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So, are fans here for the golf, the spectacle or both?

"The golf," said Susan Zemmer of White Lake Township, who was there with her husband, Ron.

"It's a chance to see the players up close."

Ron added: "I love to watch their swing and putting styles."

Susan, whose husband is taller than 6 feet, looked toward a knot of golfers and whispered, "They're all so small."

Ron had another reason for looking forward to the day.

"I'm a good friend of Tim Weinhart of Georgia," he said, pointing to Weinhart's name on the printed list of golfers, "so we'll be trying to see him golf today."

Former engineer Gerry Gamlin received tickets to the tournament as a retirement gift in April.

"I like the whole event," said Gamlin, an Easton, Pa., resident who was there with his wife, Maryanne.

"He's the golfer," she said, looking at her husband. "I'm a couch golfer."

Maryanne expressed regret that Tiger Woods wasn't at the event, but added, "The whole thing is cool."

Homebuilder Ray Williams of Powhatan County, Va., was all smiles at the 11th hole on Thursday.

"I'm here because it's a great opportunity to see the greatest golfers in the world," he said, noting he planned to return home Saturday to watch the final round on TV.

"It makes you feel special to be here."

His friend, Trent Overboe of Richmond, Va., said he was rooting for Phil Mickelson.

"He's uncontroversial," he said, "you know, never been in trouble."

Karen VandenBerg, an assistant golf pro at Battle Creek Country Club who was at the event with friend Mary Lloyd, planned to follow fellow club pro Brad Dean during part of the day.

"I always like to watch Phil Mickelson, too," she said.

Mike Nickel of Grant Township brought his friend, Zachery Prater of Yale, to the tournament to get Prater interested in golf. The two men are both 18.

Prater had little experience with the game, he said.

"So far, it's interesting to watch," Prater said. "I don't know too much. I don't think I'm ready to go to a course."

Nickel, who works with information technology, wanted to catch up with Mickelson out on the course.

"He's interesting because he can knock the ball off the fairway but still manage brilliant recovery shots."

Kristi Rowan Ashcroft and her husband, Mark Ashcroft, admitted to having a long history at Oakland Hills Country Club.

"We were married here July 31, 2004," Mark said.

Standing nearby was Dean Blanchard from Sudbury, Ontario.

"And here's my best man," Mark added.

Kristi's parents and grandparents are club members, so that helps, said the couple who live in Toronto.

All three were banking on Canadian Mike Weir taking home the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.

Jim and Wadad Kendall of Sterling Heights were surprised at the prices being charged for food and merchandise Thursday.

"We bought two hot dogs, chips and iced teas yesterday and it came to $18," said Wadad, an avid golfer who has played in pro-am golf matches.

Jim also marveled that an ice cream cone cost $4.

"It's price-gouging," Wadad said.

"I think if everything was a dollar less, they would sell twice as much. With the economy being so tough, it doesn't seem anyone here cares. You would think they would try to help people out, like sell a meal ticket for the whole day."

Retiree Henry Ross of Harrison Township was waiting for his favorite player, John Daly, to come through.

"This is our first major," he said, referring to his companion, son Steve Ross, also of Harrison Township.

While Steve was hoping Mickelson might win the tournament, his father was sticking with Daly.

"He breaks my heart but I still love him to death," Henry said.

Grand Rapids resident Randy Kolar watched as his three sons -- twins Andrew and Noah, 7, and Alex, 13 -- used a special device called the American Express Championship Vision.

"You can get live statistics and see where the players are on the course," Kolar said. "They're all sharing it."

During the tournament day, the device is distributed free to people who have American Express cards.

Kolar said the boys love golf so much, he was having a putting green installed at home.

Andrew was hoping Jim Furyk would win.

The twins are "golf nuts," said Randy Kolar. "And Furyk signed their hats at the Buick Open."

Former Oakland Hills caddy Dennis Price stood near the 16th hole and reminisced about the days in the 1950s when he earned a whopping $2.25 to caddy 18 holes.

"And that was with a bag over each shoulder," said Prince, 69, a Warren native now living in Dallas.

His wife, Betty Prince, smiled, noting, "Yes, I've heard that story for 46 years."