Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2019 - 19

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TPC TWIN CITIES HOLE 18
TPC TWIN CITIES HOLE 18
when it's over, they're worn out-they've
probably played two or three weeks in a
row, and they take a little break before
gearing up for the next one. That gearing
up for the next major is really a big
deal for the 3M Open. Leading up to the
British Open, you are going to get all the
top players wanting to play somewhere
and a lot of them are going to choose
Minneapolis. "
Lehman,
winner of the 2019
Mitsubishi Electric Championship on
the Champions Tour in January, could
play the 3M Open via an exemption
this season (Cavner says he will extend
one-and another to Minnesotan Tim
Herron). In the meantime, Lehman's
spent plenty of time working at TPC
Twin Cities. Yet, he did not take a dime
for his efforts in renovating the course.
" I really like the course; I really liked
the work we did the first time around, "
Lehman explains. " I've played it a lot,
so I have some good ideas and a player's
perspective on what needs to happen
ith seven events on the PGA
and Champions tours, Pro Links
Sports Management CEO Hollis
Cavner knows what's coming here in
July. Like the 3M Championship on
steroids, the 3M Open crowds should
double, according to Cavner, and
the entire event has a $20 million
budget.
" It's night-and-day different, " Cavner
says. " The 3M Championship was
a big event. This event is about
three times the size of that.
With network TV coverage,
we'll be seen in a billion
homes, basically. This is big
HOLLIS
CAVNER
time. "
The 3M Championship
donated more than a million dollars
to charity annually over its
26 years, and Cavner says PGA Tour
tournaments can generate $2-$10
million each year.
The increase in security for the
PHIL
MICKELSON
to challenge guys more. It's my home
state, and I think the world of Hollis, so
I wanted to do something nice for him
and for Minnesota golf for all the kindness
they've shown me over the years. It's
a small way of giving back. "
Tom Lehman and Minnesota golf-
another great combination. MG
event also gives you an idea of the
scope. " On security alone, we have
about 15 different agencies in every
meeting, including U.S. Secret Service,
Homeland Security, the FBI-every
agency with initials that you could
ever think of is there, " he says. " [For
the 3M Championship] we dealt with
the City of Blaine and the County and
that was about it. The security alone
costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It really is crazy, to be honest with
you, but it's what we signed on for. "
The PGA Tour pros require
increased security, as do the celebrities
on hand, such as the Zac Brown
Band, who will be performing. There
will also be a large fireworks display,
and Cavner is enlisting an army of
food trucks for the week, creating a
big wine garden and holding a craft
beer competition (revelers can taste
different brews and vote for their
favorites on their smartphones).
" This is going to be the community
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event, the state event, and we want
everyone to come out, " Cavner says.
" We don't care if they like golf or not.
Let's get them out there and we can
expose them to golf. Maybe we can
convert them. It's about a lot more
than golf. This is a happening. "
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Summer 2019 MINNESOTAGOLFER
19
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Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2019

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