PGA Championship tees off in Newtown Square with help from thousands of volunteers

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (WPVI) -- The PGA Championship is underway in Newtown Square, relying on thousands of volunteers to help stage the major golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club.

With rain moving out and sunshine returning, spectators arriving at the course can visit the practice areas where professional golfers fine-tune their short game, along with a fan zone offering interactive experiences.

Behind the scenes, however, volunteers are playing a critical role in keeping the event running smoothly.

Nearly 3,200 volunteers have been deployed for this year's PGA Championship at Aronimink. Many have spent months preparing to ensure the tournament functions without any problems.

Volunteers are assisting with a range of responsibilities, from working merchandise tents to serving as marshals on the course.

They have traveled from across the country and around the world, including one volunteer from New Zealand.

More than 2,700 volunteers are from the tri-state area, including David Williams, who lives in Berwyn and is a member at Aronimink.

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Williams said it is meaningful to see the region on display as the area heads into a busy summer.

"A really good friend of mine lives in England. Right before I left this morning, he's like, 'Man, you guys are showing out! The course looks good and you guys should be proud,'" Williams said. "So we have an awful lot of pride."

Tournament officials say volunteer interest for this championship was unusually strong. Rachel Wright, the PGA Championship's director of volunteer operations, said organizers had to cap registrations earlier than expected.

"We had to stop registration in March because we had so many folks," Wright said.

Volunteers range in age from 16 to 89, reflecting a broad interest in taking part. In addition to supporting tournament operations, many will have the opportunity to watch the world's top golfers compete in the PGA Championship.