PGA Tour becoming a reality for Mohawk Valley - Monday, July 16, 2007
The thought was so outrageous that people dismissed it immediately. Sure, the Oneida Indian Nation did the impossible last year by pulling together a PGA golf tournament in two weeks. And PGA Tour officials were duly impressed, so much so that they awarded a 2007 PGA Tour stop to Atunyote Golf Club. But the reality of the excitement that's on the way in September really didn't hit home until recently when several PGA Tour players said they plan to play the Turning Stone Resort Championship. There's Chris DiMarco, a two-time member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team. And Fred Funk, an eight-time PGA Tour winner. The thought recurs: Could Tiger Woods actually come to Central New York? With two months to go before the Championship, the odds are still long. But as recently as two weeks ago, Oneida Indian Nation chief executive officer Ray Halbritter got to walk around the links with Woods in Bethesda, Md. Halbritter had Woods' ear thanks to NotahBegay III, the Turning Stone Championship's ambassador and Woods' college roommate at Stanford. In reality, Begay's title might as well be "vice president in charge of bringing Tiger to Turning Stone." Arguably the most popular athlete of this generation, Woods picks his tournaments carefully these days. Coming to Turning Stone would mean Tiger could play in as many as six tournaments in a row - four FedEx Cup playoff events preceeding Turning Stone and the Presidents Cup the week after. But the Presidents Cup is in Montreal, just a short flight away... and this is a chance for Woods to play a new course... and Woods used to play meaningful events well into October under the PGA's old schedule. The thought appears again. The success of this tournament does not depend on Tiger. Halbritter and Co. showed last year they are more than capable of putting on a top-flight show. But if Woods comes, it will be the biggest sporting event ever to grace our little green corner of the world. Thanks, Tiger... and Ray. If nothing else, you've given us reason to believe.
