HARTFORD – Paul Newman will participate in a ceremonial role at the Traveler’s Championship Celebrity Pro-Am festivities on Wednesday, June 20, at the TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell. ESPN personality Chris Berman will compete in the Pro-Am and will serve as host of the event.

Paul Newman, a Hollywood icon also recognized for tremendous philanthropy, founded The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in 1988, which enables children with cancer and other serious illnesses to enjoy a camping experience of the highest quality.

Berman has been a great enthusiast of Connecticut’s PGA event for years and is known for infusing his energy into the event. Berman, an avid golfer, has been on-air with ESPN since the station was founded in 1979 and is best known as the voice of NFL Sundays. Since 2003, Berman has displayed his affinity for golf while providing ESPN’s play-by-play during the U.S. Open.

“The tournament has donated more than $25 million to the Greater Hartford community over the past 55 years,” said Nathan Grube, tournament director of the Travelers Championship. “As we embark on a new era during the inaugural Travelers Championship, we look forward to growing that number even more and we greatly appreciate the support of Paul and Chris to accomplish this goal.”

The Travelers Championship will be played June 18-24, 2007. All proceeds of the championship will be donated to co-charities The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp of Ashford and the Greater Hartford Jaycees.

Major Winners

World Golf Championship winner Stewart Cink and major championship titleholders David Toms, Rich Beem and Corey Pavin have committed to compete in the tournament June 18 through 24 at TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell.

Cink has earned one top-10 finish and three top-25 finishes this season, with his best showing at World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship where he tied for ninth. Cink holds four Tour victories, including a wire-to-wire victory at the 2004 World Golf Championship – NEC Invitational. In 1997, Cink picked up his first Tour victory here in Connecticut, and then went on to be named PGA Rookie of the Year.

Toms will be making his first appearance in Connecticut since 1999. Toms has 12 Tour victories to his credit, including the 2001 PGA Championship. Toms has made the cut at all nine events he’s played this year and has finished top-10 at four events.

Beem, who holds three Tour victories, will make his first appearance in Connecticut this year. Beem recorded his first top-10 of 2007 at the Buick Invitational, where he tied for ninth. Beem had a career year on tour in 2002, capturing the PGA Championship with a one-stroke victory over Tiger Woods.

The 1995 U.S. Open champion, Corey Pavin, tied for sixth earlier this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, marking his fifth career top-10 at the Tour’s Monterey Peninsula event. In 2006, Pavin earned his 15th Tour victory with a wire-to-wire win at the U.S. Bank Championship. This will be Pavin’s 15th appearance in Connecticut.

To purchase tickets and for more information on the Travelers tournament, visit www.TravelersChampionship.com.