Cheap tickets available

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Despite a beautiful day and several big names at the top of the leaderboard, the market for tickets to the PGA Championship appeared to be lukewarm. First-round tickets could be found on Stubhub for as low as $6. Handling fees end up making the tickets about $12. Face value was $110.

Part of it probably could be attributed to the wet and cool weather early in the week. And since the PGA Championship has moved to May, kids are still in school this week.

There might also be fan fatigue with big-time golf events in the New York region. Besides the annual Northern Trust playoff stop that draws all of the PGA Tour’s top players in August, majors in these parts are aplenty.

In 2020 the U.S. Open returns to the greater New York City area when Winged Foot hosts. Another PGA looms in 2022 at Trump Bedminster, followed by the 2024 Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

It’s no surprise many fans who turned out early were showing their support for Tiger Woods.

Sue Mahoney, who wore a 2009 Bethpage U.S. Open shirt, expects crowds Sunday to be “very vocal, very supportive” if Woods is in the mix Sunday. She worked the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage that Woods won, his eighth major championship. “The crowds were very nice,” Mahoney said of New York fans. “Golf people are very nice, the nicest people in the world. They’ll do anything for you, except just don’t keep them from their beers.”