World Champions Cup fans get close to the players at block party

Jim Furyk, a PGA Tour Major champion who is serving as the captain of Team USA for the World Champions Cup at The Concession, had finished his duties Friday taking photos of those who had lined up to meet him at Waterside Place.

But instead of running off, Furyk spent five minutes chatting with Lakewood Ranch High sophomore Emily Storm, who plays on the school's golf team.

Storm was seeking some tips as she begins to consider her college choices, and the next step in her golf career.

"It was nice meeting a pro golfer, somebody to relate to, and to hear something I can take into the future," Emily Storm said.

Furyk told her to make sure she can have fun playing golf in college, and therefore to find a place where she will have the opportunity to play.

She had come to Waterside Place with her parents, Gene and Be Storm, for the World Champions Cup block party with the hope of meeting the pros, and Furyk didn't disappoint her. He patiently answered every one of her questions.

Furyk said it is all just part of giving back and starting some positive history for an event that is in its inaugural season.

"I can tell you that the 18 players here are enjoying (the World Champions Cup) a lot," he said.

The highlight of the evening was when Furyk, Ernie Els, Stuart Appleby, Darren Clarke and Billy Andrade emerged from Osteria500, which hosted a selection party for the Saturday pro-am part of the event, to visit and take photos with the crowd.

They waited until everyone in the line that had formed to see them had their photos snapped. The event concludes Sunday with the final round of the World Champions Cup.

"Oh my god, this has been great," Lakewood Ranch's Kathie Marini said of the World Champions Cup. "The course is beautiful, and the players were talking to the people in the crowd. I hope they come back."

Carol and Don McCabe of Lakewood Ranch also attended the event.

"I thought it was fabulous," Carol McCabe said.

Lakewood Ranch's Dean Boeving had attended Friday's round after his wife, Karen, had bought them tickets for his birthday.

"The course was amazing, and it was such a quick in-and-out with the parking (shuttle from Premier Sports Campus)."

Boeving said he hopes The Concession lands the PGA Championship. It has a bid being considered to host the 2031 event.

"Lakewood Ranch is growing and a perfect fit (for a Major championship)," he said.

Jason Langwell, the executive vice president of Intersport, which owns and will promote the World Champions Cup, said everything has gone well through two days of the event.

"The feedback from the players has been that this is incredible," Langwell said.

The fans have enjoyed it as well.

"I was a huge fan of Ernie Els growing up," said Sarasota's Rich Boyd after getting his photo taken with Els at Waterside Place. "I watched him and learned to swing the club easy."

Els is known as the Big Easy.