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John Morris inked a deal with the PGA to host the Legends tour for the next five years.
John Morris inked a deal with the PGA to host the Legends tour for the next five years.

Year in Review: 4. Morris brings PGA tour to the Ozarks

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RIDGEDALE, FEB. 25—From a dormant clubhouse closed after a kitchen fire to a nationally telecast professional golf tournament in 90 days – John Morris made it a reality.

On Feb. 25, the Bass Pro Shops founder brought to his 800-acre Branson resort a governor, PGA commissioner, Hall of Fame golfers and a live television viewing audience to announce his company’s five-year title sponsorship for the PGA Tour’s Legends of Golf tournament.

“It’s a real opportunity and an honor to be able to host some of the greatest golfers of all time,” Morris said during the February press conference, of the golf professionals ages 50 and older playing the Legends tour. “It will bring a lot of exposure to our Ozarks. We can’t think of a grander way to introduce the Top of the Rock golf course.”

Months after Liberty Mutual dropped its longtime sponsorship rights and following negotiations with PGA officials, Morris struck a deal to hold the Champions Tour event at Big Cedar Lodge, and on March 31 Morelock-Ross Cos. partner Kirk Elmquist accepted the job as tournament director.

Dubbed the Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf Presented by Bass Pro Shops, the tournament was held June 2–8 with play across two golf courses: the recently acquired Branson Creek Golf Club, which Morris has renamed Buffalo Ridge, and Top of the Rock, the par 3 course closed for nine yearadjacent to Big Cedar. The site marks the first time a PGA-sanctioned event would be played on a par 3 course. Play aired on the Golf Channel to some 145 million households in more than 200 countries.

Legends player Tom Watson spent time on the grounds designing a Himalayan-modeled putting course at Top of the Rock. Other golfing greats, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, also had their fingerprints on the course – Palmer designed the practice area and driving range, and Nicklaus designed its original nine holes.

PGA Champions Tour golfers Fred Funk and Jeff Sluman held on for a one-stroke win June 8 on a rain-soaked course. With a $2.75 million purse, Funk and Sluman split the $460,000 first-place earnings, finishing at 20 under par, 159, in the 50-and-older PGA circuit. In the Legends field, for players 65 years and older, Jim Colbert and Jim Thorpe split the $120,000 winnings.

While ticket sales, sponsorships and event revenues were not disclosed by tournament officials – and the $2.75 million purse or the cost of construction renovations aren’t factored in – the roughly 14,000 tournament attendees generated an estimated $3.46 million for the local economy.[[In-content Ad]]

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