Thousands of fans swarmed the area, all of them crammed together, boxing each other out to get a glimpse of one of the most transcendent athletes of all time.
The crowd sprinted from hole to hole, refusing to miss a single moment. They know more than anyone that flashes of greatness could strike at any moment.
Electricity filled the air. All of the spectators understand the magnitude of what they were witnessing.
This phenomenon is known as The Tiger Woods Effect, caused by Woods’ presence at any given PGA Tournament.
It was in full effect during the BMW Championship, held from Sept. 6-11, at Aronimink Golf Club located in Newtown Square, Pa., just a 30-minute drive outside of Philadelphia. This is the third stop of the Fedex Cup Playoffs, where the top 70 point leaders compete to move on to Atlanta for the Tour Championship.
Anthony Casta ’20, who worked at Aronimink over the summer and attended the event over the weekend, said you had to see it to believe.
“The crowd is like what it was in his early career,” Casta said. “Everybody was on their feet. It has that LeBron James effect.”
While Philadelphia has many beautiful golf courses, the city is not necessarily known for golf on a professional level. Casta said the ability for Philadelphians to experience this event is huge.
“There are a lot of people in the Philadelphia area that are passionate about the game and would definitely watch Tiger Woods,” Casta said. “Not only Tiger, but also Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson. They’re awesome competitors too. To have a tournament here is special.
Francis Griffin ’20, who was also spectating the event said Philly fans added to the overall atmosphere.
“Philly fans are die hard,” Griffin said. “They bring a strong personality. People may think Philly fans aren’t suited for golf but I think it can bring a different element. It’ll be good for the players to be in a fun environment like that.”
Jordan Spieth, the 10th ranked player in the world, said that he has mixed feelings from the fans in Philadelphia.
“People don’t like me being from Dallas,” said Jordan Spieth at his Sept. 5 press conference. “My parents grew up in Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem area. My uncle lives here in Philly, he’s a huge Eagle’s fan.”
Casta commented that the course itself is an ideal hosting location for a tournament like this. He said that its authentic 1800’s design provides historical value.
“Aronimink really is beautiful,” Casta said. “All the credit goes to the groundskeepers. They do a tremendous job.”
Taking in the course’s aesthetics is something that Griffin said he looked forward to prior to the event.
“I love seeing new courses,” Griffin said. “It’s absolutely beautiful there. I’m really looking forward to walking it myself. I also always love going to tournaments. Seeing the players and walking along the ropes is awesome.”
Not only is this tournament beneficial for Philadelphia golf fans, Casta believes that it will expose people to golf that may not have otherwise paid attention.
“The top 70 players being here is huge,” Casta said. “For kids to see that, it definitely has an impact on them. I know it did on me. It brings that excitement into Philadelphia.”
