Defending Champ Brandt Snedeker Hits Ceremonial First Tee Shot at Sedgefield

GREENSBORO, NC -- (Marketwire) -- 08/14/08 -- Two of the greatest icons in sports attended the Wyndham Championship opening ceremony on the first tee at Sedgefield Country Club. The first round of the 69th annual Wyndham Championship begins today, Aug. 14.

Both Arnold Palmer and Richard Petty are celebrating 50th anniversaries in 2008. Palmer won his first green jacket at The Masters in 1958, the same year Petty began racing in NASCAR. Palmer and Petty joined defending Wyndham champion Brandt Snedeker at the opening ceremony. Snedeker hit the ceremonial first tee shot officially bringing the Wyndham Championship home to Sedgefield Country Club.

"Any tournament director is always looking for the 'wow' factor sometime during the event," tournament director Mark Brazil said. "We definitely have it with two sports icons that are both known as 'The King in their respective sports.' With Arnold's history at our tournament and Wake Forest and Richard's record in NASCAR with a team based just down the road in Level Cross, we have two Piedmont Triad legends that are among the greatest ever to compete in their sports. It is a thrill and an honor to host them at the Wyndham Championship."

The event also included a special presentation to the Victory Junction Gang Camp accepted by Pattie and Kyle Petty. The Victory Junction Gang Camp is the official charity of the Wyndham Championship.

Palmer is fourth on the all-time PGA TOUR wins list with 62 victories. He has seven professional major titles. He won The Masters four times, the British Open twice and the U.S. Open once. He also won the U.S. Amateur in 1954.

Petty is one of only two drivers to win seven NASCAR Cup Series championships; the late Dale Earnhardt also won seven titles. Petty won 200 NASCAR races in his career, 95 more than the second-place driver, David Pearson.

The 2008 Wyndham Championship will run through Aug. 17 in Greensboro, N.C. Tickets are available online at www.wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide and Premier Partners, AIG, BB&T Cadillac, Harris Teeter, and VF Corporation for their continued support. Additional tournament information is available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

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