Fans enjoy first day of American Express play

LA QUINTA, Calif (KESQ) – Over 70,000 people are expected to attend the American Express Tournament through the four rounds of play at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club. Fans did not disappoint with crowds for the first day as they followed their favorite players.

For many fans, they said coming to the tournament was a special moment for them, especially for those who are attending for the first time.

"This, was a Christmas present from my wife because she knows how much I love golf and traveling," Kiran Phillips said.

Phillips and his wife are visiting the Coachella Valley from Colorado, but Phillips is originally from South Africa making it exciting to watch South African athletes compete in the tournament. Some fans are even there to watch the amateur players they know well.

"My son's father in law's playing an amateur as an amateur in the tournament," John Freeman. "So we're actually looking to watch him come up here on number nine on the Nicklaus course shortly."

Another fan, Donita Vanhorik, said she's been coming to the tournament with her husband for nearly five years and it's become a tradition.

"It's an event that we really don't want to miss and we have some friends that are also fans, so we get together and do it," Vanhorik said. "It's just a kind of a thing that's normal."

Mark Perrins traveled from England to see the American Express Tournament, something he hasn't been to a couple years. He said he wanted to come back to watch Matthew Fitzpatrick compete and watch other elite professionals.

"When you see these people, these guys, it it the way they, they can swing and play," Perrins said. "It's just fantastic to watch. It's quality."

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage on the American Express Tournament.