Wanamaker Masterclass: My PGA Trip Recap
- Samantha Lindstrum
- May 20
- 3 min read
I have officially returned to the peaceful, rolling hills of Oxford Greens, and while my luggage is currently a chaotic explosion of golf polos, Philly souvenirs, and empty snack wrappers, my mind is still stuck in Pennsylvania.
The high-stakes electricity of the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club was an absolute whirlwind. I went to Newtown Square as a roving reporter armed with a leather clipboard and a high-end voice recorder, expecting a fun weekend of spectating. Instead, I got an absolute masterclass in grit, some world-class city detours, and an unexpected, overwhelming urge to completely overhaul my own golf game.
Here is the full, unfiltered recap of my Pennsylvania adventure.
Mosaics and Macabre: The Philly Detours
Before the weekend drama on the fairways reached a fever pitch, I made sure to fully immerse myself in the local culture. You can’t send a girl who lives on true crime podcasts and cheese to Philadelphia and expect her to only watch golf.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens: Stepping into this South Street landmark was like walking inside a giant, glittering kaleidoscope. It’s a literal labyrinth of mirrors, glass, bike tires, and ceramics. Getting lost in the mosaic tunnels felt beautifully otherworldly—the ultimate creative palate cleanser before heading into the structured, green lines of a championship golf course.
The True Crime & History Tour: This was an absolute highlight for me. Standing outside the historic Betsy Ross House while a tour guide detailed the "grim and twisted" colonial-era mysteries and local legends was exactly my brand of entertainment. Old City has some seriously dark secrets hiding behind those beautiful historic brick facades!
The Cheese Quest: Let the record show that the food lived up to the hype. I wandered through Reading Terminal Market and practically wept over some local artisanal triple-cream cheese. I also braved the crowds at Cleavers near Rittenhouse Square for a classic ribeye-and-wiz cheesesteak. My "Springtime Princess" dress from the Urban Princess Boutique was a slightly risky choice for a greasy cheesesteak run, but style requires sacrifice.
The Main Event: Absolute Theatre at Aronimink
Aronimink was a beast of a course. Early on, Scottie Scheffler called the pin locations "kind of absurd," and watching the world's best players try to navigate the terrifying par-3 17th hole with water guarding the left side was pure tension.
The tournament leaderboard was a massive logjam of superstars all weekend—Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg, and Jon Rahm were all lingering. But the entire weekend belonged to one man: Aaron Rai.
The 31-year-old Englishman delivered a clinical lesson in composure. He shot a blistering final-round 65 to finish at -9 under par, three shots clear of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley. The turning point was absolute theater—Rai sank a miraculous 40-foot eagle putt on the 9th hole to surge into the mix, and then completely iced the championship by burying a staggering 68-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, sending the gallery into absolute delirium!
As a perfect final touch to win over the locals, Rai even led an "E-A-G-L-E-S" chant during his trophy ceremony. He became the first Englishman to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy since 1919, and watching him lift it after years of quiet grinding was incredibly moving.
The Ultimate Takeaway: An Aggressive Amateur's New Spark
I started this trip calling my own golf game an "aggressive amateur" phase, but watching Aaron Rai work left a permanent mark on me. In his post-win interview, Rai said something that has been looping in my head ever since:
"Golf is an amazing game. It teaches you so many things, and it teaches you so much humility and discipline and absolute hard work because nothing is ever given in this game."
Standing in that gallery, watching the flawless tempo of the pros and the raw discipline it takes to hit a tiny ball under that kind of pressure, something clicked. I didn't just want to report on it anymore; I wanted to *feel* it.
I came home, immediately checked on Enzo and George (who survived my absence perfectly, thank goodness), and then did something I haven't done in months: I booked a lesson right here at Oxford Greens. Seeing the best in the world handle Aronimink didn't make me feel intimidated; it made me want to get out on our own beautiful fairways and actually put the work in.
The Wanamaker Trophy might not be in my future, but a drastically lower handicap definitely is.
I'm officially hitting the driving range this week. Who's meeting me out there?
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