LPGA Tour players heard more boat honks than they did claps throughout the first three days at Great Waters Course at Lake Oconee, GA. That is because most of the holes and players’ shots can be better seen sitting on a pontoon or jet ski. With nearly thirty to forty boats huddled around the lakes’ coves, players enjoyed hearing their supportive honks and cheers, especially given that COVID-19 has taken most of this year’s spectators.
“Fun to see this many people out on their boats and coming out from their houses and just staking a chair on the out-of-bounds lines. I think I saw maybe a two-and-a-half-year-old out there waving and yelled out ‘hi.’ Reminded me of my nephew,” said said three-time LPGA Tour winner Katherine Kirk. “It's neat that there are young kids out here too that want to come watch. Who knows? We’re inspiring the next generation here too in Georgia.”
“Since quarantine we haven't had any fans, so it's nice here, especially on the back nine by the water. A lot of these people with their boats are coming out and clapping for us. It's always nice to kind of feel like we're playing in front of crowds again,” said said 15-time Tour champion Lydia Ko. “That kid on No. 8, there two kids or three of them, and they were all probably maybe up to my knee height. They were like, ‘Hello, golfers.’ And I was like, ‘Hello, cute kids.’ There was a lot cute kids out here. I love kids, so it's always nice to see them. Who knows, we might be seeing them on TV sometime down the road,”
“It’s refreshing. It's just so nice to see everybody back out supporting us. I mean, that's what we like about tournament golf is playing in front of fans and feeling that support,” said 29-year-old Brittany Altomare. “This community has been amazing. Looking at 18 it's so cool to see.”
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