The fascination with long drive competitions picked up considerable momentum in 2022 when former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau opted to make a return visit to the final held in Mesquite NV and nearly claimed the overall title with a runner-up finish.
Long drive competitions have been around the golf scene for a number of years and one of the most prized possessions in the long and storied career of Jack Nicklaus is the money clip he received in winning the long drive competition conducted during the 1963 PGA Championship.
The 18-time major champion produced a prodigious tee shot of 341 yards and that record held until it was eclipsed by Evan "Big Cat" Williams when competing in a resurrected long drive contest conducted at the PGA Championship played at Pebble Beach in 1977 with a drive of 353 yards.
The coming together of the various organizations that have staged long drive competitions is now under one roof -- GF Sports & Entertainment. A full slate of events is planned for this year with the championship finals slated for Atlanta.
Getting the lowdown on what's planned is an interview with Shawn Tilger, the point person behind the efforts planned for this year.
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Who is Shawn Tilger?
Leads GF Sports & Entertainment, a global events and operations company that elevates the experience of live sports, entertainment, and interactive events.
The company owns two of the ATP Tour’s longest running American tennis tournaments, the Dallas Open and the Atlanta Open, as well as the National Lacrosse League’s New York Riptide. GF Sports & Entertainment also incubates new and emerging sport concepts, including the recently completed purchase of World Long Drive, an international long drive tour, as well as Wolf Pack Ninjas, which operates ninja-focused events globally.
The Tilger Story
Like so many others, I had a plan. And then that plan shifted. An injury in my younger years ended my playing career, but it began a new journey, one I could have never envisioned.
I found myself in the world of collegiate coaching which ultimately led me into business and sports management. It’s not something I would have ever been able to predict. I consider myself lucky to have walked through this door, and in hindsight, it’s been a perfect path.
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What was the genesis in placing under one roof the different competitions tied to world distance long drive events and what prompted GF Sports & Entertainment to get involved?
We are committed to growing the sport of Long Drive and making it a competition where skilled athletes across the globe can make a living. With the acquisition of World Long Drive and the PLDA, we look forward to expanding the tour to a level never seen before.
Our strategic approach to the World Long Drive relaunch in 2023 was intended to immediately scale the sport through unification, as well as through the creation of global competitions. Integration of technology, long-term media partnerships, and the largest purses in Tour history, bolstered further by content makes World Long Drive is a great fit for the next generation of sports and entertainment consumers.
What specific steps will GF Sports & Entertainment bring to the table to ramp up the overall visibility for those competing?
We’re increasing our focus on content by providing short-form, digestible pieces of media, and meeting this audience where they are through social platforms. And we’re investing in the profiling of our athletes by telling their stories both on and off the course.
Also, with more than 50 hours of national programming, the sport now returns to television, further elevating the players and the brand. By offering the largest prize purse in World Long Drive history we’re showing each athlete that we are committed to making this a viable sport and giving them the financial freedom to participate in these events.
Visibility has always been an issue in the past - in what ways will that change with the new alignment?
By cementing a five-year partnership with the GOLF Channel, we will now be able to further showcase the World Long Drive. Our sport no longer consists of simply a handful of televised events each year. We have brought on a full 12-city tour, plus more than 30 internationally sanctioned World Long Drive events. Additionally, all non-televised events will be available for streaming.
Our strategic partnership with brands allows us to have mutually beneficial contracts in which not only the WLD, but our athletes as well, are integrated into campaigns, thus further elevating the sport and its players.
Also, social media is larger than it has ever been. Pouring quality content onto major platforms allows us to reach the largest audience yet. It’s important to us that people see how thrilling the sport of Long Drive is and how dedicated and skilled these athletes are.
How was it determined Atlanta is the final championship venue as opposed to other locations?
We believe it is very important for the World Long Drive Championship to be in a major market. We conducted an RFP process and did an extensive search to ensure that we found a market that matched all of our selection criteria.
We decided that Atlanta was the perfect fit for us and chose the Bobby Jones Golf Course as our host site because of its revolutionary design and specific ability to showcase our athletes. The facility also features world-class amenities that our patrons will love. It boasts remarkable skyline views of Atlanta that will present beautifully across our television and social broadcasts.
The Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation, and Bobby Jones Links club management, are already tremendous partners who are committed to supporting our ticket sales, sponsorship, marketing. and publicity efforts.
Atlanta is also home to the Atlanta Open, an ATP 250 tennis tournament, which we own and operate annually in July. This creates an opportunity for our organization to embrace the local community year-round, and we can utilize our staff and dedicated volunteer team to further enhance this concept. That helped solidify this amazing American city as our top choice.
How much more in terms of dollars will be available to those competing compared to the past?
Players on the professional circuit will battle for more than $1.1 million in cash prizes, the largest prize purse ever offered in the tour’s history. Competitors will have the opportunity to qualify for the World Long Drive Championship at 10 qualifying North American events, vying for 128 total qualifying spots.
The 2023 purse is more than 20% larger than ever before. The increase in prize money allows not only the champion to receive more than ever, but also means that a larger percentage of the field will receive a check at each event.
Are there any major golf companies taking part in terms of sponsorship / support and what role will they play going forward?
World Long Drive has a five-year deal with the Golf Channel as the exclusive home course for long drive content. Additionally, in partnership with Bridgestone, we’ve created the brand-new Bridgestone e9 long drive golf ball, which will be rolling out in March.
This partnership with Bridgestone has given us the ability to specifically curate a ball that meets the needs of the longest hitters in the world.
What "fan friendly" elements will be linked to the competitions?
We want the vibe of every World Long Drive tour event to have the atmosphere of the 16th Hole at the famed Waste Management Open in Phoenix. We will be “Golf at Full Throttle,” including walk-up music, a tailgate party atmosphere, high energy, the showcasing of our athletes and their stories, and larger-than-life personalities.
For the first time in the history of the sport, advancements in technology allow us to have a shot tracer associated with every ball hit during the World Long Drive Tour, in the process enhancing the live event and broadcast experience. We are committed to investing in technology to welcome new viewers to learn, watch, and follow the sport quickly.
The biggest challenges, short and long term, are what?
First, increasing the number of people that play the sport both recreationally and competitively. Second, remove the misconception that sport is only for the elite performers. Finally, create recreational opportunities to increase participation and accessibility
What specific steps are being taken to address each?
Aspiring amateur-level competitors from across the globe now have the opportunity to join the tour and compete in the World Long Drive Championship by qualifying at select local host ranges and via simulators.
This opportunity is the first of its kind in the sport and will make long drive accessible for competitors, not only across the US but in more than 18 other countries.
Best advice you ever received, what was it and who was it from?
“A winner is just a loser who tried one more time.”
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