CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In less than a week, one of the world’s most famous athletes will put his game to the test in the Queen City.
Tiger Woods committed to play in the Wells Fargo Championship late Thursday afternoon and no coincidence the news was met with a mad dash for tickets during rush hour.
Tournament executives told NBC Charlotte if you plan on attending but don’t have tickets, you better act fast.
One employee at ticket retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods said when the news came down, “it was like a switch flipped, and everyone wanted tickets.”
“I felt like we just landed our first round draft pick,” said Wells Fargo Championship director Gary Sobba.
Plagued by injury and winless on tour for almost five years, Tiger Woods is back and healthy. Woods is hoping to reclaim his reign as the biggest draw in golf.
“You’re going to have more fun,” Sobba said. “There’s going to be more people here. Certainly, it’s going to impact attendance positively.”
Tournament officials said they’ll sell tickets until they reach 35,000 sold per day, which would mark a sell-out.
Tickets are still available online.
Increased bussing, a tailor-made concessions plan and with 2,300 volunteers, Quail Hollow is ready for the show.
Brian Cox, a volunteer, is working this year’s tournament. A few weeks ago, an email was sent out to volunteers telling workers to be prepared for the “Tiger factor.”
“They said to get there sooner, and maybe even be prepared for it to take an extra hour to get parked, get to the course and get situated,” Cox said.
Nine of the top 14 players in the world are in the field but only Woods calls beefed-upd up preparations.
“The Masters champion, Patrick Reed, committed and there was no email about a Patrick Reed contingency,” Cox said. “Or even Phil Mickelson. There’s no Phil contingency.”
If you still need proof that Tiger is the biggest draw in golf, look no further than the ratings.
Aside from The Masters, Tiger’s second-place finish at the Valspar Championship earlier this spring was the highest rated and most watched golf telecast in almost four years.