SPORTS

PGA Championship gear going on sale at Valhalla

Steve Jones
@stevejones_cj

Your best chance to buy a PGA Championship T-shirt, hat or souvenir could be this weekend, in advance of next week's tournament at Valhalla Golf Club.

And expect to find a nice selection.

The year's last golf major has a major merchandise tent — the 38,000-square-foot Championship Shops — and it will be open to the public, with no tournament ticket required on Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Parking is free at Lot X across from Valhalla.

Starting next week, patrons will need tickets to be on the grounds at Valhalla, which is hosting the 96th PGA Championship Aug. 7-10.

The largest merchandise tent ever built for a PGA Championship is centrally located on the golf course and figures to be a major hub of traffic all of championship week. A total of about 250,000 fans are expected through the end of the tournament, and the merchandise tent is expected to conduct 90,000 to 100,000 transactions.

Mike Quirk, senior director for merchandise for the PGA of America, encourages fans with tickets to beat the rush and come to the Championship Shops this weekend, and for those without tickets, this is their only chance.

This Saturday and Sunday only, the PGA Championship's Wanamaker Trophy will be on display for pictures. Former University of Louisville basketball player Peyton Siva will be on hand from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday signing autographs for free.

"It's kind of a relaxed weekend with no golf going on, and it kind of allows you to come in and shop at your leisure," Quirk said.

Constructed over the past six weeks, the Championship Shops — with flooring, air conditioning and bright lighting — feels more like a department store than a tent.

The size of a football field, it has mini-shops for major brands, including Nike, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Under Armour Greg Norman, Cutter and Buck and New Era. There is clothing for men, women and children — just about every style and color of T-shirt, golf shirt and hat you can imagine. Almost all are emblazoned with the Valhalla PGA Championship logo. There are 40 cash registers and about 600 volunteers working at the tent.

Quirk said the on-course store is the only place within 100 miles — excluding a small display at Louisville International Airport — where merchandise with the official championship logo is allowed to be sold.

"If you're not a golfer, we still have a great offering for you," Quirk said. "We have T-shirts, hats, casual sweatshirts, things you'd wear on the weekend. And of course if you are a golfer, we've got everything you ever could imagine."

Some merchandise to watch for:

• An area devoted to multiple brands of hats, which figure to be the most popular item for sale and run $25 to $35. Quirk estimated that about 70,000 hats will be sold. About 40,000 to 45,000 golf shirts ($39 to $90) and 20,000 to 25,000 T-shirts ($25 to $36) are expected to be sold.

• Multiple U of L and University of Kentucky items that have been co-branded with the PGA Valhalla logo, including a $65 Cutter and Buck golf shirt and a 47 Brand T-shirt ($34).

• Full-size Louisville Slugger PGA Championship bats ($65 personalized, $59 not personalized). Mini-bats are $9.

• Styles of shirts that Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are expected to wear for each round of the tournament. Woods' signature Sunday red Nike shirt is $90.

• Attire for this year's U.S. Ryder Cup team.

• Souvenir ball markers ($2), pin flags, golf towels and divot repair tools.

• Three poster designs for $26 each.

Steve Jones can be reached at (502) 582-7176 and followed at @SteveJones_CJ.