This week's PGA Tour Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Golf Resort is "responding to the public's desire for a more fan-friendly experience," according to Sharon Kennedy Wynne of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The Tampa-area tournament is "getting its first food truck rally this year," plus a "50-ton sand sculpture, a concert by country star Toby Keith" and a kids' play area. Tournament Dir Tracy West said that while "not exactly elegant entertainment, it is what the people like." She added that ticket sales have grown 10% "every year in the four years since Valspar took over the tournament from previous sponsor Transitions and juiced up diversions." Wynne noted there will "likely be about 20,000 people on the course on its busiest day." The Hooters Owl's Nest, a "popular premium ticket at the 12th green, this year is joined by the new Grape & Grain, a wine and spirits emporium near the 10th tee." Fans tomorrow and Saturday at the 10th tee area can "meet celebrity chef Ming Tsai, the host of PBS' cooking show 'Simply Ming'" (TAMBA BAY TIMES, 3/8). In Tampa, Rodney Page noted the event field of 144 has "19 of the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings." West said, "We're not going to get every good player every year. You have to hope you get a strong-enough field with a good variety that keeps it interesting for the fan base. That's what we have." West said that she "goes to about six to eight tournaments per season to talk to players and agents, and get a feel for which way they are leaning." Page noted though West "spends many days trying to get top players to commit, she also gets plenty of calls and emails from players who want to get into the tournament" (TAMPABAY.com, 3/8).
WOH, MEXICO: ESPN.com's Bob Harig wrote last week's inaugural WGC-Mexico Championship was a "surprising hit." The event featured a "unique, challenging course, enthusiastic crowds with numerous kids, a loaded leaderboard and the No. 1 player in the world winning," which "all contributed to an exciting week." But the "once formidable Florida Swing has taken a hit due to the revamped schedule that is now broken up by a trip to Mexico by the elite players." However, the PGA Tour "knows that keeping the Florida events in order is important" (ESPN.com, 3/8). The AP's Doug Ferguson tweeted that the Tour schedule "will be [the] same" in '18 but is "expected to go LA-Mexico and Florida" in '19 (TWITTER.com, 3/7).
