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Golf fans are enjoying more perks, as competition heats up on the course
At the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament last month, VIPs enjoyed special viewing areas, free food and drink, and even a personal golf cart
At this week’s U.S. Open, a $279 ticket offers exclusive benefits for fans
As the U.S. Open tees off this weekend, the world’s No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is on quite a tear.
And, increasingly, golf fans are watching history happen, all while enjoying some luxurious perks.
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In early May, the 28-year-old golf star might have looked at home in McKinney, Texas while playing The CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament — because he was.
Playing just north of his hometown of Dallas, Scheffler tied a PGA Tour record for lowest score in a 72-hole event at a ridiculous -31, and also achieved the largest winning margin the tour has seen in five years.
For casual fans of golf, who dined on Bibigo dumplings and browsed a first-ever PGA Tour showcase of Korean beauty thanks to tournament sponsor CJ Group, Scheffler’s achievement registered.
A lucky few — 150 patrons — got to watch it all unfold from a luxurious perch.
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CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament
Patrons paid $6,000 to enjoy the tournament with the 1968 Club.
This year, the tournament unveiled a new VIP ticket experience called the 1968 Club, valued at $6,000. The product quickly sold out, and only 75 packages of 2 were made available, organizers told PEOPLE.
The high-end experience gave patrons access to VIP viewing spaces, free food and drink, a personal golf cart to get to and from all venues, and opportunities to interact with players.
“In a sports-driven market, delivering a truly exclusive experience as an elevated option sets The CJ Cup Byron Nelson apart from all the other sports and event opportunities,” Jon Drago, tournament director at Salesmanship Club of Dallas, told PEOPLE.
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Those who purchased the package even got a special meet-and-greet with Trisha Yearwood.
Creating more ways to drive traffic to golf tournaments is nothing new, but those behind the events and ancillary companies are getting more creative as the game continues to evolve — and compete with the rival LIV Tour.
At the Open this weekend at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Penn., Scheffler fans (and others) are set to enjoy an “elevated experience,” where a $279 ticket offers patrons access to exclusive bars, seating options, unlimited food and more.
Even golfers get a few untraditional gifts, in addition to prize money. At the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth over Memorial Day weekend, Scheffler finished fourth and just missed out on taking home his own trophy of sorts.
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Each year, the title sponsor gives the winner a custom car. This year’s Champion’s Prize was a 1992 Schwab Defender, which Ben Griffin proudly drove off in, along with his first solo win on the PGA Tour.
Read the original article on People
