06:37 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 3, 2006

By MARIA KOTULA / 6NEWS
E-mail Maria: MKotula@WCNC.com

6NEWS

The people who live in this Quail Hollow Country Club home can watch the Wachovia Championship from their bedroom window.

To live on a golf course is a dream for many. And even better for those who live on one that draws in the likes of Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and Vijay Singh.

There are many Charlotteans who get to watch the Wachovia Championship without having to buy tickets.

For most people finding a shaded area of grass and a folding chair, well that's the lap of luxury for watching the Wachovia Championship. But there's a small percent of golf fans who can watch the golfers from their own backyard. They can even watch in their pajamas if they want.

Most golf fans know the drill. Park at the shuttle lot, hop in the van, walk up the hill, wait in line and elbow your way through the crowd.

But for Tripp and Lori Cauthen it's just a matter of rolling out of bed and heading to the backyard.

“We're on the fourth right here. The number four green and number five tee box,” Tripp Cauthen said.

“We actually had our chairs out here real early this morning and Phil Mickelson came through, Sergio Garcia came through,” Lori Cauthen said.

The Cauthen's bought the 7,000 square foot house from a friend; NASCAR team owner Felix Sabates wanted to move to hole 14.

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“Last year, Felix said someone came running off the golf course and asked if they could use the bathroom real quick. I think he actually said no,” Tripp Cauthen said.

The price range for the golf neighborhood is somewhere between $3.5 million and $6 million.

The Cauthens are not golfers, but they said seeing NFL quarterback Peyton Manning hit the ball was priceless.

“His drive was longer than all the professional drive,” Tripp Cauthen said.

They've heard some neighbors leave during Wachovia week.

“There was something in our mailbox about wanting to rent the house one day, but I threw it in the trash can,” Lori Cauthen said. “We have friends on the golf course that'll just walk on over. We have food set-up, drinks, set-up a television out here, so the house is going to be open.”

The Cauthens told 6NEWS the traffic has not been that bad getting into their neighborhood. There's a pass system they use during the Wachovia. They use their pass to get in and out and give them to friends who are coming over.