We've known officially for 14 years that Hazeltine National would be host to three magnificent golf tournaments: the PGA Championship in 2002 and 2009 plus the Ryder Cup in 2016.
Those neat seven year increments are nice for symmetry. They're even nicer as a marker for the passage of time. Having spent distinct amounts of time at Hazeltine in 2002 and 2009 — and starting to do so again this week — a couple of things were striking while walking the grounds during Wednesday's practice round:
• The evolution of technology, as seen through the lens of these three golf tournaments, is startling.
At the time of the first PGA at Hazeltine in 2002, there was no such thing as an iPhone. In fact, the first one wouldn't be released for another five years. The gallery was decidedly analog — as was the Star Tribune's coverage. Everything I did that week was geared toward the print section.
By 2009, the transition to a more digital age had begun. A sizable chunk of coverage had shifted to startribune.com and the expectations of fans at the event had shifted along with it.
But in 2016, technology is less of a mystery and more of a way of life. We are all amateur photographers — including several thousand smartphone-toting golf fans on the course for this week's early practice rounds.
Giant video boards with amazing definition help folks on the course if they are standing at a bad angle, and if they need more help there's an official app for the tournament. And the Star Tribune's coverage is up-to-the-minute.
• The career arc of Tiger Woods as seen through 14 years is startling.