Now before I begin – and in the interests of transparency – I openly admit that I consider Mike Clayton, the Tournament Director, a personal friend.

But that’s not why I think the Sandbelt Invitational is in the running for ‘most important’ tournament in the country.

That Clayton is ‘Tournament Director’ at all is among the first clues that this is a golf gathering with a difference. (No offence, Clayts, but as anyone who knows you would agree – yourself included – ‘Tournament Director’ seems as likely a post for you as ‘Diplomat’.)

Which is why it is so perfect. It immediately turns upside down the notion of a ‘normal’ golf tournament and in the current environment of professional golf that can only be a positive.

Like the game itself, almost everything about the Sandbelt Invitational seems counter intuitive.

There is no TV (though one day it seems inevitable there will be) and it is played over four different golf courses chosen not for PR purposes but for their merit.

The diverse range of winners from last year's Sandbelt Invitational highlight its value. PHOTO: Paul Shire/Sandbelt Invitational.

As we see in the excellent Webex Players Series, women, men and juniors share the stage equally and there is little in the way of infrastructure (and definitely no gallery ropes).

It’s professional golf for golf’s sake, a rarity in the current setting, and it works in every way.

There would barely be a bean counter in the game who would think any of it made sense and that is the second clue it is on the right track.

As the top end of the men’s game continues to implode before our eyes and some powerful forces within the industry simultaneously try to convince us the sky is falling with the rollback announcement, the Sandbelt Invitational stands as a symbol of what golf can and should be.

It’s not for every week and not every tournament but, like the Grant Thornton Invitational, it showcases everything great about golf beyond just the remarkable skills of professional players.

Co-founder of the Sandbelt event with Clayton, 2006 U.S Open winner Geoff Ogilvy, once talked on a podcast about an interesting phenomenon with The Masters which has some parallels with this week’s event.

“Every year tournament directors from across America go to the Masters and to a person they rightly rave about what an amazing tournament it is,” he said.

“Then they all seem to go away and do absolutely everything the opposite in their own events.”

"It’s professional golf for golf’s sake, a rarity in the current setting, and it works in every way." – Rod Morri.

This week’s event much more resembles The Masters than a week to week PGA Tour event and that is what makes it so good.

It has the courage to admit that, while they are no doubt more than welcome, this is probably not the tournament where you’ll get to see Rory McIlroy and/or Lydia Ko.

But you will get to see defending champion and PGA Tour winner Cam Davis up close as well as a bunch of very talented players and some of the game’s future stars.

It’s golf for all the right reasons and that’s what makes it important. Perhaps among the most important tournaments in the country.