The final two days of the 2010 PGA Championship saw significant improvements in the weather. The fog that plagued the first two rounds was absent on Saturday. Players were able to get started on time on Sunday thanks to clear skies and cooler temperatures. The final round started with relatively unknown players like Nick Watney (-13), Rory McIlroy (-10) and Dustin Johnson (-10) on top of the leader board. Notable players like Padraig Harrington, Jerry Kelly and Luke Donald failed to make the cut as the second round ended on Saturday morning.

The final round of the 2010 PGA Championship flips the script on the usual discussion in golf. Reporters tend to focus on high-profile players like Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson. These players were not in the top 15 players with Singh getting closest at 19th. The top six on the leader board as of Sunday morning had not won a single PGA major. This trend may not seem ideal for ratings but the PGA has reported record viewership for its online streaming service.

Given the struggles of famed players, it may seem strange that the PGA Championship did so well over the weekend. The Upper Midwest has a strong fan base for PGA events with fans traveling to Whistling Straits from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. The 2010 PGA Championship features golfers from 22 countries including large contingencies from Japan, South Africa and the United Kingdom. This international appeal brought hundreds of foreign media members to Whistling Straits and attracted viewers around the world. From my experience at Whistling Straits, I found that fans had attachments to favorite players that weren’t named Tiger or Phil. These factors contributed to a successful event for the PGA, Whistling Straits and the state of Wisconsin.

The fan experience at Whistling Straits was also important to the success of the 2010 PGA Championship. The PGA Performance Center by Mercedes-Benz featured a show model of the 2011 SLS AMG as well as a golf history exhibit. The PGA Fan Experience by RBC allowed fans to design their own golf bags and pose with virtual versions of their favorite players. The PGA Learning Center by American Express provided free golf lessons and practice greens to avid golfers. These venues allowed fans to ride out early morning fog and afternoon heat while learning more about golf.

Whistling Straits marshaled its facilities and volunteers to prevent problems that are common at such a big event. The walking trails were dotted with lemonade and beverage carts between concessions stands. Volunteers were stationed throughout the course to answer questions and direct fans to the right places. The intersection of media, fans, support staff and volunteers never seemed to distract from the play on the course. Whistling Straits built on the success of the 2004 PGA Championship to carry off this event without a hitch.

The PGA is clearly enamored with Wisconsin golf courses as major championship sites. The Straits Course used for the 2004 and 2010 Championships will host the 2015 PGA Championship. Erin Hills Golf Course in Washington County has been selected to host the 2017 U.S. Open. Wisconsin’s reputation as a frozen wasteland known for brats and football seems to have changed thanks to successful events like the 2010 PGA Championship.