Local stop hits 25th year

Yes, it's still a professional golf tournament. But the new management group that runs the Frys.com Open wants it to be more.

With the Shriners Hospital for Children adding a sizable amount of financial support (anywhere from $2 million to $5 million), reasonable ticket prices, a gathering place for hard-core and casual fans, and a better-than-expected field, the PGA Tour comes to Las Vegas for the 25th year.

First-year director Ian Knight remains excited despite fighting an uphill battle to get people to attend.

"We're working very hard to make this a fun event for the players and spectators alike. We want to build this back with the community," he said.

Knight hopes low admission prices (a grounds pass is $5), good weather (it's supposed to be in the mid-80s most of the tournament) and a field bolstered by Mike Weir and Mark Calcavecchia, will help attendance surpass last year's 11,000.

"I think we can do 20,000, 25,000, I really do," he said.

Knight is hoping "The Hill" -- a 22,000 square-foot area offering views of the three finishing holes and that will have bars, food, entertainment and televisions tuned to football as well as golf -- will entice people to come out.

"We're trying to create the same excitement as the 16th (hole) at Scottsdale," Knight said, referring to the rowdy party zone at the FBR Open in Arizona.

Admission to The Hill is $10. So for $15, fans can walk the course if they want, then come to The Hill, Knight said.

Knight also hopes to tap into the Nellis Air Force Base community. The tournament is offering free admission to all active military personnel and their families. Also, children 12 and under will be admitted for free.

The Golf Channel will provide three hours of daily live coverage and 24 hours total. For those planning to attend, the tournament has moved parking from the Suncoast and J.W. Marriott to a lot at Vegas Drive and Durango Drive. Shuttle buses will run from 6 a.m. until well after the conclusion of play each day. There also will be free transportation to TPC at The Canyons, the other course being used during the first two rounds.

Although Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson won't play in Las Vegas this week, Knight said late additions have bolstered what already was a competitive field.

"We may have the strongest field in the Fall Series,'' he said. ''For Mike Weir to come here after he beat Tiger in the Presidents Cup is big for us."

Still, only 10 of the top-50 money winners on the PGA Tour will play, led by Mark Calcavecchia, who is 13th with $2,925,332.

But with the Shriners' five-year commitment to the event, Knight said he sees this week as the starting point for a secure future.

"We know there's a lot of golf fans in Las Vegas,'' Knight said. ''It's our job to ... try to bring in new fans and grow the tournament. It's not going to happen overnight, but we're going to do our best to make this work here."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.