2016 Ryder Cup Could Be Biggest Ever
CHASKA, Minn. (WCCO) -- As the sun came up over Hazeltine National Golf Club, it was another a busy day as fans got ready for day two of the Ryder Cup.
"It's an experience," Beth Lindstrom of Maple Grove said. "You got to do it."
And they have, coming from near and far in so far record-setting numbers.
"We anticipated that would happen and it's doing everything that we thought because of our past experience in 2002 and 2009. Minnesotans support golf events and here we are again," 2016 Ryder Cup Chairman Patrick Hunt said.
The Ryder Cup is expected to generate around $150 million into the local economy, the highest of any previous Ryder Cup tournament.
"We were out to dinner last night we saw a ton. Guys wearing matching shirts and crazy flags and all kinds of stuff," Mark Schuetz from Coral Springs, Florida, said.
A group of friends from Florida extended their Ryder Cup experience to catch Monday night's Vikings game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
"I'm going to spend every dollar that I have this weekend,"
Why the big turnout? Aside from the international attention for the event, fans say the course and camaraderie is right on par.
"It's amazing. The infrastructure they set up for this one weekend is incredible. The amount of people following around four groups, it's electric," Chris Nicholas from Tampa, Florida, said.
"It's shaping up to be, as we predicted, the largest, biggest and best Ryder Cup ever," Hunt said.
Hunt says it's likely the response to the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine could pave the way for another major golf event at the course.
Fans heading to the Ryder Cup Sunday are now encouraged to wear red -- the day will be a "red out" to support Team USA.
