AKRON, Ohio — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous, unrelated story.
The Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship in Akron this week got off to a presidential start. On Thursday, former President George W. Bush was presented with the Ambassador of Golf Award at Firestone Country Club.
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Presented by the FirstEnergy Foundation, the award "honors a person who has fostered the ideals of the game on an international level and whose concern for others extends beyond the golf course." The 43rd President of the United States, Bush has served as Honorary Chair of the First Tee since 2012, taking over for his father, the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
“The PGA TOUR and the world of golf owe President George W. Bush a great debt of gratitude for his longtime contributions to the game, and we are thrilled we will be able to honor the president with the Ambassador of Golf Award in 2021,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement announcing Bush as the recipient of this year's award last October. “In the longtime tradition of the Bush family, President Bush has used his platform to unify and shine a light on the impact the game of golf can have on our society through his tremendous work as honorary chairman of the First Tee and fostering the growth and worldwide goodwill of the Presidents Cup.”
“The Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship is excited to honor President George W. Bush with the 2021 Ambassador of Golf Award presented by FirstEnergy Foundation,” said Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Executive Director, Don Padgett III. “With his father receiving this same award in 1994, we will continue to honor the Bush family and all they have done for the game of golf.”
This year's Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship will take place at Akron's Firestone Country Club June 24-June 27.