There are more than 120 people working behind the scenes at the 12th annual Sorenson Champions Challenge, but perhaps no one has a better insight on this event than the charismatic Mark Whetzel, Director of Golf for Thanksgiving Point Golf Club and Champions Challenge Tournament Director.

He introduces the four-somes and sets the tee boxes and pin placements. He measures the yardage for the million-dollar hole-in-one hole, gives Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams some tips, and even finds time to give some first-time golfers a few pointers on the driving range.

Whetzel has been here from the beginning. He can appreciate how far the tournament has come since its inaugural year in 1998. He knows that this tournament's staying power is the result of hard work on not just his part, or that of Johnny Miller or Ken Leister, but dozens of people who have logged the hours to make this Utah's most unique golf tournament.

The tournament opened on Monday with the Champions Challenge Pro-Am. Monday night was the awards dinner and charity auction. Today's schedule includes Johnny Miller and Friends Golf Clinic at 9 a.m. followed by the actual tournament at 10 a.m.

Monday's Pro-Am gave sponsors and the public a chance to play with celebrities and the big names of golf. Any guesses who most people wanted to have in their group?

Johnny Miller? Nope.

Mike Weir? Nope.

LPGA's Anna Rawson, nominated by Sports Illustrated as one of Most Beautiful Female Athletes of the Year, was the most sought-after player and will likely draw quite a crowd in the main event, since she is teamed up with Dave Stockton Jr. and they will be playing with Weir and Dean Wilson.

It seems every year the Champions Challenge gets a new wrinkle. This year one of the additions was the creation of Champions Cup that was played Saturday. The winners of that tournament secured a spot in the Pro-Am.

There were 40 teams that competed for the one spot in the Pro-Am. A pair of Utah Valley residents took home the cup. Lehi's Karl Jensen and Utah Valley University golf coach Clark Rustand won the two-man tournament by shooting a 62.

They were joined KSL sportscaster Rod Zundel as part of their group on Monday. No one could cash in on the million-dollar hole-in-one hole, but Rustand didn't walk away empty handed. He was close enough to win a range finder. Zundel hit more of a line drive on the Par-3 million-dollar hole-in-one hole that stopped a few feet off the green.

"Let's go give him hard time," Whetzel said with a laugh.

Give out some tips, give a few people a hard time, host the best golfers in the world -- no wonder Whetzel wanted to get into golf.

It all started for Whetzel when he was teaching golf at the University of Utah. One of his students was Johnny Miller's daughter.

Whetzel was hired at Thanksgiving Point when it opened in 1997. Just a year later, Whetzel helped Miller put together the first Champions Challenge. It seemed fitting that Billy and Bobby Casper won the tournament, since the Champions Challenge encourages fathers and sons to play together.

"The trophy is a father teaching two sons how to golf," Whetzel said. "Johnny Miller's father used to call him Champ, and that's where the Champions Challenge came from."

Over the years, there have been so many memorable moments involving golf's biggest names and some of the most recognizable celebrities. Whetzel recalls the time Deron Williams reluctantly accepted an invite to play in the Pro-Am after some coaxing on Whetzel's part.

"He didn't want to play because he wasn't to that point yet. He's a perfectionist, like any athlete. I kind of talked him into it. I said, 'Just play, you'll love it.' He loves golf so he did."

Williams quickly found out the basketball comes much easier than golf.

"He was more nervous with a couple of thousand people watching him than he is 18,000 people watching him in the arena playing basketball. He's just shaking like a leaf on the tee box," Whetzel said. "Annika Sorenstam was on the putting green. He hits his driver and pops it up. It comes down and hits Annika on the green. I said, 'I think Deron gets a mulligan everybody.' He said, 'No way,' and picked up his tee and went to his bag. So I'm not going to remind Deron of that tomorrow. I'm going to keep my mouth shut."

Williams was back on Monday armed with more confidence.

"He's improved exponentially. He eats, drinks and sleeps golf whenever he's not playing basketball. He has a simulator in his home. I've never seen someone improve so much in a short period of time," Whetzel said.

There have been other memorable moments. Whetzel recalls the year comedian Bill Murray participated in the event. A fan asked Murray to throw him a drink from one of the refreshment tents, so Murray did, but spectator botched the catch and it hit him in the face, breaking his nose.

"They goes my summer home," Murray joked.

But one of his favorite stories involves John Daly.

"His cart broke down on No. 16, so I was going to take him out a replacement cart. He radioed me and said, 'Bring chocolate,' " Whetzel said. "He wanted Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I said, 'OK, I'll bring you a few.' He said, 'Not just a few, bring the box, at least 24.' "

Ah, memories. Each year brings a set of new stories. A pair of new champions.

After months of work, it's time to enjoy the payoff. He can now watch with the rest of gallery. He just has a better vantage point than most.