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Holly Sonders reaffirms her rock star status, receives invitation to Humana Challenge Pro-Am

January 13, 2014

Golf Channel "personality" Holly Sonders will be teeing it up in the amateur portion of this week's Humana Challenge.

The popular fixture of Morning Drive and other shows received one of four invitations extended to celebrities now that the event has ended the former Bob Hope Classic's emphasis on stars and athletes. The other invites went to actor Craig T. Nelson, Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely and current "are-they-meant-to-be-ironic-or-not" Honda commercial superstar, Michael Bolton.

"Holly is very popular with golf fans, and we know how well Craig and Michael interact with our galleries," said Bob Marra, executive director and CEO of the Humana Challenge. "And Jay is a nice addition because not only is he an outstanding golfer, but he has a foundation that works with the Clinton Foundation on numerous charitable activities."

Charity, schmarity. Let's get back to Holly.

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According to PGA Tour rules official Steve Rintoul, Sonders has drawn pros Brandt Snedeker, Bo Van Pelt and Jamie Lovemark for her rounds starting Thursday. Tee times have yet to be announced, but it's a pretty good bet her Category 1 pairing with Snedeker will take place on Saturday at the host Palmer Course.

While the celebrity buzz is way down, President Bill Clinton is still expected to be hanging around all week and a decent field has shown up. Young gun Rickie Fowler, major champions Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson are entered, as is the hottest golfer on the planet, Zach Johnson. Former major winners in the field include the hat-tan sporting Stewart Cink, John Daly, Lucas Glover, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Geoff Ogilvy, David Toms, Mike Weir and Y.E. Yang.

And for those of you making fantasy picks or are just worried about what Sonders will face in her first nationally-televised pro-am, Rintoul reports the forecast calls for perfect desert weather, with hardly any rough on the three courses hosting the Humana Challenge. So Holly's growing fan base should get plenty of opportunities to see her playing from the fairway starting Thursday on Golf Channel at 3 pm. ET.