Vanna White honored as tournament ambassador

By Ruben Lowman

While the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a world away, the most famous set of hands in television history is currently back in the local soil.

For the third consecutive year, hometown girl Vanna White has returned to the Grand Strand, but this time the stakes and the “star power” have hit a new ceiling.

As the official Tournament Ambassador for the 2026 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, the North Myrtle Beach native isn’t just a guest of honor, White is the face of a PGA TOUR event that is rapidly becoming a global heavyweight.

To the world, she is the legendary co-host of “Wheel of Fortune”, a role she has held since 1982. But along the Intracoastal Waterway and the fairways of the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, she is the hometown girl who never forgot the zip code.

This week, she’s bridging the gap between the billionaire lifestyle of private aviation and the “boots-on-the-ground” reality of Horry County’s next generation.

The tournament, slated for May 7–10, has matured into a high-octane operation. This year, title sponsor ONEflight International upped the ante, offering a staggering $250,000 flight credit to the winner on top of a $4 million total purse.

Even the players who simply make the 36-hole cut will walk away with five-hour flight credits.

It’s a “first-class” environment that matches the celebrity roster White is anchoring.

Wednesday’s Pro-Am reads like a movie premiere, featuring Kurt Russell, John McEnroe, Michael Peña and Greg Kinnear. Even the sports world is leaning in, with McLaren F1 champion Lando Norris and tennis legend McEnroe trading their respective tools for golf clubs.

But despite the private jets and the Academy Award winners, the tournament director, Darren Nelson, knows the local draw is Vanna.

“To have her serve as our ambassador means the world,” Nelson stated. “She is a legendary figure, and she’s back in her hometown area.”

While the Hollywood elite will grab the headlines, the event and it’s directors also have a lot happening behind the scenes. A few weeks ago, the tournament hosted Horry County Schools (HCS) Day, bringing more than 250 local high school students to the Dunes Club. These weren’t just fans, they were juniors and seniors majoring in marketing, culinary services and turf management.

For Vanna, who has transitioned from a local student to a woman who has shared her wisdom at the Women’s Day Summit, the event serves as a tangible career pathway for local kids.

The local high school students spent the morning learning from Head Chef Corbett Rourk and Director of Golf Dennis Nicholl, seeing exactly what it takes to orchestrate a multi-million dollar PGA operation. It’s a full-circle moment for a community that thrives on hospitality but often watches its talent leave for larger markets.

The 2026 edition of the MB Classic is leaning heavily into the “Myrtle Beach experience.”

The entertainment lineup features the Beach Boys and John Stamos on Friday night, followed by the local high-energy favorites Julio and the Saltines on Saturday. It’s a calculated mix of California pop and Carolina grit, held on an Ocean Lawn stage that overlooks the Atlantic.

For White, who has been on the ground for every iteration of this event since it joined the PGA TOUR schedule in 2024, the growth is personal. She has moved from playing the Pro-Am to becoming a fixture at the Pairings Parties and summits.

“It brings together two of my favorite things—golf and Myrtle Beach,” White said. “I look forward to doing my part to help it continue to thrive.”