Fans were lined up 10 and 20 people deep at some holes throughout the weekendGETTY IMAGES
The fans of St. Louis made the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club "something to remember," according to Geoff Shackelford of GOLFWEEK. Brooks Koepka won his second major of the year as "positive, appreciative and golf-hungry fans put up with blazing temperatures and not enough seating or space to move." Tiger Woods, who finished second, said of fans attending the tournament, “They have been unbelievable. Not only supportive, but just so positive. They have been supportive of all of my playing partners and myself and it’s been a pleasure to play in front of them, it really has” (GOLFWEEK.com, 8/12). Golf Channel’s Mark Rolfing called Bellerive "one of the great sport atmospheres" and admitted it was "so unexpected." Rolfing: "You just don’t see that kind of atmosphere in golf. The place was rocking. It was maybe the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen." Analyst Trevor Immelman: "Every hole seemed to be lined 10, 20 deep." He also cited the "roars that would happen when the leaderboards would change" or when fans would "see a shot up on the big screens" across the course (“Golic & Wingo, ESPN Radio, 8/13).
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: In St. Louis, Benjamin Hochman writes it was a "good week for St. Louis," as there was "such a positive embracing of this tournament." The crowds "truly were the definition of ... awesome" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/13). USA TODAY's Zak Keefer wrote the crowds were "some of the biggest on tour this year, even for Woods." At one point during Saturday's third round, Woods got a "thunderous ovation just for walking up to his ball in the fairway" (USATODAY.com, 8/11). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Brian Costa writes Bellerive "may be a forgettable course as major hosts go, but the crowds were as large and energetic as most golfers will ever see" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/13). GOLF.com's Michael Bamberger: "You never saw bigger crowds following Woods, anywhere" (GOLF.com, 8/13). MORNINGREAD.com's Dan O'Neill wrote the crowds at Bellerive "bordered on the absurd," as the galleries grew "exponentially" throughout the week. Golfer Zach Johnson: “It's a sport-crazy town … terrific. You can tell they love their golf, and they love the fact that we're here.” Golfer Jordan Spieth: “These crowds have been -- Monday shocked me. These people love their sports. ... This has been some of the most fun golf as far as playing in front of fans that I can remember experiencing” (MORNINGREAD.com, 8/12). The AP's Doug Ferguson tweeted, "7:30 am on the final day and I’ve never seen a line this long in the merchandise shop at any major I’ve ever been to. So I guess my hunch was right. Lot of people here this week" (TWITTER.com, 8/12).
COURSE CORRECTION? GOLFWEEK's Eamon Lynch wrote under the header, "Bland Bellerive Lacks Luster Worthy Of 100th PGA Championship." This major "feels decidedly minor" and fans can "blame it on Bellerive." The 100th PGA Championship "deserved better than a mediocre course" that even course architect Rees Jones "can’t claim as being among his finest fiascos." It was a "rare misstep for a championship that has upped its game on venues in the last two decades." Bellerive "doesn’t diminish" the PGA Championship, as it is "not that bad." The problem is that it "doesn’t enhance it either, and the venue of a centennial ought to add luster to the proceedings" (GOLFWEEK.com, 8/10). MORNINGREAD.com's Gary Van Sickle wrote there is "nothing wrong with Bellerive," but give today’s players "soft greens and it’s like watching target practice." Bellerive is a "pretty good layout" and "held up reasonably well, considering." However, soft greens and slower putting speeds "lower the required skill level" (MORNINGREAD.com, 8/11).
BEVACQUA LOOKS BACK: The conclusion of the championship yesterday also marked the last iteration of the event under PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua, who in September will become NBC Sports Group President. Bevacqua in a Q&A with SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL said his biggest accomplishment in the post was the "real improvement in the connectivity between the national organization and the membership." Bevacqua: "We were challenged in overcoming the perception of the membership that the staff at headquarters wasn’t always thinking about the daily life of the PGA member. I found that it was a bit of a hybrid organization. There was a sports business revolving around the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup and there was the membership-based organization. Two well-functioning elements but it was saying to everybody that we shouldn’t be a hybrid organization." Bevacqua also said he helped the organization "become more strategic in the development" of its partnerships, as well as "putting a greater emphasis on the vitality" of its membership. Bevacqua: "We also recast the identity of the PGA Championship. It’s not being afraid to take some chances and bring the championship more into modern times" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/13 issue).
