ROGERS (KFSM) - There's more than 140 professional golfers in Northwest Arkansas for the tournament, and many families at the Pinnacle Hills Country Club have opened their homes to the players.
The Diaz family spent most of Wednesday (June 24) afternoon following Australian golfer Sarah Jane Smith and her husband and caddy Duane, who are staying with them this week.
"It's interesting to learn more about what it means to be on tour and how much travel they do, and it's just fascinating to listen to all their experiences and all the countries they visit and it's pretty neat," Monica Diaz said.
She said she volunteered the couple to stay at their house, and Wednesday, her husband even got the chance to tee off with Smith as part of pro-am day.
"It's really nice, I mean we are on the road nearly every week of the year so to be with a family, we miss our family so much and the Diaz's have been our family for the week, they include us in everything and make us feel right at home," Smith said.
Sisters Francesca and Angelina said they've been able to see first-hand the hard work Smith puts into the game.
"It's really cool to actually have one of the pros and you can see how much she really puts into this and goes to bed early and when I wake up she's already up practicing out on the course," Francesca said.
"You get to see like her fun side but then as you're on the course you get to see her like focus and hitting and everything," Angelina said.
Smith said this is her seventh time competing at Pinnacle Hills. Tournament play begins Friday (June 26).