USPGA Championship: an American perspective

Golf Monthly's American intern Mike Smith recalls his experiences watching the USPGA Championship, and disucsses what it means to American sports fans

YE Yang
YE Yang became Asia's first Major winner in the 2009 USPGA Championship
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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Golf Monthly's American intern Mike Smith recalls his experiences watching the USPGA Championship, and what it means to American sports fans

The USPGA Championship will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was the first (and still the only) professional golf tournament that I have attended. I was lucky enough to witness parts of the 2009 PGA Championship held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, and it was an experience that I will never forget.

First off, let me talk about what the USPGA Championship means to the American sporting scene. It is the final major tournament of the summer, which to some represents a melancholic but exciting end to the golf season, and to others it's just another sign that golf will be shown on ESPN's SportsCenter all weekend.

Obviously, the ball did the opposite, as it landed 10-feet from the pin, securing Yang's victory. I could tangibly feel that I was witnessing history as that shot landed on the green, it was an experience that I will never forget.

Mike Smith
Mike Smith is an American undergraduate student studying journalism and political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is spending the summer living in London, studying British life and culture and working for Golf Monthly. He is excited to gain international working experience, as his career goal is to work in sports journalism.