You may prefer to watch John Cook or Rick Fehr or Peter Jacobsen or Jeff Sluman when the Fred Couples Wells Fargo Invitational begins on Monday at the Golf Club at Newcastle.
But take a look at Mike Early. He will be the club pro with the smile on his face, the happiest guy to be here.
The head pro at the nine-hole Port Townsend Golf Club will compete with the touring pros in the two-day invitational and hopes to get a chance to play with his idol, Craig Stadler.
It was Couples' idea to include one local pro in the tournament. Jeff Gove nearly won the tournament in 1996 when it was held at Overlake Country Club. Early won the TearDrop Qualifier at Indian Summer on June 10 to earn entry into the Couples event. He shot a 69 to edge Chris Mitchell and Jeff Marsh, who both shot 70.
``I don't care how I play,'' Early said. ``My life dream (has been) to play with Craig Stadler. I don't care if I shoot 90-90. If I can play with Stadler one day, it will be worth it. That would be the highlight of my career right there.''
Early is guaranteed to earn $15,000 in the Couples tournament, $5,000 of which will be given to the Junior Golf Fund.
After not holding an exhibition tournament last year so as not to conflict with the PGA Championship at Sahalee, Couples returns this year to Newcastle, which he helped design as a course consultant.
``I hear it's in beautiful shape,'' said Couples, who will tune up with a practice round at Newcastle tomorrow.
The 23 pros who will play are not the marquee names normally associated with this tournament. Couples said it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract players to exhibition tournaments because of other commitments and priorities.
``It's very hard. I can relate,'' he said. ``Would it be nice to have a Nick Price or Greg Norman? Sure. But it's a great field. Before, we had unbelievable fields.''
In addition to the 36-hole tournament, the Fox Sports Net Northwest Shootout will take place on Tuesday at 9 a.m. Couples, Stadler, Peter Jacobsen and Scott McCarron will participate along with Sonics forward Detlef Schrempf, former Sonic All-Star Jack Sikma, Sonics broadcaster Kevin Calabro and former Husky kicker Chuck Nelson.
Tickets to the tournament are available at Nordstrom stores and Wells Fargo branches. They are also available through the tournament office at 206-382-2829 or on the website, www.fredcouplesinvitation.com.
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