Golf

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

The best bring out city fans' best

Crowds swarm to see game's top-notch talent tearing it up

By: Gary Lawless

Posted: 08/27/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

A large gallery behind the first tee watches Japan’s Ai Miyazato, the top-ranked women’s golfer on the planet, tee off to start her round Thursday.

Winnipeg has shown up for world-class hockey, curling and the Pan Am Games. Add women's golf to that list.

The CN Canadian Women's Open kicked off at St. Charles Country Club on Thursday and huge crowds lined the fairways and ringed the greens to watch the likes of Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie and Ai Miyazato.

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Golf Canada announced a Day 1 attendance of 12,000 spectators.

"I was here in 1992 (the LPGA du Maurier Classic at St. Charles) and they had big crowds but this is really impressive," said veteran golf journalist Bob Weeks of Score Golf and TSN. "I've been to LPGA events that don't have crowds like this on the weekend. These are great crowds for a Thursday."

Several groups had big followings with over 3,000 fans chasing Wie around the course and another big crowd following Pettersen, Miyazato and Na Yeon Choi. Creamer, Brittany Lincicome and Anna Nordqvist had a large gallery all day.

"We always have big crowds in Canada and it's one of the reasons we love to play here," said Creamer, wearing a U.S.A. pin on her lapel and a Canada pin on her visor. "The crowds are knowledgable and respect the game. What's not to love about that?"

Creamer hit a long sand shot from a fairway bunker to within four feet on the second green and then canned the putt. The crowd roared as she finished the hole with a tiny fist-pump.

"That was a good birdie," said Creamer, when asked about the hole and corresponding response. "But it's always great to hear the fans after a good shot. It makes this event special. The players love this tournament and love coming to Canada."

Tournament chairman Ken Matchett thanked Winnipeggers and Mother Nature for the big turnout on Day 1.

"We're thrilled. With the crowds and the weather. The weather helps build up the gallery so we couldn't ask for anything more," said Matchett. "Winnipeggers love the best. They've supported the world juniors in hockey, the Brier and world championship in curling and the Pan Am Games. So I'm not surprised they came out for this."

Matchett said anyone who came out with a wait-and-see attitude will be back for more.

"I was just watching Michelle Wie and she hit a drive downwind that must have finished up around 370 yards. There was a little silence at first as people's mouths fell open," said Matchett, a past-president of both St. Charles and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. "Then they realized what they were seeing and she got a great response."

Wie's crowd built throughout the day and when the international superstar made a hole-in-one on the 11th hole, the roar could be heard all around the premises.

"The crowds were awesome. The people out there were cheering," said Wie. "I'm really grateful to the fans that came out."

Pettersen said the players expect the crowds to swell.

"It's great to be here in Canada. They just love great golf, which I think is fantastic," said the defending champion. "It's great to have that many people out there on the first day and we can't wait for the weekend."

The four-day attendance record at the CN Canadian Women's Open is 68,950 set in Ottawa two years ago.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 27, 2010 C2

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