PGA TOUR Spectators to Speed through Lines with the Convenience of ‘Tap & Go’ Contactless Payment Technology at Food and Beverage Stands

Purchase, New York, January 26, 2006–MasterCard International today announced that Prom Catering–a leading caterer for local and national PGA TOUR (TOUR) tournaments–will accept MasterCard® PayPass™-enabled cards and devices at its food and beverage stands at select events during the 2006 season. The stands will accept the new contactless payment option at the point-of-sale for 14 TOUR events this year, beginning with the FBR Open in Scottsdale, AZ, February 2-5, 2006.

Using MasterCard PayPass, spectators will see more drives, chips and putts instead of standing in concession lines and fumbling for cash. Spectators simply tap their PayPass-enabled MasterCard cards or devices on a specially-equipped terminal that utilizes a radio frequency (RF) chip to complete the transaction. Prom Catering will have terminals that accept MasterCard PayPass at stands in high traffic areas on the first, ninth, tenth, and eighteenth hole locations.

“Prom Catering is thrilled to offer spectators a convenient, easy-to-use, contactless payment system at several TOUR events this year,” said Bill Given, vice president of Prom Catering. “When we unveiled the terminals at the Tour Championship last season, not only did our credit card sales go up about 20%, but the line sped up as well, allowing us to serve more customers. We look forward to providing the same kind of expedited service in 2006.”

“We’re pleased that our spectators can spend less time in line and more time watching the terrific golf on the course,” said Mike Bodney, Senior Vice President of Championship Management, PGA TOUR. “We welcome MasterCard PayPass to the TOUR with Prom Catering and look forward to the enhancements it will bring to the overall spectator experience at our tournaments.”

MasterCard PayPass transactions are completed quickly, securely and easily, without fumbling for cash and coins, swiping a card or signing a receipt. Moments after the cardholder taps his or her PayPass-enabled MasterCard card or device, account details are communicated to the terminal and then processed through the MasterCard secure network for clearing and settlement.

“Golf tournaments are an ideal location for MasterCard PayPass because golf spectators are there to watch their favorite players, not to wait in line,” said T.J. Sharkey, vice president of business development for the U.S. Acceptance Group at MasterCard International. “With PayPass on the course, consumers purchasing food and beverages can pay more quickly and conveniently,” he continued. “The lines will move faster and fans won’t miss the action they came to see.”

MasterCard PayPass will be accepted at the following PGA TOUR Events in 2006: The FBR Open (Scottsdale, AZ, February 2-5), THE PLAYERS Championship (Ponte Vedra, FL, March 23-26), Barclay’s Classic (Westchester, NY, June 8-11), The U.S. Open (Westchester, NY, June 15-18), and the TOUR Championship (Atlanta, GA, November 2-5). In addition, MasterCard PayPass will be accepted at the following Champions TOUR events: The ACE Group Classic (Naples, FL, February 17-19), Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (Savannah, GA, April 21-23), FedEx Kinko’s Classic (Austin, TX, April 28-30), Allianz Championship (Des Moines, IA, June 2-4), Bank of America Championship (Concord, MA, June 9-11), Greater Kansas City Golf Classic (Overland Park, KS, June 30-July 2), Ford Senior Players Championship (Dearborn, MI, July 14-16), 3M Championship (Blaine, MN, August 4-6), and Administaff Small Business Classic (Spring, TX, October 13-15).

MasterCard PayPass acceptance is ideal for sports venues and other cash-dominant environments, such as convenience stores, quick serve restaurants, drug stores, and movie theaters, where speed and ease of use are essential. PayPass-enabled cards, like other traditional MasterCard cards, also include magnetic stripe technology, so cardholders can use the cards anywhere MasterCard is accepted around the world. PayPass technology can also be used in a number of devices, such as a convenient fob that fits on a key chain for easy access. Users simply tap their PayPass-enabled key fob on the PayPass reader at participating merchants and they are on their way.

The following merchants have announced that they will accept MasterCard PayPass: participating McDonald’s, 7-Eleven stores, Ritz Camera Centers, Boater’s World Marine Centers, Sheetz, Regal Entertainment Group theatres (Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres and Edwards Theatres), Duane Reade, CVS, Quick Chek, Wawa and Meijer Stores. PayPass is also accepted at QWEST Field, M&T Bank Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, FedExField, Giants Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium and Ford Field homes of the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New York Giants/New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions respectively, and at Citizens Park, home to the Major League Baseball Philadelphia Phillies. For more information about MasterCard PayPass, visit http://www.mastercard.com/paypass.

About MasterCard International

MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members’ credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment card brands including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus® and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless® advertising campaign is now seen in 105 countries and in 48 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to http://www.mastercardinternational.com.