The PGA Championship is returning to Delco for the first time since 1962

Gary Player in action at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. on July 20, 1962.
Gary Player in action at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. on July 20, 1962. Photo credit James Drake /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Golf season is right around the corner, and for the first time in decades, the PGA Championship will be coming to Delaware County.

The last time Aronimink Golf Club hosted the PGA Championship was in 1962 (when Gary Player took his first of two titles). This May, it’s coming back bigger and better than ever, said PGA General Chairman Michael Lewers.

“Starting next week, weather permitting, we’ll be able to put infrastructure in the ground, and it’s going to come to life, and it’s going to look like a major championship venue, probably in the next two months,” he said.

Lewers said they’ve also been hard at work on the main attraction: the greens.

“We have prepped the golf course, we’ve added new tees, we’ve extended the length of the golf course and fairways so that piece of it, the actual golf course itself, is in really good shape, so now it’s just a matter of getting some snow melt.”

Gary Player clowns as he's asked to "kiss the trophy" after winning the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in 1962.
Gary Player clowns as he's asked to "kiss the trophy" after winning the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in 1962. Photo credit Bettmann/Getty Images Contributor

Lewers said they expect around 200,000 people to attend the seven-day event.

“They’re going to have a great experience because it’s going to be a really, really good thoughtful setup for viewing and for moving spectators from one spot on the golf course to another, which is a huge challenge.”

The PGA Championship at Aronimink runs May 11 through the 17.

“This championship is an all-professional field, so it’s probably the strongest field of all the professional majors,” Lewers said. “With some of the LIV players coming over and playing in the PGA Championship, you’re going to have the best players in the world in one place at one time.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: James Drake /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images