Wachovia Championship already making memories
By John Maginnes, PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Remember when you were a kid and your parents said you didn't have to attend school the next day because they wanted to take you to do something special? You tossed and turned all night because you knew the next day was going to be all about you.
Thousands of kids experienced that same magical feeling a year ago at the Wachovia Championship. I took my son out of school and we drove down from Greensboro to watch Tiger Woods and Michael Jordon play in the Wednesday pro-am. From the looks of things they should have cancelled classes in the entire city. Even the superintendent of schools was playing hooky that beautiful spring day.
Sports heroes are about as close to royalty as we get in the United States. To have the two most recognizable athletes on the planet together in a setting that allowed the general public to walk alongside and listen in on their conversation a year ago was nothing short of incredible.
Michael calls Tiger "kid." Back in the 1990s everyone wanted to "be like Mike" and I guess that Tiger has come the closest. Even though this very public meeting took place at Tiger's "office," Michael still got the loudest cheers from the fans. The Wachovia Championship committee didn't announce the pairing until the Tuesday before they teed off. It is amazing how many people were able to rearrange their schedule.
Unfortunately, neither Tiger nor Michael will be at Quail Hollow this week. Tiger is still recovering from knee surgery and Michael was making a coaching change for his Charlotte Bobcats.
Even so, in just six short years, the Wachovia Championship has become one of the most popular events on the PGA TOUR with fans and players alike. The players love the impeccable golf course and their families are treated royally. Not to mention, there's that Mercedes courtesy car that is valet parked in front of the Quail Hollow clubhouse.
Perhaps more impressive are some of the fan enhancements that have been in place for several years. One unique feature is the ticket resell, or mulligan, program. Turn in your ticket after you leave the golf course, and it will be resold at a reduced price. The tournament has been sold out for two months, so this creates an opportunity for more fans to enjoy the action. Furthermore, all the proceeds from the resale will go to the PGA TOUR Wives Association to aid in its charitable work.
Each year after the tournament is over, surveys are sent out to several hundred of the fans who attended the event. The completed surveys are distributed among the championship staff and changes are made based on the suggestions received. Consequently, this year there are enhanced kid zones for the youngest fans to have greater access to players.
From a player's perspective, the Wachovia Championship has the best field of any open event on the PGA TOUR (the simplest distinction of an "open" event is a tournament that has Monday qualifying). For the fans, it's an opportunity to walk one of the most exclusive golf courses in North Carolina and watch the best players in the world.
Every year, the Wachovia Championship is a special event. But for one Wednesday in 2007, thousands of parents and kids had a day that they will remember for the rest of their lives. It took Tiger and Michael to remind me that every day of every golf tournament there are more memories made outside the ropes than inside.
When you spend your life in an arena, it is easy to lose that perspective. It only takes the eyes of a child to bring things into clearer focus.
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