U.S. soccer stars Hamm, Wambach among early commitments to the Monday After the Masters

U.S. women’s soccer legends Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm will be making their debuts this year in the 22nd Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am, and they’ll be joined in the event by hall of fame members from the NFL, NBA and NHL.

In addition to Wambach and Hamm, Pro Football Hall of Fame members Dan Marino, Jonathan Ogden and Andre Reed, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Rick Barry, and Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr have committed to the event.

Current U.S. Ryder Cup Team captain and 21-time PGA Tour champion Davis Love III and fellow PGA Tour winner Pat Perez are also early commitments for the tournament, being played for the 14th consecutive year at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club on April 11.

Spectator tickets are $20 and will go on sale and likely sell out Monday morning.

Wambach and Hamm are Nos. 1 and 2 in international goals scored by U.S. women with 184 and 158, respectively, and Wambach was instrumental last summer in helping the U.S. win its first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 16 years and record third overall.

“We’re always looking for new commitments but I’m psyched that these two women are coming,” said tournament director Paul Graham. “I’m not even a soccer fan, but I’m appreciative of what they’ve accomplished and that they’ll take time out of their schedule to help us out.

“We’re always looking for diversity, especially in the sports arena. It’s about finding the different celebrities and people who have different reasons for their celebrity.”

Reed, a 15-year wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, is making his tournament debut and longtime participant Marino is returning after missing the past few years.

Other athletes committed to the tournament include NASCAR drivers Denny Hamlin and Michael Waltrip, former Clemson and South Carolina quarterbacks Tajh Boyd and Connor Shaw, former NBA players Detlef Schrempf and Spud Webb, Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate, and former NFL players George Rogers, Sterling Sharpe and Jim McMahon.

Actresses Paula Trickey, who starred from 1996-2000 on the USA Network series Pacific Blue, and Debbe Dunning, who played the Tool Time Girl on the popular ABC sitcom Home Improvement, are both scheduled to return to the event.

Musicians who have committed to participate and likely perform during the post-tournament concert at the House of Blues include NSync founding member Chris Kirkpatrick, Colt Ford, Preston Pohl, Steve Azar and singer/songwriter Patrick Davis, who has written songs for numerous artists including Darius Rucker, Jewel, Jimmy Buffett and Lady Antebellum.

An updated list of participating celebrities and pro golfers is scheduled to be released on March 4.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday at Ticketmaster outlets, the House of Blues and the Barefoot Resort pro shops. Approximately half of the 6,000 adult spectator tickets are available to the general public and the others are disbursed through sponsorship packages.

The tournament has sold out nine consecutive years. The allotted tickets for Ticketmaster sold out in an hour last year and the remaining tickets sold out within a couple hours. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Four CBS and NBC sports radio talk shows will be broadcasting live from the tournament beginning with the Gio & Jones show from 6-9 a.m. Tournament activities begin with the Celebrity Long Drive Contest at 10 a.m. and the tournament follows at 11 a.m.

All ticket proceeds benefit the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports education and junior golf charities. For more information visit HootieGolf.com.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 6:08 PM with the headline "U.S. soccer stars Hamm, Wambach among early commitments to the Monday After the Masters."