Greensboro’s Wyndham Championship may have a devil of a time surpassing this year’s success, following Tiger Woods’ first appearance at the annual golf tournament, held at Sedgefield Country Club. Woods ranked as the world’s 266th best golfer in early September, but he still drives more interest on the Professional Golfers Association tour than anyone else. When Woods stayed in contention after shooting rounds of 64 and 65 during the first two days of the August tournament, TV viewership and ticket sales soared. Tournament director Mark Brazil says the Wyndham was the most watched tournament outside of the four majors in 2015, a remarkable achievement for an event that has struggled to attract top players over the last decade. Brazil estimates the tournament had an economic impact of more than $50 million, compared with the $30 million to $35 million typically generated by hotel stays, restaurant tabs, car rentals and other spending. The Wyndham notched a 350% increase in online ticket purchases, with clothing and merchandise sales expected to gain 70% compared with the previous year, he says. Crowds of 7,000 to 8,000 people trailed Woods during his weekend play — overall attendance reached 33,000 people on Saturday. Woods’ run fell short as he was overtaken by Charlotte native Davis Love III. Wyndham leaders are counting on the buzz generated by Woods’ appearance to raise the Triad’s profile and boost the prestige of the tournament. “All of that is going to be a nice storyline for us,” Brazil says.
Briefs
EDEN — MillerCoors will close its local brewery by September 2016 and 520 workers will lose their jobs. The Chicago-based beer company, which opened the plant in 1978, is consolidating operations with its seven other U.S. breweries. The company was formed from the merger of SABMiller and Moslon Coors in 2008.
GREENSBORO — Richard Anicetti became CEO of The Fresh Market. He was president and chief executive of Salisbury-based Food Lion for eight years and also worked for Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Brothers. He replaces interim CEO Sean Crane, who took the helm in January after Craig Carlock, chief executive officer for six years, resigned. The grocery chain based here has 176 stores in 27 states, including 21 in North Carolina.
WINSTON-SALEM — BB&T reached a settlement with 16 current and former NFL players over transactions made with BankAtlantic, a Florida-based bank acquired in 2012. The players claimed a division of the bank used forged signatures to open accounts in their names and withdraw nearly $53 million.
HIGH POINT — High Point University broke ground on an $88 million building that will house the Triad region’s first pharmacy school and a school of health sciences. The new programs will allow the university to add 700 students. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2017.
HIGH POINT — Heritage Home Group named Pierre de Villeméjane president and chief executive officer. He was CEO of WWRD Holdings, a home décor holding company that was acquired by Fiskars earlier this year. WWRD was owned by KPS Capital Partners, Heritage Home’s controlling stockholder. He replaces Richard Lozyniak, interim CEO since Ira Glazer stepped down in May. The furniture maker, whose brands include Thomasville, Lane and Broyhill, employs about 2,100 people in the state.
HIGH POINT — High Point Regional Health named Kevin Smith chief operating officer. He was COO of two medical centers of Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White. Smith replaces Rita Bunch, former vice president of operations, who became COO of Mercy Health-Cincinnati West Hospital in Ohio. Stacy Goldsholl became executive vice president of subsidiary UNC Regional Physicians, which oversees 300 employees at 25 medical practices in the Triad area. She replaces Greg Taylor, who retired in September after 10 years with the company.