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GREENSBORO — Now that the latest version of the Wyndham Championship is history, the question on everyone's mind is: Where does the Wyndham go from here?

After all, how do you top one of the most exciting tournaments in years? How do you replicate all those people craning their collective necks for a glimpse at Ryan Moore's winning putt? How do you improve upon a tournament that sold out in an economy that has bottomed out?

And just as important: How does Sergio's bunker shot not go in?

The morning after a Sunday final that was dripping in drama still basking in what was the most successful tournament by any measure in Greensboro's long history of professional golf.

"It was just unbelievable, one of the best finishes we've had in a long time, and I think one of the best on the (PGA) Tour this year," said tournament director Mark Brazil.

Now comes the hard part: Convincing Wyndham Worldwide leaders to pony up for an additional four years.

The hotel and resort company's contract with the PGA Tour expires after next year. Wyndham Worldwide has an option to extend its arrangement for two more years, but PGA Tour executives and tournament chairman Bobby Long will press the company in the coming months to sign a deal though 2014.

If good theater were a commodity, Wyndham chairman Steve Holmes would have struck a deal Sunday on the 18th green. But ultimately Holmes' decision will be based on something more tangible: Is the $26 million that comes with hosting a professional golf tournament a value for Wyndham?

Holmes knows a new four-year deal will give Wyndham more leverage in seeking a better date — something he and Long both want for the tournament.

Holmes has declined to discuss Wyndham's interest beyond 2010, but sources over the weekend said some of the company's top leaders are interested in a four-year deal if Finchem can guarantee a desirable date.

Long has repeatedly said a week in late May would be ideal for the course and fans, but he also hasn't ruled out a proposal made by tour commissioner Tim Finchem that would allow smaller tournaments to rotate through different dates.

Finchem, who met with Holmes and Long last week at Sedgefield, said a so-called flexible schedule would help tournaments just before or immediately after a major — the Wyndham directly follows the PGA Championship — attract a better crop of players.

Any changes, however, will not take place until the tour's current television agreement is renewed in 2013.

Long might not be willing to be so patient. After all, there are several tournaments out there in danger of falling off the tour schedule.

Even the Quail Hollow Championship, the tournament others grade themselves by, is rumored to be dropping out after 2014. Club officials (read: Johnny Harris) are pondering making a run for a major, perhaps a PGA Championship. That would unlock a precious May date, but sources say Tiger Woods' tournament, the AT&T National, has first dibs at that week.

Long would not discuss specific dates, but rest assured he's done just that with Finchem.

He has what many in Ponte Vedra believe is the model of the future of a PGA Tour event: A board of directors with deep pockets and even deeper influence willing to leave the actual day-to-day operation to those who know golf.

"Nobody else (on tour) can touch us with where we are," said Long in a rare form of public swagger. "We're not in any way shape or form resting on what we did and we won't rest until we're the best tournament out there," he said. "That includes a new date."

In another life, Long surely was a high school teacher. He loves assigning grades to the Wyndham, and he accepts nothing less than an "A++" from the various components that make a tournament. Indeed, even after an extended day of golf — 29 holes were played Sunday — Long and Brazil met Sunday night to discuss improvements.

A new date would not only get the Wyndham closer to Long's goal, it would help Wyndham Worldwide market its tournament to its valued clients. Sources said Wyndham executives were disappointed that many of their top clients turned down invitations to come to Greensboro last week because the tournament was at the end of summer and was bumping up to the start of school.

Moore's victory didn't help things given that some Wyndham officials were privately rooting for Garcia — seriously, can someone explain how that shot did not go in? — on Sunday.

RCI, a holding of Wyndham, has 160 resorts in Spain, Garcia's homeland, and more than 700 properties from Mexico through South America. The company would have loved an international golfer of Garcia's stature to have won their tournament.

When Garcia's blast from the bunker curled away leaving only the ball's shadow in the hole, Holmes grimaced — as did most of the massive gallery.

Still Moore, who won in a three-hole, sudden-death playoff over Kevin Stadler and Jason Bohn, is a well-liked golfer who could easily win one or two more tournaments by the time the Wyndham rolls around next year. And Moore, a good friend of Brazil since he was an amateur, is certain to defend his title next year. Had Garcia won, there were no guarantees he'd be back.

"We got a great winner who's going to come back for years and years," Brazil said.

How successful was the Wyndham on the financial side? Brazil anticipates corporate sponsorship sales will match or exceed last year's $2 million figure. A whirlwind weekend in which Triad companies were still requesting more tickets for the final two rounds boosted sales.

And for the second straight year, Brazil said the Wyndham sold out of all 25,000 Sunday tickets. Tournament officials also honored tickets from Saturday's washed-our third round meaning about 35,000 attended Sunday's final round.

"When you factor in the weather and the leaderboard, it was the most glorious Sunday I've ever been associated with," Brazil said.

And as the Sunday leaders marched down the back nine, their fortunes rising and falling with each shot, fans were hard pressed to argue.

Even Long, who demands perfection from his tournament, was proud of the week that was. "Wasn't it kind of magical?" he asked. "I thought we put on a good tournament last year, but this one? This one was even better."

Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or robert.bell@news-record.com