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The 108th PGA Championship opened in Newtown Square Monday, with Philly-area golf fans getting a first chance to see the world’s best players prepare for the tournament at Aroninmink Golf Club.
The golf course had been closed since early November to get in shape for the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. Around it, the temporary buildings and stands went up around the hundred-year-old club grounds so that it could accommodate the expected 200,000 visitors over the course of this week.
“We know last year in Delaware County itself we had an increase of 100,000 visitors over the previous year 2024,” said Steve Byrne, Executive Director of Visit Delco. “So you bring in an event like this, it’s only going to add to those numbers.”
The tournament’s organizers, the PGA of America, project that the week will bring an economic impact of over $125 million to the region.
This jam-packed semiquincentennial year, Philadelphia has already hosted NCAA men’s basketball tournament games and a record-breaking Unrivaled Basketball league doubleheader. Over the summer it will have six FIFA World Cup games, including one on July Fourth, and the MLB All-Star game.
“When you think about the stretch that we have, I’d venture to say that it may be the best four-month stretch of sporting events that any city has ever seen,” said PHL Sports’ Executive Director Larry Needle.
The PGA Championship is the second prestigious major tournament on professional golf’s yearly calendar. Aronimink last hosted the PGA Championship in 1962.
The tournament field includes 156 of the world’s best golfers and Monday saw hundreds of fans following defending champion and top ranked golfer in the world Scheffler around the course, just to watch him practice.
Andrew Han, 31, from Bensalem Township in Bucks County, came with his friends to enjoy Monday’s more relaxed, friendly environment, at a relatively cheaper price than the tickets on the four days of competitive play that starts Thursday.
“I just think it’s awesome,” he said “This is a great way to get more people into golf. And for me, it’s right in my neck of the woods.”
Monday’s activities also included the PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup at nearby Chester Valley Golf Club, golf’s “major tournament” for military veterans with 12 teams competing from around the country. Team Michigan prevailed on the day, with Philadelphia’s team — hailing from Five Ponds Golf Club in Warminster, Bucks County — coming in fifth.
The tournament started in 2016 as part of PGA of America’s program to celebrate and enhance veterans’ lives through golf.
“A lot of times when you leave the service you don’t realize how much you’ll miss the camaraderie, because you’ve deployed with these guys, in some cases you’ve gone into battle with them,” said Team Philadelphia’s Joe Dooley, a Navy veteran. “And then you find a program like HOPE and it brings you back together with a lot of people you have a lot in common with, that the outside world might not recognise.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro also recognized May 11 “PGA HOPE Day” in Pennsylvania.
The main tournament begins on Thursday and runs until Sunday. Tickets for practice rounds from Monday to Wednesday and verified resale tickets for the tournament days are available on the tournament’s website. It’s also airing on ESPN’s TV and streaming platforms on Thursday and Friday, along with CBS and Paramount on Saturday and Sunday.
