Myrtle Beach’s premier golf tournament has been awarded South Carolina’s most prestigious tourism award.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley presented the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship with the Governor’s Cup, the Palmetto State’s most coveted award on Wednesday, January 30.

“Winning the Governor’s Cup is a tremendous honor,” said Jeff Monday, the World Am’s tournament director. “Tourism is vital to South Carolina and there are so many great events and attractions. Winning the Governor’s Cup is a powerful testimony to the enduring strength of the World Am.”

The World Am, which annually attracts more the 3,000 golfers to Myrtle Beach to compete in the 72-hole, net stroke play event, is the nation’s largest single-site golf tournament.

The 30th annual World Am will be played August 26-30, 2013 and the event is expected to be better than ever.

“The Governor’s Cup is the beginning of what is going to be a great 2013,” Monday said. “More than 60 of the best Myrtle Beach golf courses will again host the tournament, and the World’s Largest 19th Hole will be a party no one wants to miss. We are going to double the number of exhibitors, have our best celebrity lineup ever, and will again offer free food and drink to participants.”

Players from across the globe – 49 states and 25 countries were represented in 2012 – descend on Myrtle Beach to compete for the right to be crowned World Champion.

Participants are flighted based on their age, gender and handicap and each of the tournament’s 60+ flights play a different Myrtle Beach golf course each day. Pairings are reset based on score, providing players the opportunity to experience the competitive grind PGA Tour pros enjoy on a weekly basis.

Golf is only half the fun of the World Am. The World’s Largest19th Hole is the tournament’s heartbeat. Held in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, the 19th Hole is a nightly party that includes free food and drinks, live entertainment, a golf expo and appearances by some of the biggest names in the game.

It’s a place where old friendships are renewed and new ones are launched as players enjoy the revelry and watch for their flight scores to scroll across the jumbotron.

Golf funnyman David Feherty, famed instructor and researcher Dave Pelz and Golf Channel analyst Charlie Rymer are among the big names that have appeared on the 19th Hole main stage in recent years.