Retief Goosen is packing his suitcase for the BASF People vs. the Pros tournament, set for Aug. 18 through Aug. 22 at Pinehurst. He's bringing more than his lucky polo shirt and favorite golf shoes. Goosen is bringing his game face.

While the People vs. the Pros is not the pressure-packed U.S. Open, of which the 37-year-old South African has won twice, Goosen is not coming to Pinehurst to lose his match against an amateur — which could be a golf course superintendent — who he will compete against in a head-to-head 18-hole match on Pinehurst's No. 8 course for a chance to win $50,000 for a charity of choice.

Goosen, in a phone interview with Golfdom, says he'll be a friendly foe, but . . .

"If [the amateur] is playing well, I'll have to start pulling some tricks on him and intimidate him a little bit," Goosen says. "I'll get him extra nervous so I can try and win the dang thing."

This is the fourth year for People vs. the Pros and the second time it has been held at Pinehurst. Two hundred amateur golfers, divided into two age groups, will compete in a three-day, 54-hole handicapped stroke play tournament on Pinehurst No. 5 from Aug. 19 through Aug. 21. The low-net winner of the 18- to 49-year-old tournament will play Goosen on Pinehurst No. 8 on Aug. 22. The low-net winner of the 50-and-over tournament will play PGA pro Gary McCord for a chance at $50,000 for charity. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Twenty-five superintendents from throughout the United States, who qualified in 20 regional qualifying tournaments hosted by BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals, have a shot at playing Goosen or McCord. Also, the top two finishing superintendents from each age bracket (outside of the two overall winners) will square off in the third-annual BASF Superintendents' Cup Tournament, also set for Aug. 22, for the chance to win $15,000 cash and $10,000 in BASF products.

This is the third year that BASF has sponsored the event. It's the second time BASF will be the title sponsor. As title sponsor, BASF gets to place its name before the event's name, as in the "BASF People vs. the Pros." As title sponsor BASF also gets more airtime on ESPN2 for advertising.

Toni Bucci, business manager for BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals, says BASF will take advantage of that airtime to promote superintendents. "Our strategy is to educate the public in general, particularly golfers, about the valuable work that superintendents do," she says.

Goosen, who won the U.S. Open at Southern Hills Country Club in 2001 and again at Shinnecock Golf Club in 2004, says he is looking forward to People vs. the Pros. "It's great for amateurs to be able to play against the pros," he says.

If Goosen ends up playing a superintendent in his title match, chances are he'll have some kind words to say to that person before he dons his game face.

"Without them, we wouldn't have good golf courses to play on," Goosen says of superintendents. "It's a skillful job they do. It's not just about cutting grass. You need to have a lot of knowledge about that grass. It's a very difficult job."

Goosen says he has a better understanding of what superintendents do because he has begun to design his own golf courses. He says he has talked to superintendents in-depth about several aspects associated with golf course design and maintenance, including what turf types to use on his layouts. He says superintendents know best what will work and what won't.

Speaking of Goosen's designs, they might take on the look of a few Jack Nicklaus-designed courses.