Citi and Presidents Cup Announce the Return of the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge and an Effort to Expand First Tee to Australia
Fans across the globe tasked with collectively driving a golf ball around the world to help bring First Tee, a positive youth development program, to young people in Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia and NEW YORK, United States – In celebration of the global impact of the Presidents Cup, tournament officials and Presidents Cup Global Partner Citi today announced the return of the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge with a “Drive to Melbourne.” Once again, Citi is inviting everyone to collectively drive a golf ball 44 million yards – the length it takes to circle the globe – either in-person or virtually. This time, the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge is aimed at supporting the launch of a First Tee chapter, to be managed by the PGA of Australia, at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
Click here to watch Justin Thomas introduce the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge.
Ed Skyler, Global Head of Public Affairs at Citi said, “We are proud to again partner with the Presidents Cup and support the return of the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge and the expansion of First Tee into Australia. We see golf as a platform that allows us to give back, and by supporting First Tee, we hope to provide opportunities to enrich the lives of young people around the world. The challenge also helps unite people around the world in pursuit of a common goal, reminding us in the process that the circumference of the globe is a mere 44 million yards!”
The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge will feature a web-based game, a simulator, and a mobile game, allowing fans from all over the world to play and enjoy an interactive experience, while driving toward the opportunity to expand First Tee programs in Australia. The simulator will be placed in popular locations throughout Australia, and other select locations, to build excitement and increase awareness for the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will return to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for a third time from 9-15 December, 2019. The full list of Simulator locations is still being determined but fans in Melbourne got a preview this past weekend, at popular Federation Square. The first location in the United States debuts today at Brookfield Place New York. Photos from the activation in Melbourne can be found here for use in editorial coverage of this announcement.
The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge will drive toward a launch of First Tee programs in Australia later this year. Each year, First Tee (www.firsttee.org) provides education programs to young people throughout the United States on golf courses, in schools and at other youth-focused locations. The launch of a First Tee chapter in Australia will mark the organization’s sixth international location, including Canada, Japan, Korea, Morocco and Mexico. First Tee positively impacts the lives of young people through the game of golf by providing education programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values.
“Citi has been an engaged and valued Global Partner of the Presidents Cup. The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge is a fantastic extension of the core values of giving back that makes The Presidents Cup special. We are excited to bring it to life as the buzz and momentum continues to build toward what we believe will be the best Presidents Cup yet at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club this December,” said Matt Kamienski, Executive Director of the Presidents Cup.
After winning his first PGA TOUR event in New Orleans in 2017, Australian Cameron Smith made a significant donation to a local First Tee Chapter in Florida. Along with the donation he wrote a note that read, “I remember being your age, hitting balls, dreaming of being on the world’s biggest stage and practicing making putts to win PGA TOUR tournaments… Without the nine core values, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Using these values each day, I strive to be a great person before a great golfer.”
Smith also recognized Citi for their efforts. “It’s great that Citi is not only launching this initiative to help bring awareness to the Presidents Cup, but First Tee will have a lasting legacy on the youth in Australia, not just as golfers, but to build overall life lessons and opportunities outside of the game.”
“We’re grateful to Presidents Cup, Citi and PGA of Australia for collaborating around the idea of bringing First Tee programs to young people in Australia as a part of 2019 Presidents Cup,” said First Tee President Greg McLaughlin. “While our programs have been in place in the U.S. for more than 22 years, I am pleased we are able to look for ways to strategically expand through relationships like this.”
The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge mobile game will allow participants to take shots on the 18th Hole at Liberty National Golf Club (host of the 2017 Presidents Cup) and the 18th Hole at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club (host of the 2019 Presidents Cup). The online game can be accessed globally by users who go to www.PresidentsCup.com/Citi and Presidents Cup social channels. The game will be available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.
Fans in select countries who play the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge will be entered into a once-in-a-lifetime sweepstakes, with one (1) grand prize winner and one (1) first prize winner.
Grand Prize: Trip for two (2) to the 2019 Presidents Cup, which includes the following:
- Round trip airfare (economy)
- Five (5) nights’ accommodation (Crowne Plaza)
- Four (4) days return transfers to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
- Four (4) days Captains’ Club tickets to the Presidents Cup (Thursday – Sunday)
- Presidents Cup spectator function, Thursday evening at Official Hotel Crown
- Presidents Cup souvenir merchandise
First Prize: A framed 2019 Presidents Cup pin flag signed by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els
Grand Prize entries must be received by 11:59 pm USA ET on August 22, 2019
First prizes – December 15, 2019 by 11:59 pm AUS local time
Citi cardmembers will receive access to a fast pass lane, with Citi-specific signage promoting the benefit, for all simulator stops during the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge. Locations include the Citi Interactive Zone on-site at the tournament.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit PresidentsCup.com.
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About the Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup is a unique golf event in that there is no purse or prize money. Players are not paid for their participation, but each competitor allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his choice. Since the event’s inception, more than $49.1 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup, including a record charitable donation of $10.7 million from the 2017 event alone.
To purchase tickets to the Presidents Cup or learn more about travel packages, please visit PresidentsCup.com. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thepresidentscup, Twitter and Instagram at @presidentscup and sign up for the Presidents Cup e-newsletter.
Citi and Rolex are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup.
About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi
About Rolex
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, the brand pioneered the development of the wristwatch and is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Through philanthropic programmes and a broad palette of sponsorship activities, Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports and exploration, and encourages the spirit of enterprise, as well as the conservation of natural environments.
About First Tee
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its beginning in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations. Its headquarters are in St. Augustine, Florida, USA, with programs in all 50 United States and select international locations.
About Melbourne – A Golfing Great
There are many sides to Melbourne. It’s serious yet playful, quiet yet dramatic, sport-obsessed yet in love with the creative industries.
Melbourne is a city that is constantly evolving, improving and changing, every day and all year round. The city innovates, is hungry for new ideas and delivers unexpected experiences from its inspired laneways, bars, art spaces, restaurants and boutiques.
Melbourne, and Victoria’s regions including the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, are also home to Australia’s finest golf courses.
The famed Melbourne Sandbelt is superbly regarded internationally, with eight courses epitomising the golden age of golf architecture. These highly ranked layouts are built on land in the southeast suburbs and are conveniently located within a short distance of each other.
In 2018, Melbourne hosted the PGA TOUR’s World Cup of Golf, with the Royal Melbourne Golf Club proud to welcome the 2019 Presidents Cup for the third time this year. The Australian Open of Golf returns to the city in 2020 and 2022.