Two Two-time Winners Set For U.S. Bank Championship Returns

Loren Roberts and Jeff Sluman, both two-time winners in Milwaukee have committed to play in this year's U.S. Bank Championship, Tournament Director Dan Croak announced today.

Roberts, who will be 54 years old at the start of the event, and Sluman, who will be 51, are both members of the Champions Tour. Each, though, has playing status on the PGA TOUR this season by virtue of their respective rankings in the top-50 all-time on the PGA TOUR career money list. Both have made one previous start on the PGA TOUR this season, teeing it up at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Loren Roberts will be making his 23rd start in Milwaukee and first since 2004. He appeared in the event 22 consecutive times between 1983 and 2004. Loren has eight PGA TOUR victories to his credit as well as eight Champions Tour victories. Roberts won the Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup in 2007. With a made cut at the U.S. Bank Championship, Loren would become the event's all-time leader in that category. He is currently tied with Mark Calcavecchia, Jay Haas and Joey Sindelar at the mark of 19.

Roberts' performance at the 2000 Greater Milwaukee Open was one of the most dominating in the 41-year history of the event. He set several important tournament records en route to his second victory in Milwaukee including lowest winning score, lowest winning score in relation to par, and largest margin of victory. His 260 winning score total still stands as the record at the tournament though it has been equaled twice, in 2005 by Ben Crane and in 2006 by Corey Pavin. His 24-under-par score in relation to par broke Bill Kratzert's record, set in 1980, by two. His eight-stroke margin of victory broke Ken Green's record, set in 1988, by two. Both those records still stand today.

Loren captured his first win in Milwaukee in 1996 when he birdied two of the final three holes in the final round to force a playoff with Jerry Kelly. Roberts then birdied the first playoff hole to earn the victory. In addition to his two first-place finishes, Loren has two additional second-place finishes at Brown Deer Park, in 1994 and 1997. A professional since 1975, Roberts was a member of the Ryder Cup team in 1995. He has six top-25 and four top-10 finishes, including a win at The ACE Group Classic, on the Champions Tour this year.

Jeff Sluman will be making his 21st start in Milwaukee and first since 2007. Sluman has finished in the top-10 at the tournament in each of his last three starts, with a tie for 9th in 2007, a 3rd in 2006, and a 4th in 2005. He has finished in the top-10 at the event a total of eight times. Only Joey Sindelar, with 9, and Mark Calcavecchia, with 10, have more top-10 finishes at the tournament. Jeff is a six-time winner on the PGA TOUR, including a major title at the 1988 PGA Championship, and a two-time winner on the Champions Tour.

A native of Rochester, NY who currently resides in Hinsdale, IL, Sluman earned the first victory of his career at a major championship, the 1988 PGA. Held that year at Oak Tree GC, Jeff fired one of the finest closing rounds in that event's history shooting a 6-under-par 65 to come from three shots back of Paul Azinger to win by three.

Sluman earned his first victory in Milwaukee in 1998, a one shot win over Steve Stricker, with rounds of 68-66-63-68. He became the tournament's sixth two-time winner four years later in 2002, a two-shot victory over Tim Herron and Steve Lowery, with rounds of 64-66-63-68. Carlos Franco and Corey Pavin have since become two-time winners at the event bringing the total of two-time winners of the tournament to eight. No player has won the event more than twice.

A professional since 1980, Sluman has earned $1,660,364.81 in Milwaukee and still ranks as the tournament's all-time career money winner. He has missed just two cuts in thirteen starts at the event since it moved to Brown Deer Park Golf Course in 1994. Jeff has four top-10 and six top-25 finishes, including a 2nd at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, on the Champions Tour this year.

The U.S. Bank Championship - 'You've Never Seen Golf Like This'
The U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee is Wisconsin's premier golf event and the region's only permanent PGA TOUR stop. The tournament has something for everyone, offering businesses of all sizes unique, cost-effective opportunities to achieve multiple goals at a single event and individuals affordable access to a professional sports event that can be enjoyed with family and friends. With the help of its volunteers, the not-for-profit U.S. Bank Championship has contributed millions of dollars to Wisconsin charities over the course of its history. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is the tournament's major beneficiary this year. The 42nd annual U.S. Bank Championship is July 13-19 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course. Information on tickets and business packages is available by calling the tournament office at 414-431-GOLF or by visiting the U.S. Bank Championship web site at www.usbankchampionship.com.