Tickets for charity event going for more than $1,000

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A charity event that will feature many of golf's living legends has prompted a feeding frenzy for tickets, with some offers reaching $1,500.

One man even jokingly placed an ad in The Kansas City Star offering his first child for a chance to see Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino play June 18 in the Children's Mercy Hospital Golf Classic.

Mike Brewster's ad said "Will give arm, leg, first child for Children's Mercy tickets."

"I just thought that ad might catch somebody's eye," Brewster said last week. "I'd give a pretty hefty chunk to be there for it. I'm just dying to go."

So, apparently, are a lot of other people.

"Easily we could have sold 10,000, and I might be selling myself short saying that," said Lisa Herron, golf classic manager.

Despite the star-studded field, tickets remained at the traditional cost of $25 for general admission and $250 for patrons. The event has raised more than $9 million for the hospital since it started in 1980.

About 700 people who were patrons and had the chance for two tickets didn't order any. That meant about 1,400 who were on the waiting list got a shot at the 4,200 tickets.