The Barbasol Championship at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika brought many people to the Plains, despite scorching heat.
Auburn Mayor Bill Ham Jr. said there were a lot of people in town the weeks leading up to the tournament, with players and caddies coming the week of the tournament.
“Restaurants and hotels were the biggest beneficiaries,” Ham said.
Ham said the estimated impact of the tournament was $25 million, but it is too soon to have an exact number.
John Wild, president of the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau, said they will have exact numbers in approximately one week.
“We are eagerly awaiting to see that looks like,” Wild said.
Former Tigers’ men’s golfer Blayne Barber made it the furthest in the Championship, but failed to run down the leaders in the final round on Sunday, July 19.
Despite his loss, Barber said he enjoyed the contingent of Auburn fans who came out to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National last week.
“The amount of people that came out and watched every day was just awesome,” Barber said. “[I’m] very thankful for everyone that came out, a lot of ‘War Eagle’ and saying ‘good shot.’”
According to Barber, the support he received from local fans was the key to his success.
“It was great,” Barber said. “Such a great week to be at home and play in front of so many people that I love and friends and family and local support. It normally seems like when you play in front of a bunch of support that you play well. Maybe it’s a comfort level. It can add pressure, for sure, but I think it just allowed me to enjoy the week.”
Wild said there was a huge impact, especially for the time of year.
“We definitely saw a huge impact compared to a typical July,” Wild said.
Wild said spouses and families of players enjoyed the area, while the players concentrated on the tournament.
He said he believed Acre restaurant, specifically, benefitted.
The tourism bureau helped various people affiliated with the tournament find hotels for the tournament.
They stayed at hotels across the area.
“Not everyone stayed at major franchises ... it really spread business throughout the area,” Wild said.
Bill Lang, director of public relations at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and Resort Collection, said the Championship provided a way for locals to watch professional athletes from all over the world compete.
The athletes also got to experience Auburn.
“[The tournament] showcased things specific to the area,” Lang said.
According to Ham, the Barbasol Championship will be on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail for the next four years.
“[Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and I] are very hopeful that we’ll be successful in getting it all four years,” Ham said.
Lang said Grand National was designed for PGA TOUR events.
He said he would be surprised if there was not another one there.
Evan McCullers contributed to this report.
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