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Le Golf National Expecting Ryder Cup Crowds Close To 60,000 Daily

Grandstands around the first tee at Le Golf National will be able to sit 6,900 fansGETTY IMAGES

The Ryder Cup begins tomorrow at Le Golf National near Paris, and organizers are "anticipating the biggest crowds ever," with nearly 60,000 fans a day "expected to show up in full voice," according to Barry Cronin of MORNINGREAD.com. Tournament organizers have "constructed huge grandstands" around the first tee -- with approximately 6,900 seats -- as "massive European crowds are expected to exhort their team to take back the cup." Golf Channel's Mark Rolfing said the setting will be the "grandest arena ever assembled for a first hole" and "more than double the size of any first-tee setup ever" (MORNINGREAD.com, 9/26). Golf Channel's Nick Faldo called the first two holes on the course an "absolute cauldron." Faldo: "You've got nearly 6,000 people sitting on the back of the 1st tee. That's an incredible atmosphere and you cannot escape it. You are in there, it's like the Coliseum" ("Live from the Ryder Cup," Golf Channel, 9/27). GOLFWEEK's Geoff Shackelford wrote as far as "dramatic holes, amphitheater settings and a reasonable scale, Le Golf National will create surreal scenes that we can’t see anywhere outside the gates of TPC Scottsdale or TPC Sawgrass." The course features an "incredible conclusion, with the 15th and 18th holes side-by-side, the par-3 16th nestled in just north of them and the drab 17th hole nearby." This "relatively small area could easily fit all 50,000 spectators with full views of the action, if necessary" (GOLFWEEK.com, 9/26).

NATIONAL PRIDE: French Ryder Cup Committee President Pascal Grizot noted 44% of tickets "have been sold" to fans from France. Grizot added that the event "had been sold out for months." In N.Y., Christopher Clarey notes the "original plan to attract more than 60,000 spectators per day was downsized for security reasons and to ease transport concerns." More than 50,000 fans are "expected for competition on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, despite there being no pedestrian access to the course." About 35% of those who "bought tickets are British or Irish," while 14% are American (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27). European Tour CEO Keith Pelley, whose circuit runs the Ryder Cup when it is held in Europe, said the atmosphere at Le Golf National will be "electric,” but what will be "really unique is the fact that the French fans have come out and supported the Ryder Cup.” Pelley: “That’s a massive statement to say, ‘Hey, listen, we’re going to support the Ryder Cup and we’re so proud of our country and we want to showcase to everybody’” (“Street Signs,” CNBC, 9/24). PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said it is tough to “imagine a better venue” for the Ryder Cup. Waugh: “Paris, fashion week and the Ryder Cup all coming together with this perfect weather that we’ve had so far” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 9/26).

GROWING THE GAME? The AP's John Leicester noted this Ryder Cup "will be the first without a player from the home nation," as no French player qualified. Still, French organizers of only the "second Ryder Cup to be held in continental Europe see this week’s tournament as a potential big step toward a greater footprint for golf in France." Grizot said, “It’s going to be an extraordinary success. We’ll be speaking about golf like never before in France. Afterward, we’ll have to see what heritage it leaves, but I’m not worried.” However, Leicester noted others "aren’t so sure that golf’s needle in France can be significantly shifted without a bona fide French star" (AP, 9/26).

SETTING THE SCENE: The Action Network's Jason Sobel tweeted, "Thursday of Ryder Cup week is like that last snow day make-up before summer vacation. Just staring at the clock waiting for the fun stuff to get started already." Former U.K. diplomat Craig Murray: "Booing US players' introductions at Ryder Cup opening ceremony is boorish and indefensible. European crowd behaving in the way we criticise US crowds for. Hope rest of event is not soured like this." SI's Daniel Rapaport: "'Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!' chants raining down as TW is introduced...in France. This guy is so much bigger than the game, and his resurgence has injected unbelievable life into this Ryder Cup." N.Y. Times' Clarey: "Both the U.S. and European teams wearing yellow ribbons at the Ryder Cup opening ceremony in honor of Celia Barquin Arozamena, the Spanish golfer at Iowa State who was murdered last week." PGA Of America: "First Tee crowd loves to see @TigerWoods arrive, but they hate to watch him leave (without hitting a tee shot)." 

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