JACKSONVILLE (Fla.) — Two tournaments located less than 90 miles from each other have developed a symbiotic relation, largely due to the friendship between the two hosts.
The stakes are different and they’re playing on different tours. They have a few commonalities: two of the best PGA Tour players in their generation are hosting them, the clubhouses and old-school golf courses offer stunning views of water and the focus is on the fans.
The Constellation Furyk & friends, a PGA Tour Champions tournament, began this week at the Timuquana Country Club. The tournament is in its third season and was voted by Champions Tour members as the best experience of the year last December. Jim Furyk and Tabitha, a husband and wife team who are both 17-time PGA Tour winners and 2003 U.S. Open Champions, host the tournament.
The 14th RSM Classic, which will take place at the Sea Island Club in St. Simons Island (Ga.) on November 16, is just 40 days after Sunday’s final putt. The PGA Tour tournament began in 2010, and it has become a fall staple. The host is World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III. He won the 1997 PGA and 1992 and 2003 Players Championships, as well as 21 PGA Tour titles.
Both events are not major players in the world of golf. They may be more relaxed and casual, which appeals to players who have already been through a lot this season, with major championships like the FedEx Cup, as well as international match play tournaments.
Schwab Cup Fall and FedEx Fall
Furyk & Friends has a special late-season cachet. There are only two tournaments remaining in the PGA Tour Champions Schwab Cup race for players to qualify for the Schwab Cup playoffs. The stars are in place, including Steve Stricker (defending Furyk Champion), Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer. Stephen Ames, Steven Alker, and Stephen Ames, and they will be able to compete at the bottom.
The tournament host, at No. Jason Bohn is only $2,037 ahead of 72.
The RSM Classic will be the final event in “FedEx Cup Fall,” a competitive format that was introduced for the PGA Tour. Players who did not finish among the top 70, which qualified them for FedEx Cup playoffs, have seven tournaments left to earn points and stay within the top 125 to keep their PGA Tour cards for 2024.
Jim Furyk and caddie Mike “Fluff’ Cowan talk ahead of the Constellation Furyk&Friends 2021 at the Timuquana Country Club, in Jacksonville, Florida. Photo by Bob Self/Florida Times-Union
Best practices are shared by tournaments
Love added that the tournaments share another trait: they freely borrow ideas from each other, without any ill will. They also go after tournament organizers with experience.
Love explained that “Jim saw us as a well-run event because we stole from people such as [Quail Club president] Johnny Harris, and the PGA Tour. We jumped in right away with good operations.” “Jim and Tab did the exact same thing. They went and found the correct people [such tournament director Adam Renfroe who ran the Web.com Tour Championship]. The Tour’s support is a big help.
Furyk is not shy about praising the PGA Tour Champions and the PGA Tour for helping to transform the tournament from its two-day pro am at Sawgrass Country Club in 2010-2020 into the Champions Tour schedule.
Furyk said that it was wonderful to have [PGA Tour Commissioner] Jay Monahan, and [Champions Tour President] Miller Brady stamp their approval. They let us find Constellation Golf Club and Timuquana. “It may seem like a huge mountain to climb, but it passes so quickly… We have a lot fun with it,” Furyk said. It’s an effort of love, and I am very proud of Tab and the team. “We have a small team, but they work hard all year.”
Furyk & Friends is staffed by six people including Renfroe Furyk and Tabitha Furyk.
Love’s structure for the RSM Classic looks similar. Mark Whatley, his brother, is the executive director. Lexie Whatley works as the event and merchandise coordinator. Love is one of ten people on the tournament staff, but he not only plays in it but also vacuums the floor under each merchandise tent to help his daughter finish every night.
Both tournaments have raised money for charity with a tireless effort. In its first 13 years, the RSM Classic raised over $35 million for charity. Furyk & Friends raised $2.5 million.
Steve Stricker, Nicki Stricker, Tabitha Furyk and Jim Furyk celebrate after Steve Stricker wins the 2022 Constellation Furyk&Friends at Timuquana Country Club, Jacksonville, Florida. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images (Photo)
Enjoy the outdoors without ropes
There are also activities outside the ropes for fans. Both offer a variety of hospitality venues both public and private. Since the games are in the fall, they don’t try to compete with college football or the NFL.
The large courtyard, located behind the 18th hole at Sea Island, has a huge screen that broadcasts the game of the day as well as golf on both Saturday and Sunday. On the Seaside course’s back nine, there is a similar sports bar.
Furyk & Friends’ Public Tailgate Village offers multiple TVs for Jaguars fans in London to catch the game. It opens early on Sunday to allow them to enjoy the Buffalo Bills game.
The Kid Zone has a playground and a petting-zoo. No one will stop kids from climbing the stately trees in Timuquana.
Love said, “I want to copy everything they do.” “They build more than we do, and they sell more.” It’s incredible. It’s incredible. My granddaughters are coming back to the Kid Zone because they had a great time last year. Every tournament does little things like this, and they look at the success of other tournaments. We’re doing it with Jim and Tab.”
Both tournaments feature concerts. Both tournaments have successful pro-ams. Both take care of their players.
Listening to the Players
Ernie Els stated, “We all know what works because we’ve played many tournaments around the world and on the PGA Tour. We also know the best strategies.” “They [Furyk, his wife and their team] listen to players. They listened to players for the first two years, and then went on from there. It’s been an amazing experience from the very beginning. It helps that the venue is so nice. “Everything works.”
The RSM Classic is a favorite of PGA Tour players and their families. It’s a beautiful resort in the Golden Isles.
Zach Johnson, last year, said “It gets even better every year.” “The community rallies around it every year. Everyone is just so excited for RSM Week. The Tour, Sea Island and RSM are all in perfect harmony. “That’s the Tour.”
Furyk believes that the key to a successful tournament is giving hard-core golfers what they want and creating a party atmosphere with casual fans.
He said, “It is really about getting people to come out.” The golf tournament is the vehicle.
