DECATUR, Ala. — The summer tradition that's known as the Daikin Spirit of America Amateur Golf Tournament is back in Decatur. After getting canceled last year, Burningtree Country Club is opening up its doors for the event next week.
The tournament begins next Wednesday and will feature 120 players including Matt Gouregeot and Mac Murphy.
There won't be any returning champs attempting to defend a title this year.
Despite that, Golf Pro Colby Odom says that he aims to have some of the best amateurs in the world participating.
"To watch these guys, I guess you would say live their dream, which is what, I think every individual here is wanting to do," says Colby Odom. "Everybody wants to play professional golf. There's only a select few that make it. That's why we have a committee and a selection process that determines which golfers will play and which ones will not. We want to make sure we have the best amateur golfers in the state as well as in the United States here at this event this year."
There are a number of changes to the course this year. For the returning players, the course will be noticeably tighter in certain areas.
The out of bounds stakes have been brought in significantly on hole 2, hole 8, hole 16, and hole 17.
So what does that mean for the golfers? Precision and accuracy is key to success.
"For those of the players who have played here in the past, it's going to be a little different," says Odom. "It's going to keep them from wanting to cut over some corners and take some aggressive routes. It makes them want to play smart, I guess you can say. Yes, playing smart takes the big number out of the game. The doubles, the triples and so forth, but it's always a risk/reward as well. I kind of like to hit it long and hit it hard myself. I'm that aggressive guy but sometimes that doesn't always work out. They're really going to have to play strategic and that's really the whole plan of this week."