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At media day today to kick off the two-week countdown to the start of the 2010 Northern Trust Open, tournament officials announced the recipient of this year’s Northern Trust Open Exemption: 23-year-old Joshua Wooding of Riverside, Calif., a 2007 graduate of the University of Southern Calif. Wooding was chosen from a pool of applications to receive the exemption, sponsored by Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS), which annually provides a playing opportunity for a top golfer who represents the advancement of diversity in golf and wouldn’t otherwise be eligible to compete in the 2010 tournament. The 2010 Northern Trust Open will be held February 1-7 at historic Riviera Country Club. "Joshua is a talented golfer and a true leader who understands the importance of promoting diversity in professional golf," said Northern Trust Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick H. Waddell. "This unique exemption reflects Northern Trust’s long-standing commitment to promoting diversity throughout our company because we know it is fundamental to our strength. We are proud to offer Joshua this exemption and look forward to watching his success." Wooding began playing golf at age nine and competed in his first National Minority Junior Golf Foundation event at the age of 12. He won the tournament and earned an exemption into the 1997 Westfield PGA Junior Championship, then played at PGA National in West Palm Beach, Fla. At that time, he was the youngest to ever qualify for the event. Wooding’s Web site includes further details on his accomplishments. Visit, www.joshuawooding.com "I am honored to receive the Northern Trust Open Exemption," said Wooding. "This incredible opportunity will create a springboard for me to advance my career and continue my quest to participate at the highest level. More importantly, the Northern Trust Open Exemption will assist me in meeting my future goals of giving back and helping to widen the path for other minority golfers." Wooding earned a scholarship to play golf at USC, where he posted 23 top-25 finishes at national collegiate golf events during his career. He placed 13th at the NCAA National Championship in 2005, the same year he was an All-American, and was a member of the Pac-10 Conference Championship team in 2007. Wooding earned Pac-10 Conference Honorable Mention all four years of his collegiate career (2004-07). Wooding graduated with a BS Degree in Policy Planning and Development in May 2007 and turned professional in July 2007. Since then, he has won on both the California Golden State Tour and the NGA Hooters Tour, finishing 34th on the season-ending money list for the latter in 2009. At 3 p.m. today, Wooding will participate in a PLAY event at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. PLAY is an 18-day, city-wide event with 18 golfers – including celebrities and notable Angelenos – putting, chipping and driving their way through iconic Los Angeles locations in a countdown to the PGA TOUR’s Northern Trust Open. Wooding will chip a golf ball through the peristyle arches under the famed Olympic Torch. The Northern Trust Open has a long history of promoting inclusion among minorities. In 1952, the tournament welcomed Joe Louis as the first African-American to compete in a PGA sanctioned event. In 2009, the inaugural tournament exemption was named in honor of Charlie Sifford on the 40th anniversary of his victory at the 1969 Northern Trust Open. Vincent Johnson, a two-time college winner who graduated from Oregon State in three years, was the Northern Trust Open Exemption’s first recipient. The Northern Trust Open accepted applications for the 2010 exemption from Nov. 30-Jan. 8. The application required general biographical information and details on the applicant’s golf accomplishments. The candidates were also asked to explain how they have represented the advancement of diversity in golf. In order to qualify for the exemption, applicants must have a USGA handicap of zero or better. Candidates were identified through a number of sources including the PGA TOUR, PGA of America through the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, Nationwide Tour, The First Tee, World Golf Foundation, USGA and Bill Dickey Scholarship Association. The exemption recipient was selected through the tournament office. About the Northern Trust Open About the PGA TOUR In 2010, the three Tours collectively have tournaments in 34 states and in 12 countries outside of the U.S. PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 600 million households in 231 countries and 30 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as nonprofit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2009, tournaments on the three Tours generated nearly $109 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to nearly $1.5 billion. The PGA TOUR’s website is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Media contacts:
Cathryn Raia
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