ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —  Saturday was Day 3 of the New Years Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club — bringing amateur golfers from all over the world to compete for the 94th year in a row. 

But the toughest competitor today is mother nature.

The pouring rain not ideal for a golf tournament, but the rain delay did give us a chance to check in with the people who make the New Years invitational happen at the St. Petersburg country club year after year after year.

“It’s not a job to me, it’s just a pleasure,” said Johnny Williams, rules officiant for the New Years Invitational golf tournament at St. Petersburg County Club.

Working or playing, Johnny Williams has spent more than 60 years of his life out on the greens, and at 82 years young, that isn’t going to change.

Even if you don’t always see him, he’s there.

“Conspicuously inconspicuous," said Williams. "And if they need us, we can tell. They’ll be looking around or they’ll make a hand motion and call us over and so forth, but we’re not going to run up to them unless they want us. We’re there to help them."

For 15 years, Williams has volunteered his time to the New Years Invitational, sharing his expertise on the game.

“I would call him a rules expert, absolutely. And he puts it in understandable form, he explains things to the particular person that might have a question,” said Richard Hope, tournament director.

Making calls and judgements on what goes and what doesn’t in a tournament, and tournament officials will tell you Williams’ input can help fuel a tournament with fairness and integrity.

But for Williams, he’s fueled by a passion for the game.

“It’s the greatest game there is, golf. And the people and the environment, I just don’t think that any sport is comparable to golf,” said Williams.

The tournament will continue Sunday and is free and open to the public to watch. Tee off will be at 8:30 a.m.