Tiger fans climb ladders, peer through fences to cheer on their hero

Golf fans were not allowed on the circuit for this week’s PGA Championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, fans find ways to reach for players like Tiger Woods, shouting through fences and from rooftops to provide a sudden jolt of energy at a rather quiet tournament.

TPC Harding Park sits on the coast above San Francisco’s Lake Merced so there are few places for spectators to catch a glance of the action from outside the gates.

One exception is the tee box on the par-four 12th hole, which is contiguous to a sidewalk where a few dozen diehard fans peered through holes cut in the canvas covering a chain-link fence.

“Having the opportunity to see Tiger Woods, who is in a league with only Serena Williams and Michael Jordan for American athletes who are the greatest in the history of their sport – I couldn’t pass that up,” said San Francisco resident Carl Carpenter, 33.

Despite struggling in his third round on Saturday, 15-times major champion Woods waved to the fans when they let out a roar and other players also appreciated the excitement.

“You can tell that they are really receptive to our being here. Everyone seems to be smiling as they come past,” the Carpenter said.

More vigor fans used a ladder to climb onto a nearby rooftop that gave them a view of the green on 12, and the tee box on 13, until the police came and impounded the ladder, fans said.

“I started playing golf when I was five, watching Tiger every Saturday and Sunday morning,” said Adam Yount, 26, who had tickets to the tournament before they were refunded.

“I can’t wait for fans to be allowed back. It’s not the same watching it on TV. Not hearing those roars for Tiger – I feel bad for him. He doesn’t have that momentum backing him.” Yount added.