When the PGA Tour temporarily moved the date of this year's Wells Fargo Championship back two weeks, there were "concerns that the switch might affect the quality of the tournament’s field," but when Rory McIlroy "committed to play ... late last week, it brought to eight the number of top 20 players" in the field, according to David Scott of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Traditionally held the first week of May, the tourney this year was "switched to the middle of the month," directly following "two of the tour’s more prestigious events" -- the WGC-Match Play and Players Championship. Tournament Exec Dir Kym Hougham credits the event's "sterling reputation with players for maintaining the field’s high quality." Hougham also "spends time traveling to tournaments talking to players and their agents." Still, some "notable players" will not be at Quail Hollow Country Club, including Tiger Woods, whose “Tiger Jam” fundraiser is "scheduled for this week in Las Vegas." Masters-winner Jordan Spieth "will be home preparing for the next two tournaments on the schedule, both of which are in the Dallas area." The Wells Fargo Championship "returns to its early May spot" next year (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/11). Quail Hollow President Johnny Harris said, "It looks to me like we’re going to have a good tournament. We’ve got the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 players in the world. It looks like we’ve got one of the strongest fields other than the majors" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/8 issue).
FILLING IN THE GENERATIONAL GAP: Hougham said that millennials need to be "persuaded that watching golf can be fun." In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg notes Uber, taxis and limo service will be "new this year in response to younger adults’ preference to avoid riding shuttle buses ... as their elders have done for years." Craft beer, an on-course pub, more local food, good-any-day tickets and continuous ticket sales also "have all been added in hopes of capturing the interest of younger fans." Charlotte-based ad agency BooneOakley is "playing a prominent role, too, unveiling a campaign heavy on being seen and socializing while paying occasional homage to the competition." Each of the tourney ads is "made to look like a painting, set inside a lavish gold frame accented by golf balls, tees, hot dogs, burgers and sunglasses." Tag lines include, “One golfer will leave with a trophy, countless others will leave with a suntan,” as well as, “Some fans score autographs. Others score phone numbers.” Several of the ideas sprouted from "fan surveys as well as focus groups BooneOakley conducted with millennials who have and haven’t been to Quail Hollow." Hougham said that event organizers and others in entertainment "shouldn’t ask for opinions unless they’re willing to act on at least some of the ideas." Spanberg notes the All American Pub has been added at the "confluence of the No. 10 green, No. 17 green and No. 13 fairway." Features at the new pub include "faux-brick decor, ... corn hole on the lawn, banks of large-screen TVs and a menu featuring local craft beers and select menu items from Bottle Cap Group restaurants" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/8 issue).
PHONE HOME: Time Warner Cable on Monday said that "it is offering free wireless Internet access" at the tournament this week. TWC said that the complimentary Wi-Fi "will cover much of the area, including the event lawn, driving range, 18th fairway, clubhouse, Green Mile Village, All American Pub, 17th green Executive Club and Dinner Chalet, the shuttle drop-off and other vendor locations." In Charlotte, Ely Portillo noted the Wi-Fi network is named "TWCWiFi." This is the "third year the company has offered free Internet access at the tournament" (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 5/11).
