by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The Players Championship will once again host professional golf’s strongest field and pay its largest purse when it tees off March 24, but this year the tournament sometimes called golf’s “fifth major” will be only the second largest sporting event held in Northeast Florida.
While everybody else in Northeast Florida was preparing for the Super Bowl, this year’s TPC Chairman, Tommy Lee, has had his sights set firmly on his golf tournament. Although the focus on football slowed early-year ticket sales, Lee said the TPC would benefit from the worldwide exposure generated by the Super Bowl.
“This tournament is always high-profile,” said Lee. “But this year, I think it will be even more so absolutely.”
Lee told the Meninak Club luncheon at the Radisson Monday about plans for this year’s tournament. It’s one of 22 similar speaking engagements that Lee has scheduled before the tournament starts. The public relations push is a big part of Lee’s first go-round as chairman. Lee lives in Gainesville, but he estimates his duties have kept him in Jacksonville “about 90 percent of the time.”
Tournament organizers managed to push the TPC’s home course into the Super Bowl spotlight during game week. The Tournament Players Club in Ponte Vedra played host to reporters from more than 140 countries for the game’s media day party. The media was given a chance to take a shot at one of golf’s most famous holes; the par 3 17th and its island green.
Lee was ready for a crowd, but media day attendance was overwhelming. TPC staff prepared to park 400 cars; more than 3,700 showed up. More than 1,700 members of the media took a swing on 17. Only 101 balls made it to the green. Lee said he spoke to reporters from as far away as Denmark that told him they now planned to return to cover the TPC.
“We served ourselves well by having them out there,” said Lee.
The media will be joined by more than 150,000 fans who walk the course with the players every year. The number of fans and their proximity to some of the world’s most famous athletes presents many of the logistical problems Lee and his staff of 1,700 volunteers encounter.
Like the Super Bowl, tournament organizers put security at the top of their list of concerns. Golf is unique in that it allows fans to come within an arm’s reach of their heroes. Preserving that intimacy while keeping the players safe requires Lee’s staff to perform a delicate balancing act each year.
The fans having the best time, and usually causing the biggest problems, sit on the hill overlooking the 17th. The large number of fans and free-flowing beer can create a rowdy atmosphere.
“Around the 17th green, sometimes it’s like there’s a party going on and a golf tournament is playing through,” said Lee.
Fans who cross the line might end up face to face with the 6-foot-4 Lee. He’s made a few personal requests for decorum. After that, it’s an escort out the door from a uniformed guard, although Lee said that’s a rare occurrence.
There’s no special security provisions this year. The gallery, once again, will be asked to leave cellular phones at home or in the car. They won’t be allowed in, and they’ll no longer be checked at the gates.
Lee said he expects this year’s tournament to raise $2.25 million for local charities. He said the TPC’s commitment to charity was the tournament’s most important mission. It’s one that keeps tournament organizers working throughout the year.
“We’re entertainment for one week a year,” said Lee. “But for 52 weeks a year, we’re committed to helping people with their lives.”