Nicklauses, Players help spice up Nationwide event

Jack Nicklaus hit his birdie putt on the fifth hole during the first round of the Nationwide Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

"I don't think it's any secret or surprise, but we asked Mr. [Arnold] Palmer to play" with his grandson, Sam Saunders, McGrath said this week.

Saunders was in high school, though, so Palmer couldn't join his longtime rivals, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, at The Cliffs courses this week.

But McGrath says they'll keep asking Palmer and other well-known golf names to build on an idea Nicklaus and his four sons -- Jackie, Steve, Michael and Gary -- started here a year ago.

Player joins his amateur partner, son Marc.

Nicklaus shot a 2-under 69, five shots behind leaders Shane Bertsch, Bradley Hughes and Tony Carolan after Thursday's opening round. Player finished at 73, 2-over on the par-71 Keowee Vineyards course.

The event already has its own Nationwide niche -- the only one to invite celebrities like actor Kevin Costner, football coach Lou Holtz and TV siren Catherine Bell alongside the up-and-coming golfers. It's purse of $600,000 is one of the top three on tour.

McGrath sees a potential fan jackpot of famous golfers who might want to join the family fun.

"How would it fit if a Fuzzy Zoeller and his daughter [Gretchen] came to play," McGrath said. "We'd love to extend an invitation to him."

Zoeller's daughter is on the College of Charleston's golf team.

Nicklaus and his family certainly helped the bottom line with their 2003 appearance. The BMW Charity Pro-Am donated $675,000 to South Carolina charities last year, $100,000 more than the year before.

About the only thing that went wrong -- at least in Nicklaus' eyes -- was that the Golden Bear was the only one of his clan who played in Sunday's final round. He and son Steve, Nicklaus' amateur partner, won the pro-am title that they're defending this week.

Player says he talked to Nicklaus after last year's BMW event and was told what a good time it was. "I'd really love if you got an invitation," Player remembered Nicklaus saying.

Player was instantly enthralled.

"You've really got the formula here," said the 68-year-old Hall-of-Famer. "To get to play in a golf tournament with your son is a thrill."

Player ticked off a list of golfing draws who might be enticed in years to come, like Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Dave Stockton.

McGrath was listening.

"How do we marry the Nationwide players with the Champions Tour players in some form or fashion," McGrath said. "We're not there yet. We're talking about it."

McGrath said his group has talked to the PGA Tour how best to expand while not overshadowing tournaments going on the same week, like the Bruno's Memorial Classic in Hoover, Ala.

Nicklaus says the father-son angle gains publicity and crowds for the BMW Charity Pro-Am. But he doesn't see family golf becoming a runaway trend here or on the Nationwide Tour.

He said he needed exemptions the past two years to play and take a spot that would've gone to someone likely building a career. Also, Nicklaus was torn between playing the Bruno's event with his Champions colleagues or the PGA Tour's HP Classic of New Orleans on Nicklaus' own English Turn's Golf and Country Club.

"It's quite obvious why Gary and I are here," Nicklaus said. "It's an opportunity for this event to raise money and awareness."

Bill Calfee, senior vice president and chief operating officer for the Nationwide Tour, said he was happy to have Nicklaus and Player this week.

"But I think in terms of growing that where we have a lot of players on the PGA Tour or Champions Tour, I don't think that's something we want to do," he said.

McGrath thinks there's a good middle ground for all involved. "Having the Nationwide Tour players with celebrities and legends brings a whole new dimension to something that doesn't exist out there," he said.