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The Legends Reno-Tahoe Open is one of a dying breed: A PGA tournament Tiger Woods has absolutely no shot at winning, mostly because he’ll never, as far as anyone has the ability to discern, throw his self-logo’d hat in the ring.
That’s not a bad thing. It’s one of the decade-old tournament’s many charms, and more than enough reason to take a week every August to check it out. Over its history as an “encumbered” event played opposite a big-name, big-bucks World Golf Championship contest, the LRTO has welcomed several first-time victors into its winner’s circle, including 2008’s Hawaiian-reared champ, Parker McLachlin, popular 2006 top dog Will Mackenzie and back-to-back winner Vaughn Taylor — a trend that began with the very first winner in 1999, Notah Begay. It’s also hosted dozens of former major winners, from Fred Couples and Tom Kite to Mark O’Meara and Nick Faldo, and seen more than one future superstar show up, guys like Sergio Garcia and Anthony Kim. So, while the Tigers and Phils of the world don’t grace the West’s only regular summertime PGA Tour event with their presence, the men who do take a spot in the 132-player field (as well as one very high-profile woman, Michelle Wie, who competed in 2008), definitely rate — and never fail to put on a heck of a show. In fact, the tournament has ended in a playoff several times. You don’t always need a Tiger to turn heads.
There are other reasons to put this tournament in your see-it-in-person rotation. For one thing, its setting at the Jack Nicklaus-authored Montrêux Golf & Country Club is among the big show’s most beautiful and dramatic — with its broad fairways, seemingly greased greens, acres of mighty pines and serious elevation changes, an imaginative and generous fan could compare it to, say, Augusta National, with one big geographical difference known as the Sierra Nevada. Augusta might have Amen Corner, but it ain’t got the mountain magic. At nearly 11,000 feet in elevation, hulking Mount Rose frames many of the pros’ shots at Montrêux, which itself resides at 5,500 feet, more than enough altitude to make its two 600-plus-yard 5-par holes reachable in two by the majority of competitors. The views are as breathtaking as the quality of shots pulled off in the bright sub-alpine sunshine, and one hole in particular, No. 8 — which freefalls more than 150 feet from tee to stream-bisected fairway — ranks among the Tour’s most awe-inspiring 4-pars.
As you follow your favorite groups, breathe in the scent of Douglas fir and load up on batches of birdies, you’ll notice something else: the blessedly open and casual nature of this event. The crowds are smaller — again, that’s not a bad thing — and the opportunity to get close to some of the world’s top sticks, to get right in their “office,” so to speak, is constant and very real. And where else on Tour are you liable to run into a couple pros at the In-N-Out burger in Reno an hour after they’ve walked off the final green, or catch them splitting aces later that night in a downtown casino? As with so much that transpires every year on the Reno-Tahoe special events calendar, this $3 million golf tournament unfolds with a refreshing, friendly small town vibe, on a scenic stage that’s the match of any other venue on tour. That’s why it’s a player’s favorite, and deserves a shot at becoming one of your favorites, too.
Legends Reno-Tahoe Open
August 2-9, 2010
LegendsRenoTahoeOpen.com
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