Hundreds Turn Out For PGA Championship Play Golf America Day

Monday, August 6th 2007, 8:20 pm

By: News On 6

The PGA Championship at Southern Hills is generating a lot of excitement about golf across the Sooner state. Thousands of fans are in town to watch the world's best golfers, and some are getting special attention through a Play Golf America Day event held in Tulsa. The economic impact for the area from the PGA Championship will be about $60 million. It's also expected to have a big impact on the sport itself in Oklahoma. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports a special golf clinic is helping too.

"Well I was getting my hips out too far in front," golfer Austin Skaggs said.

On a 99 degree day, during the middle of the afternoon, driving ranges aren't usually very busy. But most weeks in the golf world aren't like this one. The world's top golfers are in town for the PGA Championship, and many fans have taken notice.

"All the big professionals are here from all over the world. It's pretty cool," Skaggs said.

Austin Skaggs has been playing golf for seven years. He's one of 250 people who took advantage of the PGA Championship Play Golf America Day at LaFortune Park on Monday.

"They want to kind of give back to the community and hype our sport," said golf pro Pat McCrate.

More than 30 area golf pros gave tune-ups for people of all ages, and skills. Participants also got free tickets to a PGA Championship practice round.

"Novices, for kids, for serious golfers, hopefully something for everybody," said McCrate.

"Great for the community, great for Tulsa area, a lot of kids get to come here and get to play golf. They've never played before so I think it's a good thing for the community," golf pro Tomas Hnizdo said.

Not only is it good for the community, it's great for the game, generating enthusiasm for the week of the PGA and for a lifetime of love for the game.

"I want to do this the rest of my life, as long as I can,â€ Skaggs said.

Mondayâ€™s event was one of more than 70 Play Golf America events this year all across the country. More than 23,000 people have attended those events across the country so far, which is a big increase over the year before.

Watch the video: Golf Fever Sweeps Oklahoma