Kurt Kitayama Draws 200,000-Fan PGA Championship Crowd at Aronimink
kurt kitayama was part of a Saturday scene at Aronimink Golf Club that drew fans deep into the third round of the 108th PGA Championship, with moving day bringing heavy traffic to viewing areas, fan zones and the merchandise area. The championship was expected to draw 200,000 spectators over the week, and Sunday will bring the final round.
Aronimink Golf Club Crowd
Fans maneuvered for the best vantage points across the Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, course, chasing a clear look at the action as the third round unfolded. Saturday carried the moving-day label, and the galleries reflected it: large weekend crowds stretched across the property while spectators tried to stay close to the most active spots.
Alan Garlic, who came from Woodstown, New Jersey, attended with his brother and father and said, “It's a family affair,” and, “We're posted up on the 18th, the grandstands of the 18th.” He added, “Beautiful day, my dad is 80 tomorrow,” while the three of them settled in near the finishing hole.
Alan Garlic on the 18th
Rick Wild of Raleigh watched the setup through a different lens. “The setup has been fantastic, and it's really the test of golf that they want to have here,” he said, while his son Tanner Wild focused on the scoring challenge created by the course. “It's pretty interesting listening to all these guys after their round talking about how tough these pin locations are playing, so it's cool to watch them on TV, but even cooler to see them come take on this course in person,” Tanner said.
Joe Bendinelli of West Chester spent much of his time away from the fairways. “I'm enjoying myself so far. I have to get out to the course. I haven't seen one golfer so far. I spent most of my time in the merchandise tent,” he said, a line that fit the day’s split between watching shots and working through the off-course experience.
Merion Golf Club View
The tournament’s fan areas offered complimentary food and beverages, and the PGA merchandise store covered 50,000 square feet, giving the crowd more than one way to spend the day between holes. Joanna Coe, director of instruction at Merion Golf Club and an commentator, said, “Everyone takes for granted that you take these classic old golf courses that are short in yardage and they're struggling,” before adding, “It's great to see the golf community show up, support this event, but also to put golf in the spotlight for Philadelphia.”
That support will now funnel into Sunday, when the championship concludes at Aronimink. For the people spread across the grandstands, fan zones and merchandise tent, Saturday was the busiest version of moving day: a full-course walk, a packed 18th hole and a final look before the title is decided.
