"What better way to celebrate than to drag your mother to the tournament, plop her at a hole with a flower and a beer, go walk the tournament, and pick her up once the tournament is over? I kid."
This week many of the world’s best golfers will be within 13 miles of my bathroom. If these players only knew how great my bathroom is they would be coming over, but I doubt word will get to them in time. Instead, I will be going out to them in The Truist Open at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, and you should go too.
The opportunity to see the best players in the world within 30 minutes of your home doesn’t happen often. Even if you are not a golfer, a golf tournament can be immense fun and seeing these players up close will give you greater appreciation for the athleticism and skill of the professional golfer. To see the power of a 300+ yard drive or the precision of a 40-foot putt on slick rolling greens is a truly incredible experience.
The Truist Open is traditionally played each year at Quail Hollow Golf Club in North Carolina, but that course will be host to the PGA Championship just a week after the Truist. Because of this the PGA decided to move the tournament to the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Lucky us!! Considering this as a tune-up for Philly golf fans for the 2026 PGA Championship in Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square. Players like 2025 Masters winner Rory McIlroy, 2024 US Open winner Wyndam Clark, and my personal favorite Denny McCarthy, who hasn’t won anything but is from my hometown, will be part of a stellar field.
The Philadelphia area has been starving for professional golf to grace our area since the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink. While the tour goes to places like California, Florida, Hawaii and other courses annually, the Philadelphia area does not get an annual visit. Because of this you should take full advantage of these tournaments while they are close. This year we have the Truist. Next year we will have the PGA Championship, and in 2029 the US Open returns to Merion Country Club. Now is the time to start getting into playing golf and watching golf.
There is no sporting event like a golf tournament. Golf is the only sporting event where you are free to walk around, and this movement allows for the best spectating experience. If you’re not the mobile type you can always hunker down at a hole for the day and watch the golfers come through.
For me, following a favorite player for several holes or even the whole round is the way to go. First, regardless of the golf, the course is a manicured thing of beauty. Even with the crowds you are washed in luscious green hues and beautiful rolling SE Pennsylvania landscapes. Yes, you’re watching golfers, but you are also getting in your steps for the day. You’re actually exercising while watching a sporting event! Imagine watching a Phillies game while walking around the concourse the whole game.
The second great thing about a golf tournament is the ability to get pretty dang close to the players. If you find the right spot at a tee box or on the fairway you can be within 10 feet of a player. You will get a greater appreciation for the power of their swing and their demeanor. Some players are friendly and acknowledge the crowd, while others are completely focused on their round. It’s tempting to yell something stupid, but don’t. An occasional “BaBaBooeey” after a shot is ok, but kind of played out. While I’m not into the stuffiness that golf sometimes evokes, there is still a decorum that should be honored and appreciated. No need to draw attention to yourself.
Another highlight is the competition itself. Think of a golf tournament as a 4-day long horse race. Everyone starts at zero and there is only one winner at the end of the tournament. The leader on day one is rarely the winner on day four. Each shot can spell disaster or glory, and with each swing there is a “moment of anticipation”. What will happen? How will the shot turn out? It’s these “moments of anticipation” that make sports, not just golf, an addictive and exciting thing to watch. If you are lucky enough to attend on a Sunday when the pressure increases with each hole and each shot, you can feel the pressure of those moments.
Golf is such an internal sport. You play alone, with thoughts trapped in your head before each swing. There’s no team to defer to, no ball to follow along to distract from what a player is doing. Golf is continually stopping and starting. When you attend a golf tournament the empathy you have for the players is like no other sport. Not just because many of the players appear to be regular folks and not hulking towering, larger than life figures. The pace of play allows time for spectators to pause and focus on the shot that is about to come. It’s similar to a free throw in basketball or a field goal in football. Play is stopped and everyone in the crowd is focused just on that one moment as opposed to the whirlwind of the game. Golf is a free throw or field goal all the time, from different angles, distances and many times with more on the line than a point or field goal.
My advice is to grab a ticket to the Truist Open while you still can. Go to the Truist Open web page for ticket information and parking information. Getting into a golf tournament can be a bit of a hassle as it isn’t like a regular sporting event in an arena or stadium with parking right out front. But the extra effort is worth it for the sublime experience once in the venue. The final round will also be on Mother’s Day! What better way to celebrate than to drag your mother to the tournament, plop her at a hole with a flower and a beer, go walk the tournament, and pick her up once the tournament is over? The perfect Mother’s Day in my book. I kid. Love you Mom!
