DEFENDING MASTERS CHAMPION BUBBA WATSON AND 10-YEAR-OLD DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT CHAMPION KELLY XU TO PROMOTE YOUTH GOLF PROGRAM THIS WEEK IN NEW YORK CITY

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The United States Golf Association (USGA), Masters Tournament and the PGA of America announced last week that defending Masters champion Bubba Watson and Kelly Xu – the 2014 Drive, Chip & Putt National Champion from the 7-9-year-old Girls Division – will be in New York City together this week to promote the upcoming National Finals and registration for this summer’s local qualifying.
 
The Drive, Chip & Putt Championship is a free nationwide youth golf development initiative open to boys and girls ages 7-15, competing in separate divisions in four age categories.
 
Watson will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight.  The following day, Watson and Xu will be guests on CBS This Morning, ESPN’s SportsCenter and Golf Channel before ending at The New York Stock Exchange. Fans can follow Watson and Xu’s media tour on the official Drive, Chip & Putt Championship Twitter (@DriveChipPutt) and Facebook channels.
 
“I’m a big, big believer in the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship,” said Watson. “I can’t think of a better way for a youngster to learn and get better at the game of golf and do it while having fun and building relationships. That’s what golf is ultimately all about for me, and it’s why I’m going to New York City next week with Kelly. I hope the two of us can share our passion for this program with as many parents and kids around the country as possible and get them to register for an experience
of a lifetime.”
 
Xu, 10, is one of 80 national finalists that will compete at Augusta National on Sunday, April 5 – the eve of the Masters Tournament – to be broadcast live by Golf Channel. This year, she will vie for the 10-11-year-old Girls Division title. Read more about Xu  here.
 
For more information about the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship, including official rules, a full listing of qualifying sites and registration information, please visit www.DriveChipandPutt.com.
 
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About the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship
A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and the PGA of America, the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel. For more information about the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship, please visit: www.DriveChipandPutt.com.
 
About the Masters Tournament
The Masters Tournament Foundation, inspired by the enduring philosophies of Masters Tournament founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, is committed to promoting golf’s domestic and international development through financial investment and active participation in initiatives aimed at preserving the traditions of the game and sharing its many virtues. The Masters Tournament – since its very beginning – strives to provide added exposure to the game of golf and inspire interest in the sport worldwide. For more information about the Masters, visit www.masters.com.
 
About the United States Golf Association
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160 countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations. The USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game”grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
 
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. For more information about the PGA of America, visit www.pgamediacenter.com.