More Insights Regarding Success of Travelers Pro Golf Tournament
Posted by Ron Amodio on Mon, Jul 02, 2012 @ 04:57 AM
After reporting from the U.S. Open, sportscaster Ann Liguori returned to the east coast to cover the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. Ann continued her interview with Tournament Director Nathan Grube as well as conducted a new interview with Andy Bessett, Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers.
The interviews aired on Ann’s Saturday morning show, “Sports Innerview With Ann Liguori,” on www.peconicpublicbroadcasting.org -- heard globally...
PGA player Mark Leishman was this year’s winner. And it's interesting to note that this is the third consecutive year the Travelers tournament has produced a first-time winner on the Tour.
Below are more insights from Ann’s interviews with Andy and Nathan regarding the success of the Travelers Championship:
Sponsor Exemptions 
The Travelers Championship has made a point of giving exemptions to young amateurs planning to turn pro and tour pros needing more opportunities to play competitive golf. In turn, the players show their appreciation after achieving success on the Tour by committing to play in the tournament each year so their names can be used to promote the event. Two examples are Masters Champion Bubba Watson and U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson.
Time Management
Very important to players. So many of the players’ wives and children accompany them on their stay in Cromwell, Connecticut for the Travelers Championship. There’s plenty for their families to do while the tour players work on their games with their coaches at the TPC River Highlands' state of the art practice facility.
Charitable Giving
Since Travelers became the title sponsor of this pro golf tournament in 2007, they’ve raised over $5 million to support local charities (including the Hole in the Wall Gang camp founded by the late Paul Newman.)
Leverage PGA Tour Programs
By way of example, the PGA Tour launched a program known as Military Appreciation. Travelers added their signature to the program through Operation Shower – an initiative in which 30 military wives who are expecting were given new strollers to take home with them.
Celebrity Pro-Am
Celebrities such as Bill Murray, Doug Flutie, Sandy Koufax, Joe Pesci play in the pro-am because it helps the tournament raise money for local charities. In turn, their participation in the pro-am draws more people to the tournament which raises greater awareness for their charities.
For those celebrities who are not good golfers, next year Travelers will also host a celebrity pro-am miniature golf tournament as well as a celebrity 9 hole tournament on their Par-3 Course.
Note: Four of the holes on the Par 3 course are also used to support the First Tee program in the Cromwell area.
To access the audio of the interview in its entirety, go to: http://www.annliguori.com/radiodownloads.php.
To learn more about Ann Liguori’s Sports Innerview radio show and golf media reports from the Majors and the Ryder Cup, click on the buttons below:
