THE PLAYERS Championship will continue its long-standing support for military families by joining with Birdies for the Brave to host an Operation Shower group baby shower for 40 local military moms-to-be whose spouses are deployed members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. The event will take place on Sunday, May 3, from 12-2 p.m. in the Birdies for the Brave Patriots’ Outpost military-exclusive hospitality chalet located near the 16th tee of THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

Sponsored by THE PLAYERS with support from Chicco and TPC Sawgrass, the “Love is in Bloom”-themed event will be hosted by Tabitha Furyk, wife of PGA TOUR player Jim Furyk. Festivities will include lunch, prize giveaways, a performance by rising Nashville singer/songwriter Cali Rodi and an opportunity for the moms to share camaraderie and gain support from other military women in the same situation. The highlight of the event will be the presentation of Operation Shower’s signature “Shower In A Box.” Each mom will receive a box containing an array of unique, high-quality products and gift items for mothers and babies that have been generously donated by companies including Carousel Designs and Chicco.

In addition to Tabitha Furyk, special guests participating in the shower will include Marine Sgt. Major Bryan Battaglia, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Lisa; Naval Station Mayport Commanding Officer Captain Wes McCall and his wife, Reyna; Naval Air Station Jacksonville Commanding Officer Captain Howard Wanamaker and his wife, Teri; and PGA TOUR player Billy Hurley III and his wife, Heather. As part of Billy Hurley’s relationship with Valspar Paint, the Hurleys will present each of the moms-to-be participating in this event with paint to be used in decorating their nurseries. Valspar will also provide paint to honorees at four additional Operation Shower events in 2015, with 2 gallons donated for every birdie and eagle Hurley makes during competition this season. In addition, Hurley will carry a custom red, white and blue Valspar Paint golf bag during all his TOUR events to show support and appreciation for our nation’s heroes and their families.

Supporting our military is a concept very close to Hurley’s heart. The first graduate of the United States Naval Academy to become a member of the PGA TOUR as well as the only active TOUR player who has served in the military, Hurley gives back by supporting Birdies for the Brave – a national military outreach initiative proudly supported by the PGA TOUR, which is dedicated to honoring and showing appreciation to the courageous members of our U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

Hurley is a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Economics and was named an Academic All-American. From 2007 to 2009, he served a tour of duty in the Persian Gulf aboard the destroyer USS Chung-Hoon. He returned to professional golf following his retirement from the Navy, and earned his PGA TOUR card by finishing 25th on the 2011 Web.com Tour Money List.

Established in 2007, Operation Shower (www.operationshower.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and honoring military families by providing joyful baby showers for military moms-to-be to ease the stress of deployment.   During the event at THE PLAYERS, Operation Shower will mark a milestone by hosting its 58th shower (34th in collaboration with the TOUR) and honoring its 2,500th military mom from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard. Operation Shower events are traditionally held on military bases, during PGA TOUR tournaments, and at other locations.

Birdies for the Brave was originally created in 2006 by PGA TOUR player Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, to support combat-injured troops. The PGA TOUR subsequently adopted Birdies for the Brave, and since then has raised more than $14.6 million for military homefront charities that provide critical programs and services to meet the specialized needs of wounded warriors and military families. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.birdiesforthebrave.org or follow them on Facebook.

For tickets to THE PLAYERS and more information, please visit www.PGATOUR.COM/THEPLAYERS.