Festivals & Events
Stars Turn Out for 20th annual Monday After The Masters Tournament

The Monday After The Masters Hootie & The Blowfish Celebrity Pro-Am will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Monday, April 14, and the list of stars seems to get bigger and brighter every year.

The annual fundraiser attracts big names to the Grand Strand to play one of its top courses, the Dye Course at Barefoot Golf Resort. The pre- and post-tournament parties may be the highlights of the three-day weekend, featuring live concerts, celebrity auctions and autograph sessions for fans.

This year's field of current and former professional athletes includes several Hall of Famers in their respective sports – NFL greats such as Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Richard Dent and Bruce Smith join the NBA's Rick Berry, the NHL's Grant Fuhr, MLB's Chuck Finley and NASCAR's Michael Waltrip.

University of South Carolina fans, like the band members of Hooite in the Blowfish, will recognize several past Gamecocks on the course, like Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, Sterling Sharpe, and recent stars Marcus Lattimore and Connor Shaw.

But there are a lot more than former jocks in the field. Big names from the world of music, such as jazz great Branford Marsalis, Edwin McCain, and Javier Colon, as well as actors Jackie Flynn, Gary Valentine and, yes, even Larry the Cable Guy will break out their clubs.

Professional golfers like John Daly, Charlie Rymer, Chris DiMarco, Dustin Johnson, Lee Elder, Jim Furyk, Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, Boo Weekley and LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez will try to carry their high-handicap teammates around the Dye Course without too much embarrassment, but the good fun and bad play is all par for the course at this tournament.

The schedule of events kicks off Saturday and with a VIP-only registration party at Barefoot Resort and a charity auction and pre-party at the House of Blues on Sunday night. But the crowds get into the act on Monday at the Dye Course. Badges for the event are sold out but many creative fans have found spots across the Intracoastal Waterway to catch a glimpse of the stars.

The tournament officially tees off at 11 a.m., but fans can watch the celebrity long-drive competition and all the stars warming up on the putting green and driving range earlier in the day. This is often the best time to ask for autographs, although many stars are happy to do so during their round since few seem to take the competition too seriously.

After the round the celebs and those lucky enough to get VIP passes head to the House of Blues for one of the best freelance jam shows ever. In addition to the Darius Rucker and the boys in the band, the Blue Dogs and other acts, golfer John Daly and other surprise guests are known to take the stage and sing along.

For more information, visit www.hootiegolf.com.