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The Ceremony is set for Monday, May 9 at 6 p.m. in the St. Johns County Convention Center, located adjacent to the World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village. The Ceremony, which for the first time will be held Monday of THE PLAYERS Championship week, will air on the Golf Channel at 9:30 p.m.

"We treasure these exhibits because they paint a picture of each Inductee's unique journey toward achieving the highest honor in golf," said Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame. "The hundreds of artifacts on display also give visitors an intimate view of the person behind the career. These exhibits reflect the special quality of the Class of 2011."

Featured items include:

Ernie Els
- The set of irons he used to win the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield.
- The putters he used to win the 1997 U.S. Open at Congressional and the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
- Els also provided items from his Autism foundation, Els for Autism, and the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation, which has produced recent major champions Louis Oosthuizen (2010 Open Championship) and Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters).

President George H.W. Bush
- The PGA Distinguished Service Award he was given in 1997.
- A medallion from his induction into the PGA of America.
- Cowboy boots with golf spikes given to him by the Secret Service.

Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki
- The sweater, shirt, trousers and trophy from the 1996 Dunlop Phoenix, his 100th career victory.
- Ozaki is a sword collector and he donated a Japanese sword case with wooden blade.

Frank Chirkinian
- His display is filled with awards, among them his five Emmys and two Peabodys he earned as a golf producer at CBS.
- Framed paintings of the Augusta National Clubhouse and Sea Pines Heritage Classic.

Doug Ford
- The green jacket from his 1957 Masters victory, as well as the 4-wood in his bag.
- His 1955 PGA Championship qualifier medal and clubhouse pass.

Jock Hutchison
- The "mashie iron" he used during his 1921 Open Championship victory, along with the winner's medal.
- The winner's medal from the 1937 PGA Championship.

Inductee exhibits will remain on display in Shell Hall, the heart of the Museum, until the following Induction Ceremony. Each Inductee is also given a space in the Member Locker Room, where their articfacts and personal memorabilia will live permanently in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

For more information about the World Golf Hall of Fame, the upcoming Induction Ceremony or to learn more about the 2011 Class of Inductees, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org

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About the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum

The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum honors the history of golf by recognizing and preserving the legacies of the game's greatest players and contributors. The Hall of Fame and Museum, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., serves as a steward of the game through engaging, interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography significant to the history of golf and its members.

The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 nonprofit institution and is allied with 26 national and international golf organizations, including The European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to lend support, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org.

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As the Founding Partner of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company played a lead role in supporting the development and growth of the institution, which opened in 1998. Since then, their continued involvement has led the way for others to join in support of the Hall of Fame & Museum's mission.

 

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