Tournament week in Tampa Bay feels like a city within a city. Grandstands climb into view, hospitality decks bloom around Copperhead, volunteers check radios and a fan village opens its doors. Tracy West, executive vice president, tournament director and president at Pro Links Sports, the Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities, leads that choreography so golf becomes more than a competition and the region gains an event it proudly claims as its own.
West treats the experience outside the ropes as seriously as the leaderboard. She expanded hospitality across more holes, elevated pro-am moments and added a post-round concert that draws guests who may not know every player but return for the atmosphere. Media took notice with spots on Golf Channel, SiriusXM and national podcasts, turning tournament week into a story about place, not just sport. Under her leadership the event earned recognition as the PGA TOUR’s most fan friendly tournament, a nod to details that fans feel from arrival to the last putt.
Partnerships and stewardship sit at the center of her model. West secured long-term commitments with the title sponsor and the host venue, strengthened community alliances and kept Copperhead Charities focused on mission. She measures success in durable relationships, strong volunteer engagement and a charitable engine that keeps giving back to Tampa Bay. A Titan 100 Honoree, she views recognition as permission to widen collaboration rather than a finish line.
The path to this role runs through decades of event leadership. West joined Pro Links Sports with the firm’s chief executive and helped build one of the country’s respected tournament management teams. Earlier, she worked with the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital’s Home Base Program, creating Run to Home Base inside Fenway Park, a fundraiser widely regarded for its impact and originality. That mix of creativity and execution shows up each spring on the Copperhead Course.
Inside her organizations the future of work favors curiosity and craft. West asks colleagues to learn from peers across the PGA TOUR, borrow what works and keep the experience fresh for guests and partners. The on-site mantra is simple, win the day. That attitude leads to clean operations, nimble problem solving and a setting where sponsors feel heard and families feel welcome.
Service extends beyond tournament gates. West has served on the PGA TOUR tournament advisory council and gives time to regional boards, including the executive committee of the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl and the Tampa Bay CEO council. Her five-year vision is straightforward, keep the Valspar Championship as the region’s largest annual signature sports event, refine fan features, deepen hospitality and use smart technology to make every visit easier.
West measures success when Tampa Bay circles tournament week on the calendar, when sponsors renew with enthusiasm and when Copperhead Charities’ impact reaches more neighbors. That is the legacy playing out one tournament at a time.
