Sept. 24, 2008 -- Rick Burton, PGA Director of Golf and General Manager of East Lake Golf Club, took a few moments prior to the start of this week's TOUR Championship presented by Coca Cola to talk the extensive renovations of the course, the importance of this tournament and his involvement in another huge golf event this month.

PGA.com: Rick, you're in the midst of a very busy, hectic time. I just saw you up in Louisville. What was your role there?

Burton: Yes, it's an extremely busy time. I was serving as a referee for The PGA of America at The Ryder Cup. I refereed a match on Friday, served as an observer for two other matches, then refereed a singles match on Sunday.

Renovations to East Lake Golf Club include all green complexes, a few hole redesigns and the impressive clubhouse. (Photo: courtesy East Lake Golf Club)

PGA.com: Really? What was your match Sunday.

Burton: The match between J.B. Holmes and Henrik Stenson.

PGA.com: That must have been quite the experience.

Burton: Oh, it always is. What a great match. You would not believe how far J.B. Holmes hits the ball, it's really amazing.

PGA.com: And now you come back here and there's The TOUR Championship presented by Coca Cola.

Burton: Oh yeah, I just got back on Monday and it's feet first into the fire.

PGA.com: Well, the one question everyone is going to want to know, after all the attention given to the greens here at East Lake last year, and the renovation project that has essentially shut the course down until this week, is "How does the course look?"

Burton: The golf course is magnificent. It's just in incredible shape. I think the players, the fans, the Tour, everyone is going to be really impressed. The greens have come in exactly like we had hoped. They are firmer and faster, they are going to provide a great test for these players. The rough might actually be a little lower than in years past, we have them at around 2.5 inches now -- not 4 or 4.5 inches like we've had in the past. So if a player hits it in the rough, they will probably be able to get a ball to the green. But with the new greens being in the great shape they are, I don't know how well they'll be able to hold it from out of the rough.

PGA.com: So the inconvenience of shutting down the course for a year, for offering a paid leave to many of the employees, of having members go without a home for several months -- it turned out to be the right call?

Burton: Absolutely. The bottom line is that in the long run, this was the best thing for the course. Everyone understands and appreciates it, but once they see the course this week, they'll really show a great enthusiasm for it.

PGA.com: It's football season, baseball is getting ready for its' playoffs, there is so much going on --- why should fans watch The Tour Championship?

Burton: The tournament is special for several reasons, all of them providing a special element for the fan experience. First you have the players. The field is the top 30 players in the FedExCup are here including ten members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team. I know the FedExCup Playoffs may be settled, but the tournament itself is a top-tier event -- one that all the players are going after in great earnest. Another thing that really stands out to me is that this may be the best run tournament that there is anywhere. Our volunteers have been with us since our inception in 1998 and many of them go back with Billy Payne even further to the planning and operations of the 1996 Olympics. The chairman of the tournament, Rob Johnston, is as sharp and impressive a person as you will find, the entire tournament staff, the golf course employees, everyone really makes a concerted effort to make this a special event each year. I think that the overall mission of this championship, with all proceeds going to The East Lake Foundation, gives the event more of a focus and one that almost everyone has some involvement or support for. There is a tremendous pride in every person and their role here. And it shows. So no matter what event, whether it's a golf tournament or any other sporting venue, I think you'll have a hard time finding a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.