Northern Trust Lends Support to Reagan Presidential Foundation

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The Northern Trust Open plans to donate $5,000 to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Centennial Celebration to support educational activities during the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration.

Northern Trust Open Executive Director Jerry West will make the contribution at noon Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Patriots' Outpost, the military hospitality tent at Riviera Country Club during this week's Northern Trust Open.

The partnership between the Reagan Centennial and the 2011 Northern Trust Open will also honor military heroes during the PGA TOUR event held this week at Riviera Country Club, Feb. 15-20.

"President Reagan was an avid sportsman throughout his life," said Stewart McLaurin, Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration. "After playing college football, a 21-year-old Ronald Reagan began his career as a radio sports announcer in 1923 on WHO in Iowa. During the Centennial Year of President Reagan's birth, we at the Reagan Foundation are proud to link up with our Los Angeles neighbors at the Northern Trust Open to honor military families in this fun yet dignified way."

For each day of the tournament, all active, retired and reserve military personnel and their families are welcome to attend the tournament at Riviera Country Club for free. A hospitality suite, Patriots' Outpost, presented by the Annenberg Foundation, provides military guests and local veterans with complimentary food and beverages and a relaxing venue on Riviera's 10th green to enjoy the tournament.

"President Reagan's profound respect for those who serve in the military and their families was well known," West said. "During the Centennial year of President Reagan's birth we at the Northern Trust Open intend to continue that tradition in our own special way."

Saturday, Feb. 19, will be "Military Appreciation Day" at the Northern Trust Open, with military caddies assisting PGA TOUR players on the 1st and 10th tees, and a special Military Appreciation Ceremony at 3 p.m. located on the 18th green.

To kick off this partnership, Jerry West and PGA TOUR pro Bryce Molder came aboard the USS Ronald Reagan while it was docked in San Diego on January 25. USS Ronald Reagan Captain Thom Burke, West, Molder and sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan made a 60-foot putt on the deck of the aircraft carrier as part of the tournament's "PLAY for LA" countdown to raise money for charitable causes in Southern California.

Mickelson said Tuesday on a conference call that he had been in contact with Ballesteros, hopeful that he would be able to return to Augusta National this year despite his ongoing battle with brain cancer.

"I just sent him an e-mail saying that if he were able to come, and feeling healthy enough to be able to make this tournament, I would love to have the dinner be something that he would like — a Spanish dish of paella or whatever he thought would be appropriate," Mickelson said. "I wanted to kind of honor him."

Mickelson said some e-mails he received recently indicate that Ballesteros will not be able to make it.

"Our thoughts and prayers are going to be with him that evening," Mickelson said.

Ballesteros was diagnosed with brain cancer in the fall of 2008, a year after he announced his retirement from golf at an emotional press conference at Carnoustie during the British Open.

The Spaniard remains an inspiration, and spoke by telephone to Europe's Ryder Cup team before the matches in Wales last year, which Europe won over the United States.

Mickelson has a special connection to Ballesteros, beyond their imagination to escape trouble on the golf course. Mickelson was 9 when he first watched the Masters, which Ballesteros won for his first green jacket. He recalls telling his mother that day, "I want to win that tournament. I want to be like that and win this event."

Mickelson won the Masters last year with a daring shot through the pine trees on the par-5 13th that set up a birdie and carried him to a 67 and a three-shot victory over Lee Westwood.

Without Ballesteros in attendance, Mickelson said he would honor past champions by going heavy on beef — further evidence that his attempt at being a vegetarian was, as he said last month, "doomed to fail."

"I learned one thing over the years," Mickelson said. "Many of the past champions, they love beef and they love meat. I plan on having a trio of different meats, whether it be bison or venison or just filet."