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The Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield this week is more than a breath of fresh air in the oppressive, late-summer heat.

It carries on a 71-year tradition of funding charitable groups, promoting regionalism and getting national media exposure. But, most of all, the PGA Tour stop here gives golf enthusiasts the opportunity to see many of their favorite golfers in action.

The long and winding road since Sam Snead won the inaugural Greater Greensboro Open in 1938 — the first of his eight — occasionally has been bumpy. Sponsors have come and gone. And over the many decades, the pros have teed off at Starmount, Sedgefield and Forest Oaks.

At times, the weather hasn’t cooperated. For most of its life, the tourney was an early spring event. Too early in 1940 when three inches of snow suspended play. More of the same in 1987. Early April weather in the Piedmont can be coldly unpredictable.

But late-August dates run the risk of stifling humidity, thunderstorms and temperatures approaching triple digits. So far, this year’s forecast looks good — if Hurricane Bill stays well out in the Atlantic, as predicted.

Tournament officials would prefer a May date, and that could happen. Nothing is certain beyond this year for the Wyndham or the tour. There will be negotiations with sponsoring Wyndham Worldwide, which has a contract through 2010 with a two-year option, and the PGA.

Tournaments nationwide have been adversely affected by the economic downturn. Hard-pressed sponsoring automakers and financial institutions have had to retrench, pulling the plug on major sporting events. 

Should there be a schedule reshuffling, Greensboro can make a strong case for being heard. The PGA Tour named the local event the most improved in 2008 following the return to Sedgefield. An estimated 80,000 fans showed, 30,000 more than the year before at Forest Oaks. The final two days were sold out.

Equally impressive is the success in selling out corporate boxes. Triad businesses increasingly are seeing the value in combining sports with courting clients and rewarding employees.

No matter when the pros and galleries descend on Sedgefield, the region’s economy will benefit. Some estimates set the impact at nearly $30 million. That translates into a welcome mini-stimulus plan for local restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues.

The city and Piedmont can look back proudly at the tournament’s tradition and perseverance. Yet new challenges are inevitable. No matter who has been the sponsor, under what name, when or where, our golf tournament has for years helped define who we are.