GREENSBORO -- The Wyndham Championship landed its first major commitment this summer from a golfer who knows a thing or two about majors: U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover.
Four days removed from winning the year's second major, Glover said Friday he will "definitely" play in Greensboro this August -- a coup for a tournament trying to improve its lot in the Triad and the PGA Tour.
"It's a home game for me," said Glover, after the second round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut. "I love the golf course, I like being around my family. I like it there. I like the tournament."
Glover grew up and lives in South Carolina, but he spent many summer vacations in Greensboro visiting family and is fond of Sedgefield Country Club, where the tournament will be played Aug. 20-23. He has an uncle who lives in Jamestown, barely 10 minutes from Sedgefield.
A week ago, landing Glover wouldn't have been shocking; he's played here the last five years.
But a week ago Glover wasn't the U.S. Open champion.
The last time a reigning major winner graced Greensboro with his presence that same year was in 2003, when U.S. Open champ Jim Furyk played here in the fall.
Wyndham officials were ecstatic when told of Glover's commitment.
"That's huge for us, absolutely huge," said tournament director Mark Brazil, adding that he will scramble to expand the tournament's advertising campaign to include Glover.
Glover and Brazil have know each other for years. The two go back to when Brazil worked for the American Junior Golf Association and Glover was a junior golfer. Brazil said he suspected Glover might play in Greensboro.
"But I had my concerns," Brazil said.
Blame it on the tournament's lousy place on the tour's calendar. Wyndham's August date comes after the PGA Championship. For golf's biggest names -- many will have already played five straight weeks starting with the British Open -- the Wyndham is a chance to take the week off and rest for the four-week FedEx Cup playoffs.
This year, a few marquee golfers -- especially international players -- might give the Wyndham a second look. Brazil believes Glover's decision validates the Wyndham's resurgence. Tour officials named it the most improved event last year. Its return to Sedgefield was a hit with fans -- it sold out over the weekend -- and with players.
"The word got out on us as a tournament last year," Brazil said. "And when the U.S. Open champ says he's coming I think a lot of (golfers) start to look at us where a year ago they might not."
Glover isn't worried about FedEx points -- his win at Bethpage Black moved him up from 26th to ninth -- or playing long stretches of golf deep into the summer. After a whirlwind tour of New York that included appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and Live With Regis and Kelly, Glover is glad to be back playing golf.
"It's nice to get back on the course, inside the ropes and to keep score, to be honest," he said. "That whole celebrity thing ... that ain't me."
Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or robert.bell@news-record.com
When: Aug. 20-23
Where: Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro
Tickets: Patron badge or book -- $70 for all week. Good-any-day ticket -- $35. Individual daily ticket, Thursday-Sunday -- $25. Practice day ticket, Tuesday or Wednesday -- $10
Information: 379-1570
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