What a difference 24 hours can make.
By 10 a.m. Thursday, the cold rain over Blaine was so intense 3M Championship tournament officials decided to pull players and amateurs off the course. Friday? Nothing but puffy clouds and warm sunshine as the 3M Championship kicked off Year 25.
Golf fans responded, showing up in waves to watch the action. One hole marshal believed it was the biggest Friday crowd he's seen in 17 years of volunteering.
"This is what it looked like like when Arnie [Palmer] and all the other Greats of Golf show up," on Saturdays, he said. "We never get a Friday crowd like this."
Under the watchful eye of the PGA Tour Champions Schwab Cup trophy, Bart Bryant hit the first shot at 11:10 a.m. and the day's play was off and running.
Fans gravitated to the driving range and the putting green to get a close up look at the players warning up for their rounds.
Current money list leader and two-time 3M Championship winner Bernhard Langer drew big crowds.
Steve Stricker was another popular draw. He and fellow Wisconsinite Jerry Kelly - friends since their junior golf days around Madison - shared a warm embrace on the practice putting green.
