Continuing a PGA TOUR tradition of honoring men and women in uniform, THE PLAYERS Championship has unveiled a full slate of activities and programs that will take place during the 2012 event as part of Birdies for the Brave, a military outreach initiative proudly supported by the PGA TOUR. In addition to providing all active duty, retired, and Reserve military personnel along with their dependents with complimentary admission to the tournament all day, every day, THE PLAYERS also offers discounted admission to veterans. New this year will be the “Military Job Fair at THE PLAYERS” on Monday, May 7. THE PLAYERS also announced, along with Capitol Records Nashville, that country music star Luke Bryan will help the tournament honor area military with a special musical appearance on Wednesday, May 9, during Military Appreciation Day. THE PLAYERS returns to THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, May 7-13.

• Military Job Fair at THE PLAYERS will welcome active duty, retired, and Reserve military along with veterans to TPC Sawgrass on Monday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to participate in a job fair that is free to participants and will feature area companies that have open hiring opportunities, as well as local educational institutions with veterans’ programs and career counseling and resume-review assistance.  Confirmed companies to date include Incepture, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Brumos, BAE Systems, Citi, CSX, Prudential, Deutsche Bank, Lockheed Martin, Sea Star Line and the PGA TOUR; confirmed educational institutions include Jacksonville University and Florida State College Jacksonville. The job fair will take place in the Birdies for the Brave Patriots’ Outpost, located on the hill between No. 16 and No. 18 fairways, and will be open to veterans who are seeking employment. All veterans will be admitted free on Monday.

• Luke Bryan Concert – On Wednesday, May 9, Bryan will be a part of a 5:30 p.m. ceremony during Military Appreciation Day, this year themed, “A Tribute to America’s Volunteers” in honor of the 375th anniversary of the National Guard of the United States. The program on the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse Lawn will include pageantry by military personnel, performances by the 13th Army Band, Jacksonville Children’s Chorus, a flyover by F-15 Fighter Jets from the 125th Fighter Wing of the Florida Air National Guard, as well as remarks from PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, General Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau (4-star General USAF, member Joint Chiefs of Staff) and PGA TOUR player and two-time PLAYERS champion Davis Love III.
• Operation Shower – On Sunday, May 6, the PGA TOUR and Birdies for the Brave will partner with Operation Shower to host a group baby shower for 40 military moms-to-be whose husbands are deployed members of the U.S. Navy and Army National Guard. The event will feature Operation Shower’s signature Showers-In-A-Box, gifts of high-quality products for the moms and babies that will be provided by sponsors and donors. Special guests will include Cheryl McKinley, wife of General Craig McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau; PGA TOUR executives’ spouses; members of the PGA TOUR Wives Association; and a celebrity guest host. Operation Shower will be held at the Patriots’ Outpost.

THE PLAYERS will continue its policy of providing free or affordable access to the tournament for men and women of the Armed Services. Visit PGATOUR.COM/THE PLAYERS (click on 2012 Tickets) for more information. On-site parking is free (for all fans) Monday-Wednesday, but parking passes must be purchased in advance for Thursday through Sunday. Tickets to THE PLAYERS Championship 2012 are on sale at First Coast Publix Super Markets locations, at TPC Sawgrass, online at www.PGATOUR.COM/theplayers and via telephone by calling Ticketmaster at (888) 401-8000. In addition to THE PLAYERS official web site, fans can keep up to date on everything going on with THE PLAYERS Championship via Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/THEPLAYERS.