by KYW’s Brad Segall

A golf tournament will tee off this Thursday in Delaware County bringing big names and big bucks to the Philadelphia area.

The Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square is hosting the AT&T National golf tournament this week, and golfer Tiger Woods will be competing alongside other superstars of the game.

Attendance is supposed to top 40,000 spectators a day over the four-day tournament, and officials are eagerly awaiting the economic boost from the surge of tourism.

Tore Fiore, executive director of the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau, says the tournament is expected to bring in about $25-million to the region.

“We’re hoping that folks that are coming into town are getting a complete overview of what there is available to them in Delaware County, not only from a golf standpoint, but from attractions and restaurants and hotels and B-and-B’s”

Fiore believes the tournament will establish Delaware County as a leading destination site for tourists. Hotels as far away as Center City Philadelphia have been booking guests.