In 2002, Bethpage Black became the first true muni to host a major championship. This week’s PGA Championship will bring out the best players in the world and some boisterous New York crowds to “The People’s Country Club.” Here’s a look at some fans who made the early commute for Thursday and Friday’s rounds.
Kevin Henderson
Hometown: Randolph, N.J.
Henderson was the only fan we saw wearing a kilt Friday. He was at Penn Station at 6:30 a.m. ET to take a train out to Farmingdale, but said the two-hour commute from home was worth it.
“Everyone here is in a good mood,” Henderson said.
Paulson J. Forde
Hometown: Brooklyn
Forde left his home at 5:30 a.m. to arrive early for Tiger Woods’ tee time. He thinks the New York crowd has provided a great atmosphere for Woods and the other 155 players in the field.
“You can tell the buzz is there, it’s exciting. I think it’s just going to build throughout the day,” Forde said.
Vinay Singal
Hometown: East Meadow, N.Y.
The 17-year-old, who was the second Tiger suit we saw in the crowd Thursday morning, says he wasn’t a golf fan until he happened to catch Woods playing on TV one day. “I was flipping through the channels and I said, ‘Hey I know this guy.’ I watched him a little bit and I just fell in love with it,” Singal said.
Sue Mahoney
Hometown: Long Island
Mahoney, who wore a 2009 Bethpage U.S. Open shirt, expects crowds to be “very vocal, very supportive” if Woods is in the mix Sunday. She worked the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage that Woods won, his eighth major championship.
“The crowds were very nice,” said Mahoney, who was a marshal in 2002. “Golf people are very nice, the nicest people in the world. They’ll do anything for you, except just don’t keep them from their beers.”
Alex
Hometown: Oceanside, N.Y.
Alex tried to buy his T-shirt on Nike’s website, but it was sold out. He wound up finding it somewhere else online. While he plays, Alex has never played Bethpage Black.
“I came because it’s local, it’s a good day to take off from work and to beat the crowds on the weekend,” Alex said.
Jim, Angelo, Lou, Brad and Donny
Hometown: Manhattan and the Bronx
This crew was killing time behind the 17th green Thursday morning, waiting for 10 a.m. to arrive so they could buy beer at the concession stand. With handicaps between, “I don’t play enough” and 15, they decided to skip work and enjoy their first major.
Terrance and Quincy
Hometown: Manhattan
Terrance, who is an 8-handicap player, works in real estate and scored some free tickets and decided to invite his friend Quincy, a bus driver, out for the day. Asked if he’s ever played Bethpage Black, Terrance said that he has and shot 90.
