RISING: Wyndham tourney hopes to build on success

Building on the buzz of last year's Wyndham Championship won't be easy, but tournament director Mark Brazil seems up for the challenge.

Finding sponsors is never easy, even in the best of times, but the sluggish economy has made that task more difficult for Brazil and other directors on the PGA Tour.

"Obviously, the economy is having an impact on everything," Brazil said. "But one of the positives for us was our move last year to Sedgefield because it couldn't have come at a better time."

The Wyndham had a better field last August, and low scoring helped the tournament's exposure. Carl Pettersson, who lives in Raleigh and played at Greensboro's Grimsley High School and N.C. State, won with a 21-under 259 on the par-70 Donald Ross redesign.

One of the continuing directives that Brazil has heard from Bobby Long, the chairman of the tournament's foundation board, is about regionalizing the tournament. Just a few years ago, there was very little marketing outside of Guilford County. That approach has changed, and Brazil said that proof can be found in the variety of Triad businessmen now on the foundation board.

"From Paul Fulton in Winston-Salem to Tommy Langley in High Point to our board members from all over the region, that's really made a big difference," Brazil said.

The move to market the tournament better around the state was a no-brainer, Brazil said.

"I mean, we went from marketing to about 400,000 or so around Greensboro to nearly one and half million people, when you consider the areas we expanded to," he said. "That's a big benefit to everybody."

One of Brazil's concerns about this year's tournament (Aug. 20-23) is the contributions that the Wyndham makes to local charities. If sponsorships aren't filled, those donations would suffer.

"We are working hard in selling sponsorships and getting renewals for this year," Brazil said.

The tournament has multiyear deals with BB&T, Harris-Teeter and other businesses, according to Brazil.

"Our goal is to make sure the players, their families and spectators don't see a dip or a lull in what we had last year," Brazil said. "We're very committed to continue to try and move this tournament forward."

The title-sponsorship deal with Wyndham runs through 2010, and the contract with the PGA Tour and the television contract run through 2012.

The Wyndham was named the tour's most improved tournament at the end of last season. The PGA Tour was most impressed with the seamless transition from Forest Oaks Country Club (which is now for sale) to Sedgefield.

After better marketing and the move to Sedgefield, the next logical move would be to secure a better date on the schedule. The Wyndham will again be the final regular-season tournament in the FedEx Cup, and the big stars will sit out the tournament.

"We are continuing to lobby for a better date and that's something we would like to get one day," Brazil said. "One thing that we are very proud of is this will be the 70th year of this tournament in Greensboro.

"That means something to a lot of folks."

Haas shows early promise

Bill Haas usually fared better in the summer and the fall in his first three seasons on the PGA Tour, but that has changed.

Haas, 26, made his first two cuts, won $182,293 and was in 26th on the money list before last weekend's tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. He tied for ninth at the Sony Open and tied for 25th at the Bob Hope Classic.

Haas finished 104th on the money list last year for the second straight season and had winnings of just more than $1 million, the most he has made in one season since graduating from Wake Forest in 2004.

One reason for his good showing so far is driving accuracy. He hit fairways at nearly a 70-percent clip in his first two tournaments, after averaging 59 percent last season.

Webb Simpson, a rookie who graduated from Wake Forest last spring, has also played well. He was ninth on the money list through two tournaments after tying for ninth in the Sony Open and tying for fifth in the Bob Hope.

Around the green

The Carolinas PGA Section has awarded The First Tee of the Triad a $5,000 teaching grant, with head pro Mark Hartis of Reynolds Park presenting the check to Anne Marie Goslak, First Tee's executive director, and Jennifer Baldwin, the program director.

"We are so honored that we have the opportunity to support organizations that really do the work of the community," said Ron Schmid, the executive director of the Carolinas PGA Section.

The money will be used to provide learning facilities and educational programs….

Tickets are on sale for the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, scheduled for April 30-May 3. There are several ticket plans, and children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. More information is available at www.wachoviachampionship.com....

Jack Nicklaus has added to his collection of awards, winning the Golf Writers Association of America's Charlie Bartlett Award for his commitment to charitable giving through The Memorial and the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation. The award, named for the first secretary of the GWAA, is given to a pro golfer for unselfish contributions to society.

■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or
jdell@wsjournal.com.