The biggest amateur golf tournament in the world is underway on the Grand Strand.
The Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship kicked off Monday at 34 area golf courses, with more than 3,000 players participating. Sports Illustrated is sponsoring the event for the first time this year and will feature the tournament in its magazine and web sites.
The players say, winning the tournament isn't the main reason they keep coming back. "It's the comraderie with everybody that you get to meet from different parts of the world, and the United States as well. The golf course people down here are so gracious to us and they offer their courses to us to play and they're real good, and it's just a lot of fun to play golf at a different location," said Tim Shealy, Columbia, SC.
The tournament is expected to have about a $10 million economic impact on the Grand Strand.
After four rounds, the World Championship round is played on Friday. It's the 27th year for the event.
