Kohler (WQOW) -- Wisconsin has been home to some high profile golf events over the years...the latest on the list, the 2012 U.S. Women's Open at Blackwolf Run, which begins Thursday.
Monday, golfers are on the course for the first of their practice rounds. This year's field includes Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods. Cheyenne Woods turned pro this year after four seasons of college golf at Wake Forest. Blackwolf Run also hosted the 1998 U.S. Women's Open. Se Ri Pak was the winner then.
"Great golf course," says 3-time LPGA Tour winner I.K. Kim, "I watched Se Ri Pak playing, so be able to play in the tournament is great and I'm looking forward to playing some good golf."
"I just played in the Wegmans [LPGA Championship] a few weeks ago, so I'm excited to get my pro career started," says Cheyenne Woods, "this is a U.S. Open so it's a once in a lifetime experience, my first one so I'm excited."
Also on Monday, the Celebrity Shootout, which includes former Packers Mark Tauscher and Bill Schroeder, along with Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy.
The Packers are a Wisconsin institution, so pairing up with the Kohler Corporation makes a lot of sense to both entities.
"We have a great relationship and partnership with Kohler," Murphy says, "Herb's [Kohler CEO Herb Kohler] son, David is on our board. We try to work with each other, so we can help each other in a lot of different ways. This was a nice way to be able to help out and I'm excited about it. To have a major event here in northern Wisconsin is great."
"This is a big sporting event for the state of Wisconsin," says Tauscher, "it's a great event to come out, I love playing any of these courses down here, to get the chance to play with another LPGA pro, get to play with some other Wisconsin people, it's going to be a lot of fun."
The team of Murphy, Schroeder, and Cheyenne Woods wins the five-hole scramble at the Celebrity Shootout.
Cheyenne Woods will play in her 1st U.S. Women's Open
I.K. Kim is a 3-time winner on the LPGA Tour
Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy
Former Packer Mark Tauscher
