There were the fans running amok after security completely lost control as Mickelson and Brooks Koepka tried to reach the 18th green. There was Mickelson setting a record that will never be broken for thumbs-up gestures, seemingly wanting to give one to every single fan who screeched his name.

But there was one other sight that few would find remarkable that was, in fact, so if you know Mickelson’s long history as a professional golfer: It was his fellow pros lining up to congratulate him and hug him as he made the walk from the final green to the scoring tent.

One after another, players who had wrapped up their rounds earlier in the day and had waited around for the finish, shook hands and hugged the new old champion to let him know how happy they were for him.

Once upon a time, players on the PGA Tour were quickly down the road on Sunday afternoon, wanting to get on their way home as soon as possible. That’s changed in recent years, notably with guys like Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

MORE: How Phil Mickelson defied his age to make history at the PGA

Mickelson’s walk felt a little bit like a receiving line: co-runner up Louis Oosthuizen; 2020 champion Collin Morikawa; fellow Arizona State alums Paul Casey and Jon Rahm; European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington (who played with Mickelson the opening two rounds and finished a remarkable T-4); Kevin Streelman and—of course—Fowler. No doubt there were others not seen on camera. And the social-media congratulations came pouring forth soon afterward.

Tiger Woods, once Mickelson’s bitter rival but now his (public) BFF quickly tweeted:

Truly inspirational to see @PhilMickelson do it again at 50 years of age. Congrats!!!!!!!

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 23, 2021

Others jumped in with similar messages.

On the face of it, none of this is surprising. Mickelson had just become the oldest major champion in history—surpassing the record held by Julius Boros for almost 53 years. He’d won a major at a time when it seemed as if his future tournament wins would come on the 50-and-older tour, where he’s already won twice.

But if you were around when Mickelson, the prodigy, first turned pro after winning a PGA Tour event while still a college golfer at ASU, you might look at the outpouring of love with a good deal of surprise.

MORE: Phil Mickelson made history by staying true to himself

Mickelson was a corporate powerhouse almost from the minute he arrived on tour—which was more than four years before Woods showed up and pushed everyone else into the background. Mickelson had the win in Tucson. He was good-looking with a ready and easy smile. He signed more autographs than anyone since Arnold Palmer. And he played the game left-handed, even though he was actually right-handed and learned to swing a club left-handed while mirroring his dad. That made him easy to identify at all times and allowed him to acquire the remarkably clever nickname, “Lefty.” He was popular with the media and quickly beloved by fans.

That was not, however, always the case in the locker room. In his early years on tour, his nickname was “Eddie Haskell,” in honor of the character on the old “Leave It To Beaver” TV show who always charmed Beaver’s mom and dad, only to convince Beaver and older brother Wally to find trouble.

Many players rolled their eyes when Mickelson’s autograph-signing came up. There have been very few days since Mickelson came on tour 29 years ago that he hasn’t spent 45 minutes signing autographs. Having witnessed it, I can tell you he always did it with good humor; looked people—especially kids—in the eye and conversed with them as if they were good friends.

In the locker room the refrain was: He just does that to market himself. Perhaps. But Mickelson’s longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay always had a simple answer for those who said that: “Do you think the little kid walking away with the autograph could care less WHY Phil signed?”

MORE: Tim Mickelson’s own sacrifices pay off with brother Phil’s historic win

Mickelson knew players whispered about him and, in many cases, were flat out jealous of how much money he was making away from the golf course. I had a long talk with Mickelson about his public image versus his locker-room image standing on the putting green at Troon prior to the 1997 Open Championship.

“I understand how guys feel,” he said that day. “I know there are guys who think I’m aloof because I don’t hang out a lot in the locker room. But you have to understand Amy [his wife] and I are 24/7. We enjoy being with one another. She’s my best friend. It isn’t that I don’t like the guys. I just like her better.”

There was no question the crowds were pulling for a Mickelson win on Sunday at Kiawah. Jamie Squire

That was the honest streak in Mickelson, one that came out more and more as he got older and became less concerned with keeping his corporate sponsors happy.

He won 22 times on tour before his breakthrough victory at the Masters in 2004. To his credit, prior to that dramatic win at Augusta, he never fell back on the old, “I’ll have had a great career if I never win a major,” cop-out. He always said he wouldn’t feel complete as a player until he won a major. Just as now he readily admits he’ll regret never having won a U.S. Open if he walks away from that championship with six-second places and no victories.

It isn’t as if Mickelson hasn’t had embarrassing moments on the golf course and off. There was the meltdown on the 72nd hole in 2006 at Winged Foot that cost him, arguably, his best chance to win a U.S. Open. “I’m such an idiot,” he said afterwards.

There was also his inexcusable behaviour at Shinnecock Hills in 2018 when he hit a moving ball on the 13th green on Saturday because he was frustrated with his play and the golf course set-up. Some tried to defend what he did based on the back nine set-up that day but, somehow, every other player in the field, dealing with the same set-up, managed not to intentionally hit a ball that was still moving.

Off the golf course, his takedown of U.S. captain Tom Watson after the Americans had been crushed at Gleneagles in the 2014 was an embarrassment to both Mickelson and (unfairly) to Watson. There was also the SEC insider trading issues and rumours that Mickelson had a gambling problem—he DOES love to gamble.

There was also the very genuine heartbreak of Amy’s breast cancer in 2009. When Mickelson won his third Masters in 2010, their post-victory kiss was an unforgettable moment.

In getting older, Mickelson has become a “papa bear” figure among peers such as fellow Arizona State alum Jon Rahm. Jamie Squire

No one has ever questioned Mickelson’s devotion to family. In 1999, during the final round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, he wore a beeper because Amy was about to give birth to Amanda, their first child. If Payne Stewart hadn’t made his famous 15-foot-putt on the 18th green, there would not have been a playoff the next day because Mickelson would have been long gone to be there when Amanda was born. In 2013, when Amanda graduated from high school the day before the U.S. Open began at Merion, Mickelson flew home to California, then flew back overnight to make his Thursday tee time. He finished T-2. If he’d not lost a night of sleep …

MORE: A rowdy atmosphere at Kiawah reminds us what a major is supposed to be like

Exactly where and when Mickelson became “papa bear”—to quote Zach Johnson—to young American players is difficult to pinpoint. He has, for the last dozen or so years, insisted on playing Tuesday money games with young players he thinks might be on the Ryder Cup team. Whether you liked or didn’t like what he said about Watson in 2014, his comments did lead to players having more input on issues surrounding future teams.

Woods, who was even more aloof than Mickelson in his early years on tour, is now adored by today’s players, largely because so many of them grew up watching him dominate the sport. On Sunday, when Rory McIlroy was asked his first memory of Mickelson, he admitted he really didn’t have one. “I think I was too caught up in whatever Tiger was doing,” he said.

Woods is the icon; Mickelson is papa bear. He’s the guy they all want to play with on Tuesday, even if they know he will trash-talk the entire day and collect every last dollar he wins. He’s now the unquestioned leader of every Ryder Cup (or Presidents Cup) team he plays on and he may very well tee it up for Steve Stricker come September at Whistling Straits.

More than anything, he’s the guy everyone wanted to give a hug on Sunday. That’s a long way from his days as Eddie Haskell.

MORE: The Ocean Course has earned its place in major championship golf

The post Fans always loved Phil Mickelson. It’s his peers he’s finally won over appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Pete Dye marvel in the low country dunes of South Carolina has given us two hall-of-fame legends hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy and arguably the greatest Ryder Cup of all time. Joining Rory McIlroy’s record-setting win (margin of victory) in 2012 now is Phil Mickelson’s record-setting win (that Julius Boros citation we’ve heard for decades) and an 18th-hole scene that will go down in championship lore. The recent knock on the PGA Championship is that it’s the one men’s major without an “identity,” a malleable term. The images and sound from Sunday at the Ocean Course will certainly strengthen its confidence.

It was a week that should lend the Ocean Course another shot and barring some future logistical disaster, repeated chances at some set interval. The PGA Championship’s move to a May date has opened up swaths of the country that previously seemed ill-suited for an August major. Kiawah has now hosted in both months with success, but this week proved that late spring is an absolute sweet spot. The temperatures, winds and lack of precipitation were precisely what you want and gave the PGA of America full autonomy of its setup. Some of that is good fortune, but bringing the championship here in May (as opposed to some more water-logged locales during that spring month) put the odds in your favour.

MORE: Phil Mickelson’s most incredible win came by staying true to himself

Setting aside the architectural merits of the course, which also held up this week, the Ocean Course brings aesthetic variety to men’s major championships. The two rotating men’s majors are accustomed to going to the coasts, but rarely are they in actual dunes pressed up against the ocean like this. It brings a different setting, a different region and a different style of golf to American men’s majors. New York is an amazing city, but it’s good to wander outside of the metro area every now and then. Parklands courses are a backbone of golf in the U.S., but it’s nice to see beach golf in the wind every now and then. The wind directions may change, but its presence is so reliably a factor and made the venue stand out in a unique way among American major championships. Kiawah offers a change-up and one that we should see regularly.

Aesthetically, it should have a place in a rota. Architecturally, it should have a place. The elements and layout forced players to get creative and rely on multiple shot shapes and trajectories. Launch-monitor golf was only going to take you so far. The leader board was a mix of games, from modern bombers and shot-makers like Brooks Koepka to crafty veterans considered past their contending prime like Padraig Harrington. The winner had all of the above.

“I have to say, this was probably the best major setup I’ve ever seen,” said Harrington, a three-time major winner who at age 49 finished an impressive T-4. “It may have been equalled in the past but couldn’t have been better. I know the golf course is fantastic, but they really set the course up that there was opportunities to make bogeys and opportunities to make birdies. It really was that case. I’d love to play this style of golf every week, and I would be a bit more competitive than playing a regular tour event, it’s hard.” Bringing more styles of play and variety of games into contention can only reflect well on your test of golf.

In its two times hosting the PGA Championship, the Ocean Course has produced two Hall of Fame calibre champions in Rory McIlroy (2012) and Phil Mickelson (2021). Gary Kellner

MORE: Rory McIlroy delivered quite a dagger at Phil Mickelson before leaving Kiawah

The biggest strike against Kiawah is its accessibility. The Ocean Course sits at the very end of a two-lane road on a barrier island. That became something of a logistical challenge-to-nightmare in 2012. There’s also only so much usable space in the dunes and marshlands to put the infrastructure modern major championships require. While a return to full crowds at sporting events is, of course, preferred, the pandemic-induced limited galleries in 2021 certainly mitigated those logistical challenges. And in the end, nothing about the galleries looked, sounded or felt limited.

The PGA of America now also has another rep to learn from and adjust those logistical operations. There were plenty of changes and preventative measures put in place based on the shortcomings of 2012. There’s now another operation to study. Technology, transportation and communication continue to advance—who knows, maybe the next time a major rolls around to Kiawah, each ticketed fan may be dropped via drone with minimal fuss. The point is, everything else is too good for the logistical operation, which should only get smoother, to be a non-starter.

The sex appeal of a winner does not prove a venue’s worthiness. It helps, but there can be boring slogs at some of the most expertly designed courses and dramatic legends at courses that the sharpest architecture minds mock. So Phil, Rory, and a War by the Shore are not proof alone that the Ocean Course is working, but it doesn’t hurt the argument. That argument as a consistent major championship stop has never been stronger.

The post The Ocean Course has earned its place in major championship golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Christopher Powers and Greg Gottfried
After a one-off return to August in 2020 due when COVID-19 ransacked the golf calendar, the PGA Championship moves back to its “new” May dates in 2021. The 103rd playing of this championship takes place at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina and will feature its usually loaded field of top-ranked professionals. Collin Morikawa aims to defend his title from TPC Harding Park a year ago while Rory McIlroy will be trying to repeat his runaway eight-stroke victory at Kiawah from the 2012 PGA. With fans returning, albeit in a limited capacity, this year, the chase for the Wanamaker Trophy will feel a bit more normal, but the golf will be anything but typical.

When the Pete Dye course hosted the PGA nine years ago, it certainly played difficult for everyone except McIlroy, who was the only player to finish 72 holes in red figures. Located hard by the water, making it vulnerable to high winds, and with treacherous bunkers/dunes on nearly every hole, the course could produce a chaotic four days of play. With that said, the usual favorites of Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau are all leading the pack in terms of betting odds.

To prepare for what will no doubt be a surreal week at Kiawah Island, here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about the PGA Championship.

When and where is the PGA Championship being held in 2021?

This year’s PGA Championship is May 20-23 at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, which is considered to be one of the first courses to be designed for a specific event. In this case, it was the 1991 Ryder Cup. It’s a tricky and windy course edged by sawgrass. Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest ranking called it “Pete Dye’s most diabolical creation.” It stretches to 7,849 yards over a par 72 course. If it looks familiar, it also might be because it was used for some of the filmings of the movies “The Legend of Bagger Vance.”

Who conducts the PGA Championship?

The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America conducts the event.

Are the PGA Tour and the PGA of America different?

Yes, the PGA Tour and the PGA of America have been independent of one another since 1968. The PGA Tour is an elite organization of tournament professionals, while the PGA of America is made up of club and teaching professionals who work at on- and off-course golf facilities around the country (and the world).

When and where was the first PGA Championship played? And who won?

The first PGA Championship was played in 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y. England’s Jim Barnes won, 1 up, over Jock Hutchinson.

Wait, 1 up … so was the PGA Championship a match play event at one time?

Yes, from 1916 to 1957, the PGA Championship was contested as match play with a stroke-play qualifier. During the course of the championship, it was not uncommon for players to play more than 200 holes in seven days. Starting in 1958, the PGA Championship switched to the standard 72-hole, stroke-play format. Dow Finsterwald won the first stroke-play version of the event in 1958 at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pa.

RELATED: 13 things you probably don’t remember from the last PGA at Kiawah

How many players are in the field?

There are 156 players in the field at this year’s PGA Championship, with 20 of those spots reserved for club professionals who are PGA of America members.

How do club professionals earn one of the 20 spots?

The PGA of America fills the 20 spots held for club professionals for the top finishers at the PGA Professional Championship, which was played late last month. Last year, due to the coronavirus, the PGA of America had the top 20 of the 2019 PGA of America Club Professional player of the year points list take the spots.

Has a club professional ever won the PGA Championship?

Not in the modern era of the PGA Tour. According to PGA.com, the best performance since 1970 by a club professional playing in the PGA Championship was a third-place finish in 1971 by Tommy Bolt, a former tour pro who had retired from the tour. The last top 10 also came from a former tour pro—a very famous one—turned club professional: Sam Snead in 1973. Only one club professional has finished inside the top 20 in the last 30 years, Jay Overton in 1988 at Oak Tree. Only three have made the cut in the last seven years: Ben Kern at Bellerive in 2018, Omar Uresti at Quail Hollow in 2017 (he will be playing at Kiawah) and Brian Gaffney at Whistling Straits in 2015.

How are the 136 other spots in the PGA Championship determined?

For a list of ways to qualify for the PGA Championship, click here.

Can amateurs play in the PGA Championship?

The PGA Championship is limited to professionals only, meaning amateurs cannot qualify.

What does the winner of PGA Championship receive?

The PGA champion receives the Wanamaker Trophy, the largest trophy of the four men’s majors. Last year, Collin Morikawa earned a winner’s check of $1.98 million from the PGA Championship’s $11 million purse. Traditionally the winner also receives automatic invites into all three of the other majors and the Players Championship for the next five years, PGA Tour membership for the next five years and European Tour membership for the next seven years. They also become eligible to compete in the PGA Championship for life.

Who won the 2020 PGA Championship?

In a fiercely competitive final round at TPC Harding Park, Collin Morikawa came away the winner, shooting a final-round 64. At one point on the back nine, seven players were tied for the lead. But the 23-year-old Cal-Berkley grad, playing in just his third major, pulled away from the field with a pair of clutch shots on the back nine, a chip-in birdie on the 14th and an eagle on the 16th after hitting driving the green with this amazing tee shot.

Shot of the day/month/year for Collin Morikawa. pic.twitter.com/3TubR6LlQG

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) August 10, 2020

MORE: Was Collin Morikawa’s drive on 16 the greatest shot in PGA history?

The rest of the leader board was certainly impressive with Paul Casey, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Matthew Wolff, Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose finishing behind Morikawa.

Who has won the most PGA Championships?

Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen hold the record for most PGA Championship victories with five. Nicklaus also holds the record for most runner-up finishes in the PGA Championship with four.

How many PGA Championships has Tiger Woods won?

Tiger Woods has won four PGA Championships, the last coming in 2007 at Southern Hills.

Tiger Woods makes his putt for par and to win the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2007. Montana Pritchard/PGA of America

Who are the most famous golfers not to have won the PGA Championship?

There are three players in golf history who have won the other three men’s major championships (the Masters, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship) but have not completed the career Grand Slam by winning the PGA. They are Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jordan Spieth. Spieth is only 27 so he has plenty of time to try and complete the Slam. This is the fifth year he will be playing the PGA with the chance to do so. After going through a three-plus-year winless drought, Spieth is playing solidly again this year after a breakthrough win at the Valero Texas Open and a T-3 finish at the Masters.

Who is the youngest winner of the PGA Championship?

Gene Sarazen is the youngest winner, claiming the title at Oakmont Country Club in 1922 at 20 years and 174 days old. He defended his title the following year at Pelham Country Club and went on to win his third and final PGA at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in 1933.

Who is the oldest winner?

Julius Boros is the oldest winner, claiming the title at Pecan Valley Golf Club in 1968 at 48 years and 142 days old. He remains the oldest winner of any of the men’s majors.

What is the PGA Championship scoring record?

The record for lowest 72-hole score in a PGA Championship was held by David Toms for his 15-under 265 total at Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Ga., in 2001, but Brooks Koepka broke that mark in 2018 with his 16-under 264 at Bellerive. Koepka also tied the record set by Henrik Stenson at the 2016 Open Championship for the lowest total in major championship history.

What is the PGA Championship scoring record in relation to par?

Jason Day holds the record for scoring in relation to par not only in PGA Championship history but in major championship history. The Australian was 20-under-par (268) when he won at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis., in 2015.

What is the highest winning score of a PGA Championship? In relation to par?

The highest total score of a PGA champion is one-under 287, shot by Larry Nelson in 1987 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The highest winning score in relation to par was one-over 281, shot four times: Jay Hebert, 1960; Julius Boros, 1968; Gary Player, 1972; and Dave Stockton, 1976.

What is the largest margin of victory in the PGA Championship?

The largest margin of victory in the PGA Championship belongs to Rory McIlroy, who won by eight strokes in 2012 at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island (S.C.). The Northern Irishman won the event again in 2014 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. That remains his last major championship victory.

If players are tied after 72 holes, how is a winner determined?

In the event of a tie, the PGA of America employs a three-hole aggregate format for the championship’s playoff. If players are tied after three holes it becomes a sudden-death playoff.

How many playoffs have there been in PGA Championship history?

Since 1958 and the move to stroke play, there have been 13 playoffs in the PGA Championship, the last coming in 2011 at Atlanta Athletic Club, where Keegan Bradley defeated Jason Dufner in the three-hole aggregate playoff.

What site has hosted the most PGA Championships?

Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., has hosted the most PGA Championships—four—the most recent in 2007 when Tiger Woods won.

What state has hosted the most PGA Championships?

New York has hosted the most PGA Championships with 13, including three at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., which hosted the 2013 PGA Championship and is scheduled to host again in 2023.

What are the future venues for the PGA Championship?

Future venues for the PGA Championship have been announced officially through 2029. There is also a “TBD” year for 2030, as well as a venue locked in for 2031. They are as follows:

2022 — Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla.
2023 — Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, N.Y.
2024 — Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Ky.
2025 — Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C.
2026 — Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pa.
2027 — The East Course at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas
2028 — The Olympic Club, San Francisco
2029 — Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower), Springfield, N.J.
2030 — TBD
2031 — Congressional Country Club (Blue), Bethesda, Md.
2034 — The East Course at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas

RELATED: Which course is the best PGA Championship venue? Our “definitive” ranking

Who is the favourite to win the 2021 PGA Championship?

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson leads the betting pack at Kiawah Island at 10/1 with Jon Rahm right behind him at 11/1. Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau sit at 12/1 and 14/1, respectively, and they are then followed up by Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy all at 16/1. Defending champ Collin Morikawa is next at 22/1. After an impressive showing at the Masters, Will Zalatoris is tied for the 15th best odds in the field at 33/1.

What will the weather be like for the 2021 PGA Championship?

It’s early still, but 2021 PGA Championship looks to have favorable South Carolina weather according to the long-range forecast, albeit a bit windy. Predictions calls for a little rain during championship days, but it looks to be in the 70s all week. The wind looks to be in the 5-12 mph range

For a month-ahead look, check out weather.com’s Monthly Weather page for Kiawah Island, S.C.

Stephen Szurlej

What is The Ocean Course known for?

This will be the second PGA Championship at this course on Kiawah Island and its last iteration featured the greatest victory margin in this event’s history. A fierce thunderstorm on Saturday in 2012 and winds gusting on Friday at around 20-30 mph were just a few of the very tough conditions that led to extremely slow play and high scores.

Arguably more famous, however, was the first big event held at the Ocean Course—the 1991 Ryder Cup. Nicknamed “The War by the Shore” because of how competitive the clash was between the United States and Europe, and the gamesmanship that was seen between the two sides. The contest came down to a last Sunday singles match between Bernhard Langer and Hale Irwin. Langer faced a six-foot putt for par on the 18th hole that would have won his match and ended the overall contest in a 14-14 tie. But he missed and the Americans walked off with the wild victory.

Who designed The Ocean Course?

The 7,849-yard par 72 course was designed by Pete and Alice Dye after the couple was hired and given two years to build a seaside masterpiece for the 1991 Ryder Cup. The wild landscape features a course that is just 55 acres, but you won’t hear us complaining.

Who broadcasts the PGA Championship?

This year’s PGA Championship will be broadcast between ESPN and CBS due to a joint contract between the two. ESPN replaced TNT in 2020 and holds rights to all of the early round and weekend morning coverage, including supplemental coverage on ESPN+. CBS will hold all rights to afternoon coverage of weekend rounds and will feature Jim Nantz play-by-play.

RELATED: Omar Uresti, golf’s most controversial ‘club pro,’ just qualified again for the PGA Championship

The post PGA Championship 2021: Frequently Asked Questions appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Mainly, people.

There will be roughly 10,000 spectators per day at this week’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. It is a welcomed sight. Fans are the undercurrent of professional sports, providing its soundtrack. Without them our games over the last year have felt ever-so off. However, during Monday’s practice round at the Ocean Course, it felt like all 10,000 were on the back nine. It is inarguably the better side from a viewing standpoint; the back offers a more dramatic, more dynamic layout, and because the holes are closer in proximity, there are a number of vistas to watch multiple groups. However, this also makes for a congested congregation.

Which is what spurred a trek to the remote edges of the Ocean Course. Pandemic or not, sometimes a man needs room to breathe, and there was plenty of oxygen at the fifth on Monday.

“You picked the right place to be,” says Rick, a volunteer who hails from Summerville, S.C. “Doesn’t get much more peaceful than this. Plus look at this view!”

It was a good look; reread the opening graph. Better yet, the fifth took social distancing to another level. For most of Monday afternoon it hosted a dozen fans and half as many volunteers, as quiet and serene of an on-grounds major experience as you’ll get.

But there is more than just aesthetics and elbow space. There is pride in reaching the faraway point of a course. It is a badge of honour. In a sense you’re a pioneer because this is property’s equivalent of the Old West where the line between civilization and wilderness becomes blurred, a notion reinforced at the sight of a shirtless gentleman navigating a dinghy through an inlet to the left of the fourth hole. There’s also a touch of marvel. When you’re at the faraway point of any course, as a patron or player, it means there’s plenty of golf ahead to get you back to where you started.

Make no mistake, though, the faraway point is always a trek. Especially so at Ocean Course.

You pass the clubhouse and driving range and merchandise tent and fan zone. You cross a number of tributaries and sand tracks. Around the second tee a marshal will hand you a machete to cut your way through (or at least seemingly he should).

How far is the fifth? There was a glance at the phone’s step counter to see just how far our journey was taking. The screen replied not with a number but a middle finger. A man was lying down in the rough about 100 yards from the third green; in hindsight we worry he too was headed towards the periphery before deciding “The hell with it.” One group turned around at the third upon worries they had passed the final concession stand.

The par-3 fifth hole (far right) extends as far away from the clubhouse as any point at the Ocean Course.

But, assuming you have the money for a low-country sherpa, it is worth the trip. There are no formal grandstands and most of the area is, in fact, sand and weeds. Luckily there are three grass mounds just to the right, providing comfortable confines to the fifth’s green and one of the better ocean panoramas the course offers. If you can get past the fact of all the bulldozers it took to create this links, it seems like nature incarnate.

However, what we sought to avoid—people—is what ultimately made the day. Strangers chatted, everyone seemingly in-tune to the same conversation. About the tournament. About Rory. About swing theories and how bad us average hacks would do against this brutal set-up. It felt like stumbling into a barbecue, only if a golf tournament had broken out in the backyard. And for the record, there is a concession stand nearby, just 75 yards or so to the right of the green.

There was still golf to be watched, and because of our small multitude, it was easier to watch. And we watched …

… fledgling star Will Zalatoris come through with United States Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker, assistant captain Zach Johnson and self-appointed team consigliere Phil Mickelson, floating the notion that Young Master Zalatoris might grab a Ryder Cup pick before a tour card.

… Xander Schauffele hit a number of hit-n-checks from a number of spots under the watch of his approving father, which reminded everyone, “Oh yeah, this is one of the top five players in the world.”

… nearly after single player miss short and to the right, all peering towards the green then to the sky and back to the green. “Wind is barely blowing,” Rick noted more than once. “They are in for trouble if it does.”

… the Canadian contingent of Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners rag each other, which as one of the volunteers noted, “Is as much fun as Canadians are legally allowed to have.”

As much fun as we were having, the fans began to depart. There are other parts of the course to discover and other players to see. The barbecue had come to a close. As we packed up our things and checked to see if Uber had an airboat service, we took one more glance up. Rick was right. It doesn’t get much more peaceful than this.

The post The one, and perhaps only, place to find peace at the Ocean Course appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Brian Wacker
Like most sports, golf has been fairly conservative in its approach when it has come to allowing fans on site at tournaments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Most tournaments so far during the PGA Tour’s 2020-21 season have either not had fans at all or no more than a few thousand each day.

Slowly, that’s starting to change.

On Tuesday, the PGA of America announced that 10,000 fans per day will be allowed at this year’s PGA Championship, May 17-23 at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. The decision was made in coordination with the state of South Carolina, medical officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MORE: How Xander Schauffele just joined an exclusive club

“We’re excited to welcome spectators back to the PGA Championship this May in a way that is responsible and aligned with current South Carolina health protocols,” PGA of America President Jim Richerson said in a release.

To date, that would be the largest crowd at any tournament since the tour resumed play last June. Last fall, the Vivint Houston Open allowed 2,000 fans per day, while the Waste Management Phoenix Open earlier this month allowed 5,000 spectators each round.

Similar numbers are expected for the tour’s Florida Swing events, beginning with next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, where ticket sales will be capped at 25 percent. The Players Championship the following week will allow 20-percent capacity, which should put daily attendance for that event around 8,000 fans per day.

The Masters also previously announced that it would welcome a limited number of spectators each day, though Augusta National did not provide specifics. The USGA has not yet said if there will be fans for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego in June.

Last year, the PGA Championship, won by Collin Morikawa, was played without fans in attendance at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. The event was also rescheduled from May to August because of the pandemic.

At this year’s tournament, all spectators, staff and volunteers, including those who have already received a COVID-19 vaccine, will be required to wear face coverings. Social distancing will also be expected and sanitation stations will be placed throughout the property.

The PGA of America also said that because this year’s PGA Championship had previously sold out that it will notify ticket holders of their order status via email. The limited number of tickets will be allocated based on a combination of factors, including the buyer’s original registration group, time of purchase and daily inventory available. Those who aren’t provided the opportunity to retain their ticket order or those who choose to forfeit the ticket will be given a full refund. The PGA added that anyone who purchased tickets from a secondary market platform other than pgachampionship.com or PRIMESPORT should contact that site directly.

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Managed, like Dubai, by Troon Golf,  visitors are guaranteed the highest standards of service and condition. Indeed, it has brought a new standard to golf in Southeast Asia, giving members and guests the assurance their experience will be first-class each and every time they play.

THE ELS CLUB TELUK DATAI – RAINFOREST COURSE
Set amongst the unspoilt rainforest and natural beaches, The Els Club Teluk Datai (pictured left) has established itself as a new icon on the Asian golf scene. Another masterpiece by the four-time Major champion Els, the Rainforest Course has unique characteristics in abundance. Whether it is the 100ft tall trees, the constant buzz of wildlife or the tranquillity of the coastline vistas, the golf course is mesmerising.

The island of Langkawi, located northwest of Kuala Lumpur, epitomises paradise. The distinguishing factors of the Rainforest Course are its holes that run adjacent to the water’s edge and those that wander through a million-year-old rainforest. The Rainforest Course is accompanied by two luxury resorts, The Datai and The Andaman, which provide an ideal option for guests looking for a quick weekend retreat or those hoping to switch off completely.

The golf course quickly rose to critical acclaim, scooping ‘The World’s Best New Golf Course’ award and ranking #83 in ‘Golf Digest’s Top 100 Greatest Golf Courses in the World’. One of the many wonderful features is the attentive service the facility offers its guests. When you add the fact the course is one of the finest conditioned in the region, it’s not hard to see why it has become an instant bucket lister.

THE ELS CLUB DESARU COAST – OCEAN COURSE
Desaru Coast has all the ingredients to become a world-class destination.

The Ocean course, which adjoins the shoreline, as its name would suggest, is one of the headline acts. The three nine-hole loops, The Lakes, The Coast and The Ridge, make up the distinct course layout.

On arrival, the presence of a mighty clubhouse fills the skyline. With its open plan design, the 45,000sqft building sits overlooking the golf course and academy, offering guests plenty of comfortable corners to relax, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the service from the two casual dining restaurants.

As you would expect, each hole on the Ocean Course (pictured top) bears the Els watermark of strategy, beauty and elegance. The flow of the golf courses instantly grabs you and is something that only a true master of their art can create.

The second hole of The Coast loop is certainly one of the most awe-inspiring. The downhill, arching dog-leg par 5, heads straight for the blue waters of the ocean. Flanked by a continuous bunker on the left, fortune will favour the brave. You can expect the prevailing wind to be into your face for your second, fresh off the ocean, meaning only the most precise shot has any chance to reach. To be able to say you hit the green in two at the second hole of The Coast loop will certainly be one of the more cherished of your holiday achievements.

The Els Performance Golf Academy is another major feature. The scale of this state-of-the-art practice facility is unmatched in the region. Els has a passion for growing the game and giving golfers of all standards the best environment to improve and enjoy the sport.

“Everything about this project and the destination has given us the belief that The Els Club Desaru Coast has the opportunity of becoming one of the leading golf destinations in the world,” commented the celebrated
South African.

THE ELS CLUB DESARU COAST – VALLEY COURSE
The Valley Course (pictured left) is the product of a world’s first collaboration between Ernie Els and his close friend and fellow Major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer, Vijay Singh.

The course is nothing short of epic. The immediate impact of the undulating landscape and smattering of uniquely placed white sandy bunkers is unforgettable.

The condition and quality is a cut above. Also managed by Troon Golf, the world’s leading golf management group, every detail is meticulously catered to.

Precision is most certainly at a premium on the course. There are some high tariff shots, but the setting and brilliance of the design leaves you thirsty for more. The range of teeing options are aptly placed, giving all standards of golfers fair options to get the most out of their game.

It will be interesting to discover if the 18th hole is to set the scene for prominent victories by the world’s best players in future years. It is as dramatic a finishing hole as you could wish to find, and one that would not look out of place as the climactic setting for the world’s most prestigious professional events in the years to come. A downhill tee shot gives you the opportunity to gain some distance to attack. The second shot is uphill to another beautifully bunkered green complex.

The second golf instalment at Desaru Coast doesn’t disappoint and will surely become one of Asia Pacific’s top courses. With the destination masterplan including major luxury hotel chains and an already frequent flight schedule, Desaru Coast is going to be a feature with many golfers from all over the world.

www.elsclubmalaysia.com

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By Keely Levins

Winning isn’t anything new for Jin Young Ko. Just winning on the LPGA Tour. The 22-year-old South Korean native who has nine career victories on the KLPGA claimed her first LPGA title on Sunday at the KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon. And she did it in dramatic fashion, holding off Sung Hyun Park, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champ and World No. 2.

Ko never shot worse than a 68 at the Ocean Course at Sky72 Golf & Resort, with rounds of 68-67-66-68 for a 19 under total that edged Park by two strokes, In Gee Chun by three and earned her $300,000.

This was Ko’s third LPGA start, and her lack of experience showed a bit during the first few holes of the final round. She bogeyed the second and third holes, while Park, who had started the day two strokes back, birdied three of her first five holes. It looked like Park, a shoo-in for LPGA rookie-of-the-year honors, was in control of the tournament, where a victory meant she could potentially take of the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Rankings.

But then Ko steadied herself and birdied four of the last five holes. She added two more birdies on the back. Bogeys on 14 and 16 for Park kept her from passing Ko again on the leader board.

“After I made the two bogeys, I had a really long chat with my caddie, Dean, about why I was so nervous,” said Ko, through a translator, after her round. “I realized I had no reason to be nervous, and I was actually putting a lot of pressure on myself. So after that, Dean was there, he kept reminding me that being nervous was quite natural, that I needed to accept those nerves. I think I kept reminding myself of that. I also tried to focus on the fact that even if there are bumps along the way, I can make opportunities to make up for the bumps.”

With the win, Ko has the option to join the LPGA Tour for the rest of this season and also for 2018. She may remain as a non-member for the remainder of 2017, and still obtain membership status next season.

In 2017 on the KLPGA, Ko has won twice and had nine additional top-10s in 18 starts.

Americans Lizette Salas and Marina Alex finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Salas, a member of the winning U.S. Solheim Cup Team, shot 14 under for the week and Alex finished at 13 under.

The LPGA Tour continues their swing in Asia this coming week, as they play the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship in Taipei, Taiwan.

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