Celebrity Foursome at the AmFam

The best professional golfer ever, Jack Nicklaus, was
the brightest name on the celebra-tee.  6/22/19 (dwm photo)

Saturday was the big day at the American Family Insurance Championship.

Since its 2016 start, the tournament has featured a celebrity foursome after the final group clears the 10th hole.

Two time U.S. Open winner, Andy North, serves as the host.  He lives in Madison, is a golf commentator on ESPN, a big Badger fan, and a philanthropist.  He has connections.

Hall of Fame Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre, has played every time and remains a fan favorite.

Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter played twice.  Musician Darius Rucker played in 2017.  Golfer Lee Trevino was part of it last year, and former Badger and Packer player Mark Tauscher was in the first celebrity group with tournament host Steve Stricker.  In 2016, Stricker wasn't old enough to play in his own tournament.

When Brett Favre looked at the crowd down the right side of
the fairway, I heard him say, "You guys are sure brave."
6/22/2019 dwm photo

American Family has made the golf tournament a week-long event with a 5K charity run the first weekend.  Two Pro-Ams and a Friday night concert are also on the calendar.

This year's musician, Toby Keith, performed before a sold out crowd Friday downtown, then exchanged the mic for a set of clubs.

The headliner, was legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.

He's won 18 major golf tournaments (more than anyone else, Tiger Woods is next with 15).

79, he stopped playing in competition 14 years ago to focus with his wife on work with not for profits - especially those helping children.

Lined up from left: (above the red cup) Brett Favre,
Jack Nicklaus, Andy North, Toby Keith pose before starting
their round.  6/22/2019  dwm photo

It's a big reason why I didn't want to miss this year's event just a couple miles away.

Knowing they would begin their round at the 10th; I headed over early to see the early golfers get started, then watched and applauded as the leading golfers made their way to the back nine.

After local golfers Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly, and their groups played through, golf officials and volunteers tried to control a growing mass of fans waiting for the special group.

Andy North sends it straight down the fairway.
6/22/2019 dwm photo

A throng of thousands stretched from tee to green waiting for the word to move closer to the tee box.

I didn't have a lot of choice once the crowd started moving, ending up on east side of the tee where I couldn't see the right handed players hit their shots.

Thankfully, I was far enough forward to stand 12 feet from where they stood.

 An estimated 40,000 fans were somewhere on the course for this - a quarter of them lining the 10th hole along with me.

There were a lot of jokes and humorous commentary from
Jack, Toby, and Brett after North's shot.  

Before standing over his ball on the tee, a fan said, "Thank you for coming to Madison, Mr. Nicklaus."

Jack looked up and said it was his pleasure.

On that day, Mr. Nicklaus, the pleasure was all of ours and the children at the American Family Children's Hospital who will benefit from the money raised at the tournament.

After the group followed their shots down the fairway, I headed home to watch the final 8 holes.

Nicklaus and Favre tied North and Keith at the 18th.

We were all winners.