When Hall of Famer Mark O’Meara tapped in his par- putt on the 18th hole to seal the victory at the 2019 Cologuard Classic, he not only ended an eight-year victory drought, he also became the fourth-oldest winner (age 62) in PGA TOUR Champions history.
O’Meara is expected to return to Omni Tucson National February 23rd through March 1st to defend his Cologuard Classic title against the best the PGA TOUR Champions has to offer. 2019 Charles Schwab Cup Champion Scott McCarron; 40-time PGA TOUR Champions winner Bernhard Langer; six-time Champions winner and Cologuard brand ambassador Jerry Kelly; along with second-year PGA TOUR Champions golfers Retief Goosen and Darren Clarke are all expected to tee it up in Tucson. What’s more, four-time major winner Ernie Els headlines a group of PGA TOUR Champions rookies expected to make their debut in 2020.
In addition to golf, chart-topping country singer-songwriter Lee Brice will headline the 2020 Cologuard Classic’s Military Appreciation Concert on Saturday, February 29th. The concert will take place on the practice range at Omni Tucson National following the second round of competition. Brice has taken five radio singles to No. 1, including “A Woman Like You,” “Hard To Love,” “I Drive Your Truck,” “I Don’t Dance,” and “Drinking Class.”
Opening for Lee Brice is Lindsay Ell, a Canadian country music singer, songwriter and guitarist from Calgary, Alberta. Her music incorporates elements of rock, blues and pop within the country genre.
“The Cologuard Classic offers fans a week of activities that go beyond golf, and the Military Appreciation Concert is one of them,” said Tournament Director Judy McDermott. “We are thrilled Lee Brice will be headlining the concert and excited for our fans to enjoy an artist of his caliber.”
2020 will mark the third year of the Cologuard Classic, named after Wisconsin-based Exact Sciences’ noninvasive at-home colon cancer screening test for average-risk individuals 50 years or older, and the sixth year the hard-working Tucson Conquistadores have partnered with the PGA TOUR Champions.
Through their title sponsorship of the Cologuard Classic, Exact Sciences looks to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and the importance of early screening and detection. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-re- lated deaths among men and women combined in the United States. When caught early, 90 percent of colorectal cancer is treatable.
The tournament’s Dress in Blue Day presented by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is held on Saturday of tournament week and has been an enormous success as thousands of fans, volunteers and golfers wear blue to raise awareness about colorectal cancer.
Of course, the tournament host Conquistadores continue their mission of supporting youth amateur athletics primarily in Southern Arizona. Since their inception in 1962, the Conquistadores have contributed more than $35 million to youth athletic programs, including more than $600,000 from the 2019 Cologuard Classic.
For tickets, volunteer opportunities and the latest information on who’s playing in the 2020 Cologuard Classic, visit www.cologuardclassic.com.
