(WLTX) --- The first PGA Tour major to be hosted in South Carolina will tee off Thursday morning at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.
The tournament will bring a $193 million economic impact along with a week-long advertisement for the Lowcountry and the Palmetto State. The informercial will be highlighted by live coverage over the weekend on CBS - a guaranteed five hours of airtime that could increase depending on the pace of play.
The Palmetto State contingent are hoping they will be front and center late Sunday afternoon when the final round is concluding.
Three Midlands golfers - Jonathan Byrd, Tommy Gainey and Dustin Johnson - are hoping the trend of upset winners taking the Wannamaker Trophy will return.
All three golfers have never won a major. Johnson has come close in the 2010 U.S. Open and PGA Championship. Byrd has a top 10 finish at the Masters in his Augusta debut back in 2003. Gainey is making just his second appearance in a major after missing the cut in the 2011 PGA Championship.