ARLINGTON, Va. - The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA), the largest working sports organization in the world, will have seven of its golf professionals soon embark on a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to the Persian Gulf. Among those touring are eight-time European PGA tour winner and award-winning writer/CBS Sports broadcaster David Feherty, PGA tour winner and renowned golf instructor Butch Harmon, PGA tour winner Joe Inman, five-time PGA winner Tom Lehman, three-time PGA tour winner Howard Twitty and 39-time PGA tour winner Tom Watson.

The tour, fittingly entitled Operation Links, will kick off in Washington, DC with a visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. Following the visit, the group will fly overseas to spend time with service members and share insider golf tips and personal stories about playing for the PGA. A USO staple, Operation Links has toured with the USO since 2006, deploying more than 14 golfers to the Persian Gulf.

"Traveling with the USO and visiting service members never gets old," says Twitty. "This is my second tour so far and I look forward to going each time. It's gratifying to express our thanks to troops, show our appreciation and tell them America cares about their well-being."

Comprised of more than 28,000 golf professionals, the PGA is the public's link to the game of golf and serves an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country. Founded in 1916, the PGA is a long-time advocate of the USO, supporting USO initiatives like Operation Phone Home and USO entertainment tours.  

Since 1941, the USO has consistently delivered its special brand of entertainment and comfort to service men and women.  USO tours are essential to fulfilling the USO's mission of boosting troop morale. PGA golfers who recently toured with the USO include, Bobby Lopez, Donnie Hammond, Jerry Kelly, Corey Pavin, Brian Pavlet and Art Sellinger.

AT&T, Inc. is the official sponsor of this USO entertainment tour. For a list of recent and upcoming USO tours, visit www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment/.  To learn more about the USO or to find out how to support the troops, visit http://www.uso.org/.

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About the USO

For more than 66 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families.  The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services.  The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T Inc., BAE Systems North America, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, DRS Technologies, Inc., S & K Sales Co., TriWest Healthcare Alliance and The Walt Disney Company.  Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO.  For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at http://www.uso.org/.

Contact:           Oname Thompson, (703) 908-6471     othompson@uso.org