The Boeing Classic golf tournament, Snoqualmie’s biggest sporting event, returns Aug. 18 to 24 at the Snoqualmie Ridge Tournament Players Course.

Last year’s champion Denis Watson will defend his title against past champions including Tom Kite and David Eger, as well as golfers Fred Funk, Bernhard Langer, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Scott Simpson, Jeff Sluman, and dozens of other pros.

The 54-hole, par-72 tournament carries a $1.7 million purse.

This is the fourth year that the tournament has been played at Snoqualmie Ridge, which was designed by golf celebrity Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1999.

More than 50,000 people attended each tournament over the past several years.

The event is the busiest time of the year for the Ridge TPC course. Millions of people watch the tournament, as it is covered live on television.

The entire Valley takes notice at the height of the tournament, when a Boeing aircraft makes a flyby of Snoqualmie and swoops over the fairway at the TPC.

Besides the competition, the event also includes the Northwest Ford Stores NFL Alumni Rumble at the Ridge, 8:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, at the Snoqualmie Ridge TPC, featuring NFL stars.

Also scheduled are the First Tee Family Golf Clinic, 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, and the Friends of the Classic Auction, benefiting patients at Virginia Mason Medical Center.

Tickets range from $20 to $60, and are available at the gate and at www.boeingclassic.com/tickets.