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The World Premiere of the Million Dollar Putt Thrills the Crowd at the Snowgolf World Championship 2009

PNYG MAC SL
2009-02-03 21:56 987

OBERTAUERN, Austria, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- This weekend the Snowgolf World Championship 2009 teed off a new dimension in golf. This first-class event and its climactic putting competition attracted personalities and golfers to Obertauern ski resort from all over the world -- even as far afield as the Philippines, Australia and the UAE. The event was sponsored by PNYG, a visionary organisation that delivers marketing-driven luxury lifestyle projects. PNYG also conceived the "Million Dollar Putt" for the tournament.

(PHOTO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090203/336806-a )

(PHOTO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090203/336806-b )

Despite overwhelming applications, the field was tightly restricted to only 100 amateur golfers. Olympic champions, world champions and celebrities all took the honour in the adapted Obertauern snow. The event took place on a purpose-made 9-hole course (Par 36, 2.700 metres in length). Snow machines were used to prepare the fairways, with out of bounds set by natural deep snow and putting surfaces, "whites", prepared by hand.

Adi Hengstberger (D) retained his 2007 title. The runners-up were Tristan David (Philippines) and Peter Dobrowolsky (Austria). The new women's World Champion was Sarah Holzl (Austria).

At the climax of the Snowgolf World Championship 2009, the largest amateur prize in the world was up for grabs: The "Million Dollar Putt", a world premiere in Obertauern. Participants at the event got a one-off chance to putt for a million US dollars from a distance of 18 metres. Media interest for this phenomenon was enormous: dozens of camera teams relayed pictures all over the world.

Alongside amateur competitors, many big names from sport and showbiz were trying to sink their "Million Dollar Putt" for important causes -- "Wings for Life" (Spinal Cord Research Foundation) and "Eagles Charity Golf Club". There was a breathtaking atmosphere as DJ Otzi, Air Race World Champion Hannes Arch, boxing champion Axel Schulz, football stars Alex Zickler and Rene Aufhauser, FIFA World Cup winner Rainer Bonhof (GER), Austrian Golf Association President Franz Wittmann and actor Sascha Wussow gave it their best shot. Twice the ball seemed destined for the hole. In the end nobody could pull off the big putt, and the prize remains unclaimed until the next championship.

PNYG is partner and creative director of the "Million Dollar Putt". Further information about PNYG at http://www.pnyg.com .

Source: PNYG MAC SL
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