Champions Challenge event to include Jazz point guard

The greatest male golfer of all time and the greatest female golfer of this generation will be on hand the next two days for the Sorenson Champions Challenge.

But if you don't want to see Jack Nicklaus or Annika Sorenstam, perhaps you'd like to see long-drive champion Jason Zuback, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Craig Stadler, Dean Wilson, Mike Reid, Billy Casper, Dave Stockton, Ian Baker-Finch or Deron Williams.

Deron Williams?

Yup, the Jazz point guard will be playing Tuesday in a special "celebrity pairing" along with tournament sponsor Jim Sorenson, comedian Gary Mule Deer, professional Joe Taggart and amateur Steele DeWald. They will go off in the first group Tuesday at 8:40 a.m., but won't be competing for the top prize.

Twelve teams will be competing for the $100,000 first prize in the two-person scramble format at Thanksgiving Point Golf Club in an event that is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The final two groups are the featured groups. Sorenstam will join her sister Charlotta in a foursome with Dean Wilson and PGA Tour regular Charley Hoffman at 10 a.m. Remember, Wilson was one of the PGA golfers who was paired with Sorenstam when she became the first woman to play in a men's tournament in 58 years at the 2003 Colonial Tournament. "We're pretty lucky to have her come here after she said she's going to put the clubs away," said Johnny Miller. "This is fantastic. She's playing great golf, having won three tournaments this year."

Miller and Nicklaus will play in the final group at 10:15 a.m. with their sons as partners. Miller, who won with his son Andy in last year's Challenge, will play with his second-eldest son, Scott. Nicklaus will play with his son Mike.

The other pairings include Hale and Steve Irwin and Andy and Todd Miller at 9 a.m., Craig and Chris Stadler and Dave Stockton and Dave Stockton Jr. at 9:15 a.m., Billy and Bobby Casper and Mike and Daniel Reid at 9:30 a.m., Jason Zuback and Bobby Wilson, and Jack Nicklaus II and Ian Baker-Finch at 9:45 a.m.

This morning the various celebrities will compete in a pro-am team scramble beginning at 9 a.m.

However, tournament founder and host Johnny Miller won't be on hand, as he'll be in San Diego on the telecast for today's U.S. Open playoff.

Tickets for the Challenge are available by visiting www.championschallengegolf.com.

The two benefiting charities will be Sorenstam's ANNIKA Foundation and the art works for kids!, an arts education foundation that supports quality arts education in Utah elementary schools.

SORENSON CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE

TODAY

9 a.m. — Pro-am Team scramble featuring foursome with one professional, partner or celebrity. The professional/celebrity and partner will switch foursomes after nine holes.

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