By Chad Courrier
CHASKA — Jeff Pierce and a couple of neighbors spent two days cutting a path through 80 yards of woods, hauling in some scaffolding and getting his perch near the 14th green ready so he could watch the 91st PGA Championship.
And when he saw Tiger Woods, the world’s best player and third-round leader, chip in for birdie Saturday, all the effort was worth it.
“I knew I wanted to do something so I could watch the golf,” Pierce said. “That’s a great spot to watch.”
Pierce, better known to his friends as “Curly,” hosted about 70 friends, 30 or so who were from the Mankato area, Saturday to watch the third round of the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Many of the guests were playing partners at Mankato Golf Club, where Pierce, who grew up in Bricelyn, maintains a membership even though he lives near Chaska.
The 14th hole at Hazeltine is a par-4 that played 313 yards and downwind on Saturday so almost all of the players were taking aim from the tee. Because the hole was tucked on the right side of the green, behind a bunker, the best shots could only get within about 20 feet, setting up a slick putt. There were plenty of eagle putts, but no eagles.
Off to the right of the green, tucked in the woods like a bird nest, were spectators standing atop a couple sets of scaffolding, up high enough to see over the 6-foot security fence. At times, 10 people stood along the 12-feet of boards, getting a glimpse of the golf action.
Tiger Woods put his drive through the green, just off the back fringe. He chipped long, then bladed his sand wedge into the cup for a birdie to regain the tournament lead.
“That was pretty loud,” said Randy Schaub.
The project began last weekend. Pierce, who did not live near Hazeltine when the 2002 PGA was played there, knew some friends that put up scaffolding near the 16th tee, and there were the who did the same along the par-5 15th. So he and his neighbors plotted their viewing spot, which Kent Reeves said has its advantages over walking around the course, popping in on different holes.
“You get to see everybody this way,” he said.
Pierce, who hosted an evening barbecue, owns a home further down the 15th fairway, though he can’t see the course because of trees. He didn’t see a lot of the action Saturday as he prepared to host the gathering, but he’s been out there some every day.
He’s not likely to see anyone make a hole-in-one there, though he almost did on Friday.
“I saw (Miguel Angel) Jimenez make an eagle,” he said. “That was pretty nice.”
