The 2014-15 PGA Tour wrap around season ends this week at East Lake Golf Club as the top 30 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings will be teeing it up and looking to make history at one of the most historic venues in golf during the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola.
The last 12 months has been one of the most exciting times in the history of golf as new stars have emerged and have dominated the sport with spirited play and great sportsmanship. Atlanta is lucky to have an event like this each fall as a big winner will be crowned.
Here are the 30 PGA Tour pros that will be at East Lake this week:
Jason Day
Jordan Spieth
Rickie Fowler
Henrik Stenson
Bubba Watson
Zach Johnson
Dustin Johnson
Charley Hoffman
Daniel Berger
Patrick Reed
Rory McIlroy
Justin Rose
Jimmy Walker
Robert Streb
Hideki Matsuyama
Jim Furyk
J.B. Holmes
Kevin Kisner
Danny Lee
Scott Piercy
Matt Kuchar
Paul Casey
Brandt Snedeker
Steven Bowditch
Brooks Koepka
Bill Haas
Kevin Na
Sangmoon Bae
Louis Oosthuizen
Harris English
Besides the golf, there is a lot going on around the grounds this week.
“Fan Friendly” Tour Championship by Coca-Cola
As always there will ne improvements to the fan experience at East Lake Golf Club this year. From food, to drinks to interactive displays, fans will find more for their ticket purchase than ever before. It’s never been better to have a ticket to a sporting event.
SO Cool Zone/Short range
Introduced in 2014, the SO Cool Zone, located near the 5th green and 7th tee, has become THE hangout for fans to slip away from the action. The improved SO Cool Zone in 2015 will feature new food options from local Atlanta restaurants in the Taste of ATL, shaded seating areas, big screen video boards featuring the live telecast and much more as noted below.
The SO Cool Zone is sponsored by Southern Company, so take a stroll along the red carpet of the SO Cool Zone, where the breeze of bladeless fans will keep guests cool. Along the walkway, Southern Company will showcase the latest in electric vehicle technology with two models of electric BMWs. Continue down the path to find the Payne Stewart Award. Created on the values of character, charity and sportsmanship, the Payne Stewart Award will be available for photo opportunities here throughout the tournament. While you’re in the SO Cool Zone, stop in the Southern Company seating area and watch the action on the big screen while relaxing with friends on comfortable lounge furniture and get a charge on your cell phone at the solar charging station.
Taste of ATL
Calling all Foodies! Located in the SO Cool Zone, the Taste of ATL will feature food from local favorites: Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Universal Joint, King of Pops. Local flare will also be added to the concession options at this year’s event.
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q is an award-winning barbecue restaurant located just south of Little Five Points in Atlanta. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q cooks their meat low and slow. Known for their renowned beef brisket, the Fox brothers have brought a bit of their Texan roots to Atlanta. Although the meat stands on its own, the Fox brothers developed a sauce that mixes the flavors of Texas with the heat of the South. Their “Sweet with Heat” sauce is tomato-based with a hefty splash of vinegar and southern sweetness, with a subtle blast of Texas heat. For more info, visit http://www.foxbrosbbq.com.
Yacht Rock Review
Where else can you get a concert from Atlanta’s No. 1 party band as Skechers Performance presents Yacht Rock Revue. This is a free concert for Saturday ticket holders. Fans at this year’s Tour Championship by Coca-Cola will have the chance to attend a post-round “tailgate” party on Saturday, September 26, with a concert from Atlanta’s favorite band, The Yacht Rock Revue™, after the event’s third round at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Skechers Performance presents Yacht Rock Revue will be held at the SO Cool Zone and is open to all Saturday ticket holders. During the concert, don’t miss live college football telecast on the outdoor video board, as well as options from the Taste of Atlanta restaurants, Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and Universal Joint. While you’re in the SOCool Zone, stop by the Skechers Performance booth to try out the newest styles from the Skechers GoGolf line.
According to the band, The Yacht Rock Revue is the Greatest Show on Surf and the finest tribute to ‘70s light rock to ever perform anywhere. Ever. Their spot-on renditions of Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Steely Dan and the rest of the Time-Life Infomercial Catalog have enthralled fans across the United States. It goes without saying they have taken their act to the high seas, performing showcase sets on music cruises with Weezer, Kid Rock, Train, Zac Brown Band, Sister Hazel and fitness guru Jillian Michaels.
“We play the songs that are the Arnold Palmer of rock – classy and smooth after all these years. We couldn’t be more excited to return to the site of my caddying glory to perform at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola,” said Yacht Rock Revue member Nicholas Niespodziani. “This event features golf’s best of the best in a historically rich setting…that’s the kind of company we love to keep! As a musician, it’s an honor to perform in this kind of environment for such great fans.”
By blurring the lines between a tribute, an original act and a comedic troupe, the Yacht Rock Revue has forged a unique niche market and a special bond with their fans. The band attacks each song as if it were their own, and the energy exchanged between the band and the crowd has more in common with a stadium U2 show than that of a typical bar band.
Social Media Highlights:
The Twitter Vending Machine will be at East Lake as fans attending will have the opportunity to enjoy the Twitter Vending Machine. The vending machine will give fans the ability to answer the question “Who is your favorite player in the FedExCup Playoffs?” Once fans answer the questions using two specific hashtags, the machine will vend a prize. These gifts range from #FedExCup branded premium items to upgraded tickets to signed golf memorabilia.
The Twitter Vending Machine will be “live” all four days of competition.
TOUR Championship’s Social Media outlets:
Twitter name: @playofffinale
Instagram name: @playofffinale
Facebook: www.facebook/TheTOURChampionship
#TOURChampionship #FedExCup
Wear Your College Colors
Fans attending this year’s event will have the opportunity to have a tailgating atmosphere while attending the finale of the PGA Tour season, college football-style. Thanks to a partnership with the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the unique fan experience returns in the form of the “Chick-fil-A Bowl College Corner” – a unique hospitality area located between the 10th green and the 11th tee at the East Lake Golf Club. Fans who purchase tickets for this special tailgating experience will enjoy all the trappings of a great southern college football tailgate while they watch the players make their way around the course.
Limited Saturday and Sunday tickets to the College Corner are available for purchase. Fans are reminded that Saturday of tournament week is “Wear your college colors day.” Fans and players alike are encouraged to don their best Saturday Bulldog, Gator, Yellowjacket or other college gear and show their pride. A number of the current top 30 in the standings graduated from schools with a strong tradition in college football including Jordan Spieth and the University of Texas, Bubba Watson and the University of Georgia and Jimmy Walker from Baylor University.
For Golfers:
The Bridgestone Performance Park will include professional ball fitting in the SO Cool Zone. Take your game to the next level as golf ball fittings can guide you to a golf ball that maximizes your performance from tee to green through optimizing your ball speed, launch angle and spin rates. The Golf Ball Fitting Process – With your driver, you will hit a series of shots. The high-speed cameras in the Science Eye Launch Monitor system will capture multiple measurements and use that data to calculate participants’ specific launch characteristics.
Based on ball flight characteristics, the technician will either confirm that you’re currently playing the best ball or recommend a Bridgestone/Precept ball that better suits your game. After hitting a series of shots with the recommended ball, you’ll be given a side-by-side comparison of all data, which includes launch angle, spin rates and distance with each ball. By comparing the side-by-side results, fans will be able to determine which ball can best maximize your performance with your driver.
The Fidelity Investments Swing Lab. Having trouble with your swing? Fans can then get their swing analyzed by certified GolfTech teaching pros. The Swing Lab will be offering complimentary video swing analysis for fans. The Fidelity Investment Swing Lab hitting bays will be completely set up with golf clubs and video-recording equipment in the SO Cool Zone.
New in 2015 – The Skechers Performance Area – So fans have their golf balls analyzed from the Bridgestone Performance area, their swing analyzed at the Fidelity Investments Swing Lab – now it’s time to get their footwear taken care of at the Skechers Performance area. Skechers Performance offers an extensive collection of high-performance footwear spanning across multiple categories including golf, running, walking, training and trail. At the Skechers Performance Area, fans will be able to try on Skechers performance footwear and purchase some new, comfortable shoes to experience the TOUR Championship and East Lake.
Limited tickets are still available, but even a grounds pass this week gets you access to all the action.
