Famous holes offer up $1 million prize

By Steve Keating

GRAND BLANC, Michigan (Reuters) - The PGA Tour unveiled a new competition on Wednesday that will see golfers challenge the game's most celebrated holes with the winner receiving $1 million (506.5 million pounds).

The Kodak Challenge, which will debut in 2009, will combine the PGA Tour's most famous holes into a year long 18 hole event that golf officials hope will help maintain fan interest later into the season after the majors and FedEx Cup is completed.

"This is a unique and compelling competition that I believe tour players and fans will be excited about," former-player, broadcaster and member of the Challenge advisory board David Feherty told reporters.

"When players are on the Kodak Challenge hole, they'll want to play it well, particularly because it could mean a million bucks at the end of the year."

The player who posts the lowest score relative to par on 18 of the Challenge holes will receive the $1 million prize.

Details have not been finalised but the Challenge is expected to include a minimum of 24 tournaments.

Officials, however, did confirm that the Buick Open and the 197-yard par three 17th at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club would be among the featured holes.

The remaining holes will be selected with input from an advisory board made up of Feherty, golf course designer Rees Jones, photographer Jules Alexander, PGA Tour tournament administration Andy Pazder and CBS Sports coordinating producer Lance Barrow.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)