slides: CVS Health Charity Classic Unveils First 9 Players in 2016 Field

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Joe Calabro, GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

Defending champions Keegan Bradley and Jon Curran will return to defend their title at the 18th annual CVS Health Charity Classic. The pair served as two of the 9 players announced in a press conference on Tuesday morning.

Other players include first timers Branden Grace, Tony Finau and rookie Bryson DeChambeau as well as tournament veterans such as Morgan Pressel, Peter Jacobsen and co-hosts Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade.

The tournament will announce more players in the coming weeks.

See the Slideshow Below for a Full List of Players and Bios

“We’re excited to once again host the CVS Health Charity Classic which supports hundreds of great charities throughout the region. Through the years, the tournament has driven more than $19 million dollars to local nonprofits to help fund the critical work they do to help children and families. We’re proud that the Charity Classic continues to be a fan favorite and we encourage people of all ages to come enjoy the event which offers more than just great golf,” said Elleen Howard Boone, tournament Chairwoman.

The tournament is set to take place on Monday, June 27 and Tuesday, June 28 at Rhode Island Country Club.

For tickets to the tournament, click here.

2015 Tournament

Keegan Bradley and Jon Curran shot a two day total of 2-under par, including an 11-under par final round to become only the second tournament newcomers to win the title.

"The CVS Classic is synonymous with New England, we always grew up watching it, and it's fun just to play in it, but for us to play and win it, is really cool," said Keegan Bradley after the round.

Harris English and Lexi Thompson finished second at 19-under par.

It's About Charity

Last year's tournament raised $1.3 million for more than 100 charities across Rhode Island bringing the Classic's total to $19 million in donations since its inception in 1999.

"It really brings to light what the CVS Charity Classic is all about, helping those less fortunate," CVS Health CEO Larry Merlo told GoLocal.

For more information on the tournament, click here.

Related Slideshow: CVS Health Charity Classic Field - 2016

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Jason Dufner

Making his second appearence at the CVS Classic, Jason Dufner is the 2013 PGA Champion and a four time winner on the PGA Tour. He also finished runner up to fellow CVS Classic competitor Keegan Bradley in 2011.

Dufner currently ranks 67th in the world and 17th in the FedexCup standings.

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Louis Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen returns to the Classic for the second time in his career.

Oosthuizen is a 13 time PGA Tour winner, including the 2010 Open Championship and currently ranks 13th in the world.

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Lexi Thompson

Lexi Thompson will return to the CVS Health Charity Classic for the 5th straight time.

Thompson is currently ranked 3rd in the world and was named Rookie of the Year in 2012.

In her career, Thompson has recorded 7 wins and 38 top-10 finishes.

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Keegan Bradley

New England's own Keegan Bradley returns to the CVS Charity Classic for the second straight season and, along with his partner Jon Curran, enters as the defending champion.

Bradley and Curran were high school teammates.

This season, Bradley has one top ten and two top 25 finishes in 14 events played and is ranked 114th in the world.

Bradley is the 2011 PGA Champion but has not won a tournament since 2012.

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Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau is a PGA Tour rookie having just turned pro following an impressive showing at The Masters where he was in the final pairing on Saturday with Jordan Spieth.

DeChambeau is only the 5th golfer in history to win both the NCAA Division I Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year.

This will be DeChambeau's first apperence at the CVS Classic.

PHOTO: PGA Tour.com

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Brad Faxon

Brad Faxon co-host the tournament with fellow Rhode Islander Billy Andrade. Together, the two have helped raise over $19 million for local charities in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts since the tournament started in 1999.

Faxon had eight wins on the PGA Tour and has two on the Champions Tour.

Last April, Faxon was honored with the Francis Ouimet Award.

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Billy Andrade

Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon will once again be co-hosting the tournament. Together, the two have helped raise over $19 million for local charities in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts since the tournament started in 1999.

Andrade has four career wins on the PGA Tour and three career wins on the Champions Tour.

In 2016, Andrade has a second place finish (lost in a playoff), four top 10 finishes and five top 25 finishes.

In his Champions Tour career, Andrade has never missed a cut.

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Morgan Pressel

Morgan Pressel will return to the CVS Classic for the 8th time in her career. She won the tournament with partner Jay Haas in 2012.

They are the only co-ed team to ever win the CVS Classic.

Pressel is currently ranked 31 in the world and finished in a tie for 2nd at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.

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Jon Curran

Jon Curran returns to the CVS Charity Classic to defend his championship along with Keegan Bradley.

In 2016, Curran has two top 10 and three top 25 finishes in 18 events played.

He is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory.

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Branden Grace

Branden Grace is currently the 11th ranked player in the world, earning three top 10 and six top 25 finishes in 9 tournaments played so far this season.

Last month, Grace won the RBC Heritage tournament for his first PGA Tour win.

This will be Grace's first CVS Classic appearance.

PHOTO: PGA Tour.com

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Peter Jacobsen

Peter Jacobsen will return to the CVS Charity Classic for the 18th consecutive time. He along with Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade are the only players to have played in every tournament since its inception in 1999.

Jacobsen is a 40 year PGA Tour veteran but has never won the CVS Classic.

He currently serves as an analyst for NBC Sports.