Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Tiger’s hotter than ever as comeback tour hits Delco
NEWTOWN TWP. » It was High Noon on a preliminary day as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy stepped out from below the grandstands on the first tee at Aronimink Golf Club Tuesday.
Fans held up phones to try to capture images of the world’s most famous golfer, as both Woods — again in the spotlight this year as he’s made progress on his long comeback from multiple back surgeries — and McIlroy lined their shots straight down the par-4 fairway on the first day of practice for the BMW Championship.
“I’m surprised, Tiger is usually the first one out in the morning,” said Thor Shaffer, the pro at Iron Lakes Golf Club in Allentown who was on hand to watch the practice. “I think he’s doing it to get used to the heat.”
At each hole the pair took turns putting and chipping balls to get a feel of the course as the crowd following the duo increased.
Woods could be seen dripping sweat and wiping his face in the 90-degree heat made all the more intense by high humidity. Woods is not taking part in the tournament’s official Pro-Am event on Wednesday.
Woods was not alone in feeling the late summer heat, as spectators Spectators photograph Tiger Woods as he practices at Aronimink Golf Club Tuesday ahead of the BMW Championship which begins Thursday. searched for any available shade along the 7,267-yard par 70 course and paramedics reported that as many as five spectators had been treated for heat exhaustion with the high temperatures.
The official competition begins Thursday with 70 of the world’s top golfers teeing off in temperatures again expected to peek in the 90s.
“Welcome back to Aronimink!” Alice Quinn, a 30-year member of the club said to the golfers as they made their way past her.
“We’re really honored to have it here,” Quinn said later. “The course has gotten more challenging with the competition, twice as many bunkers, but it’s so exciting to have it here.”
Charles and Karen Meadows of Phoenixville were there with their son Hayden, 10.
He was able to get autographs from Jordan Spieth, Ryan Palmer and Patrick Reed.
“We had been hoping to see McIlroy,” Karen Meadows said. “To see him playing with Tiger is pretty crazy.”
Volunteer Sally Hillyer of Kennett Square said visitors had been great as she served as marshal on the second fairway. Hillyer was responsible for two shifts as a marshal in exchange for entrance to the course.
“It’s great, we have an incredible amount of volunteers,” Hillyer said just before the next golfer teed off. “Tiger waved and another gentleman came up and told me thanks. It shows how great people are.”
“It’s pretty cool to see to the greatest golfers in the world,” said Mike Wagner of Worchester, Montgomery County, who brought eight-year-old son Mikey with him Tuesday. “There are no crowds. By Sunday it will be packed.”