Today marks the beginning of the Quail Hollow Championship golf tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina . Players took to the course today for the beginning of the pro-am tournament.Security is tight at the tournament. Police officers and independent security personnel patrol the course, and stand at the front gate, checking bags and purses and using metal detecting wands on visitors.
The tournament must provide security for more than 150 players. Most of us golfers who will watch the tournament on TV, or even attend the tournament in person, seldom realize all the work that is involved with operating a professional golf tournament.
The Quail Hollow Championship, like any PGA Tour event, cannot operate without volunteers. The Quail Hollow Championship is one of the premier stops on the PGA Tour, placing a national and international spotlight on Charlotte, NC.
Probably the most exciting fact about the tournament this year is the presence of both Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson in the competition. Many TV golf commentators did not think that Tiger would compete again so soon after the Masters, especially when Tiger ducked the question when he was asked the final day of the Masters when he would compete again on tour. His comment? "I'm going to take some more time off...."
I believe another very popular player, Fred Couples, is also planning to play at Quail Hollow, instead of playing in this week's Champions' Tour event.
Overall, this tournament should make for good entertainment, but it will be hard to surpass last week's Zurich Classic winner's story in New Orleans. I was touched by the story of Jason Bohn winning the $1 million + first place prize, 18 years after he entered a charity Hole-In-One event as a freshman in college and won $50,000 per year for twenty years. He has two payments left to go. Now he is over $1 million richer, and has a two-year exemption on tour, and an invitation to next year's Masters.
His birdeying three of the last four holes yesterday was the finishing touch to a great story all week long.
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteJust came back from the Wachovia Pro Am. I took my two sons and one of their friends. We received clubhouse passes from the PGA Tour. I know some of the Tour Van Reps. so we went over to the Nike Van and talked to Wally who makes the clubs for Tiger, Anthony Kim, Lucas Glover and the other Nike Pros. He told us that the players came in raving about he condition of the course, said the fairways were better than at the Masters and the greens were every bit as good. Terrifically run event.
The boys went to the designated area near the driving range where the pros sign autographs for kids 11 . Nearly every pro stopped and signed at least 10 autographs for the kids; Phil signed for his usual 45 minutes as did Ricky Fowler, and most of the others signed nearly every hat or flag carried by a child.
Tiger came to the range after his round and hit balls for about an hour. The kids lined up along the fence waiting for him to finish. When he did, they all called out "Tiger" and he didn't even acknowledge them..walked right past. I don't see that his stripes have changed all that much. Great talent but a little too self centered. He needs to acknowledge the kids especially before the tournament has even started.
Great event though and if you ever get a chance to go it is worthwhile.
Garrett Garland