The Million Dollar 'Links' Virtual Golf Association Tour Begins July 22

REDMOND , Wash ., July 10 / PRNewswire - FirstCall / -- One of the most lucrative online golf tournaments in the world just became even more so. Microsoft Game Studios today announced that it is opening registration for the Million Dollar "Links(R)" Virtual Golf Association Tour (VGA Tour), in which this year's winner will have a chance to putt for $1 million.**(see ed's note below)

Online golfers compete on the Million Dollar "Links" VGA Tour using "Links Championship Edition," the latest installment in Microsoft's popular "Links" series for the personal computer. PC golfers worldwide can participate by signing up at http://www.linkstour.zone.com/ from now until July 22, when the first major tournament begins.

"We have given away more than $150,000 during the past two years of the VGA Tour," said Scott Lee, Links brand manager for Microsoft Game Studios. "The addition of the $1 million putt ensures that the VGA Tour now has the competitors, courses, prize money and pressure to match virtually any other golf tour."

The 3-year-old VGA Tour mirrors professional golf tours. Over the past two years, the VGA Tour has included more than 34,000 cybergolfers from 10 countries, making it a true international online sporting event. It comprises three major tournaments, a semifinal event for the tour's leading money winners and a final event in which the top four golfers square off in a match-play tournament to determine the world's best PC golfer.

To celebrate the launch of "Links 2003" in October during the tour finals, Microsoft will offer the champion* of the Million Dollar "Links" VGA Tour a chance to make a real putt on an actual golf course for $1 million. The champ will test his or her real-life golf skills by attempting to sink the ball 60 feet from the cup. Even if the champ misses the million-dollar putt, he or she is guaranteed to take home $50,000. A guaranteed total of $77,000 in prize money is available for competitors on the VGA Tour. The official rules and regulations will be available at http://www.linkstour.zone.com/ .

About the Virtual Golf Association Tour

The VGA Tour allows "Links" PC golfers to compete in the largest golfing event on the Internet. The VGA Tour, located at Microsoft's online gaming site http://www.linkstour.zone.com/ , is modeled after the professional golf tours, with competitions, courses, sponsors and prizes. Last year, 22,000 PC golfers signed up for the 2001 VGA Tour. Paul Willey, who took home the 2001 VGA Tour crown, has won back-to-back titles, taking home more than $150,000 in prize money.