LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Excitement continues to build around Arkansas as the PGA Tour Champions heads to Little Rock for the first time.
For many, such as current PGA golfer and Arkansas native Ken Duke, the eagerness seems to be at an all-time high.
"We've been talking about this all year, just having a big event like this," Duke said. "A lot of people on the Tour don't know Arkansas, and obviously, with this beautiful weather... bringing all these legends here to the state, just to see what we have, and the golf course... we have everything that goes with it. It's wonderful. I pinch myself even being out here, to be honest."
While Duke is known statewide for his golfing success, fellow golfer Ernie Els, a 19-time PGA Tour winner and six-time PGA Tour Champions winner, is likely known nationwide.
Els sits atop the rankings as the Champions Tour begins its penultimate round of the playoffs Friday in Little Rock.
"I've got to play good golf... I think it's going to heat up quite a bit in the next seven rounds," Els said. "We got three rounds here at Pleasant Valley. A lot of the guys in it have a chance... I feel like I've put in some good work and feel good about it."
Els has a good shot at winning this weekend and could be a well-known fan favorite alongside Duke and Little Rock resident Glen Day.
Whoever wins will have a special day when the tournament concludes on Sunday. It is the first event of its kind in Little Rock and a crucial event in terms of playoff standings heading into the last weekend of the Champions Tour playoffs.