Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Let’s go!
The anticipation for the year’s second major is at it’s peak as PGA Championship week begins Monday at Valhalla Golf Club, and the GOLF team has arrived on the ground to capture all of the action.
All of the biggest names in the game have arrived too, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who hasn’t played since winning in back-to-back weeks at the Masters and RBC Heritage, but just became a father last week.
This is the first time in 10 years the PGA has returned to Valhalla, and James Colgan walks us through how pivotal the 18th hole was in that event, in 2000 and how pivotal it could be this week.
How best to get Tiger Woods, pros to open up? Ask them a ‘dad’ question
By Tuesday, the warm May sunshine had given way to gloomy overcast skies as it became clear, like previous PGAs at Valhalla, weather would be a factor this week. Practice round play was suspended for a time Tuesday morning as a deluge struck the course.
But that gave players plenty of time to answer a question from GOLF’s Nick Piastowski: What advice would you give to new father Scottie Scheffler?
“Get some sleep,” 15-time major winner and father of two Tiger Woods said.
Added Jordan Spieth, now also a father of two: “I think it’s probably the number one piece of advice you guys would say is don’t tell someone else how to parent is because everyone does it differently and it’s — I’m glad everything’s gone well and they’re doing great there at home and he is able to be here this week.”
Tuesday was also the first opportunity for many players to comment on the surprising resignation of PGA Tour Policy Board member Jimmy Dunne, who helped orchestrate the June 6th framework agreement with the PGA Tour and the Saudi PIF.
Most offered little to no substance, including LIV Golf defector Jon Rahm, but he ruffled a few feathers with his response anyway.
Jon Rahm’s curious PGA Tour remarks raise eyebrows at PGA Championship
“See you guys keep saying ‘the other side’ but I’m still a PGA Tour member, whether suspended or not,” the 2023 Masters winner said. “I still want to support the PGA Tour. And I think that’s an important distinction to make. I don’t feel like I’m on the other side. I’m just not playing there.”
The weather was still less than stellar for much of the day, but most stuck it out until 5 p.m. as Sean Zak observed.
“Generally that stinks for a major championship, but it couldn’t stink any worse for the people who have tickets to a day like today,” he said. “That’s what’s going to stick with us on this rainy, crappy Tuesday. These people don’t see these guys come to town that often. These people were out in droves on a day where you really couldn’t see much golf.”
Hopefully the forecast improves throughout the week. To catch up on all the GOLF team’s activities at Valhalla, check out the full video above — and stay tuned for more Seen & Heard throughout the week.
