The PGA Championship is often called golf's "working class major," and there's no better place for it than Philadelphia—America's ultimate working class sports city. When the Wanamaker Trophy returns to Aronimink Golf Club this week for the first time in 64 years, it's a pairing that feels destined to deliver something special.
Philadelphia sports fans are a breed apart. Whether it's the Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, or Sixers, the same fierce loyalty and sky-high expectations define every fanbase. Just ask Santa Claus—the poor guy was pelted with snowballs during a halftime Christmas parade back in 1968, all because the Eagles were stumbling through a 2-11 season. That moment has become legendary, a perfect snapshot of Philly's no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is attitude.
Fast forward to today, and that spirit is still alive and well. With the Ryder Cup's rowdy atmosphere still fresh in everyone's minds, some wonder if the City of Brotherly Love might bring its trademark boos to the fairways. But after talking to those who know Philadelphia golf best, the answer might surprise you. This could be a match made in golf heaven.
Enter Marcus Hayes, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Thirty years ago, he moved from Syracuse to cover sports for the Philadelphia Daily News. He started with baseball and football, but when the papers merged, golf became one of his primary beats—and one of his biggest passions. "I belong to a local country club, and it's the second one I've belonged to," Hayes says, fresh off an afternoon tee time. "I've carried a handicap for the last 15 years."
With deep roots in both Philly's franchise sports culture and its golf scene, Hayes offers a unique perspective. And he'll tell you: the average Philly golfer isn't what you'd expect from an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." "Philadelphia has elite blue blood private clubs like Aronimink, Merion, Philadelphia Cricket Club, and Pine Valley just across the river," Hayes explains. "The members there are legacy golf." This is a city where blue-collar grit meets green-jacket tradition—and the PGA Championship is about to bring them together for an unforgettable week.