David Rulon (red shirt) and his wife Cora (striped shirt) were the marshals on the 10th green Saturday when Phil Mickelson made his birdie putt.
In my 45-plus years doing what I do, I heard a lot of valid reasons for why someone did not have time to do an interview when I called. However, I think David Rulon might have moved to No. 1 on my list Sunday when I called him. He couldn’t talk because he was taking marshals out to the 10th tee, fairway, and green at the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.
Rulon and his wife, Cora, had never worked as marshals before but signed up when he found out they could pay $200 each and both get two golf shirts, a jacket, a hat, 7-day tournament passes, meal tickets, and vouchers for water along with use of the volunteer tent to get out of the heat when they were not working.
“It was exceptional. It was just an outstanding experience to see a little glimpse of what it is like on tour from up close. It’s something we would definitely do again,” Rulon said.
Of course, this year’s PGA Championship was historic because at age 50 Phil Mickelson became the oldest player to win a major championship. CBS Sports said viewership for the final round peaked at around 13 million in the 7 p.m. hour. By comparison, the 2020 PGA Championship peaked at 6.8 million.
“It was so great to be part of it as a marshal and spectator,” Rulon said. “It was just a wonderful experience.”
Saturday when Mickelson got a birdie on 10 in the third round both Rulon and his wife were by the green asking fans to be quiet while he putted. Mickelson birdied the 10th hole again in the final round to push his lead to five shots but Rulon had to stay back in the fairway to “hold the crowd back” that wanted to follow Mickelson up the fairway.
Rulon got a little nervous when Mickelson and playing partner Brooks Koepka came to the 10th tee Sunday. Louis Oosthuizen was in the group ahead of them and had put a ball in the tall grass that took time to find. Rulon’s wife was on a knoll in the fairway and her job was to indicate when it was clear to hit.
“Here comes Mickelson and you could tell they were completely in a zone. I was not about to say anything to him about whether it was clear or not clear to hit,” Rulon said. “He (Mickelson) got up to hit and they (the group ahead) had just gone over the hill. He hit one right down the middle.
“My wife said, ‘I was just getting ready to signal clear and here came the ball.’ But I was not going to stop him. He was on a mission.”
Rulon said Mickelson was the huge crowd favorite. Since Mickelson was in the final pairing the last two days, Rulon and other marshals on the tee followed him up the fairway.
“You would hear, ‘Lefty, we love you.’ The crowd was overwhelmingly heavy for Phil,” Rulon said. “The entire course was rooting for him.”
Rulon was also thrilled to see former PGA champ John Daly, who started his round on No. 10 Friday.
“It was wonderful to see him. He drove his cart and it was not quite time to tell off. He lights up a cigarette and leans against his driver until time to play,” Rulon said. “He drops his cigarette, tees the ball, and hits a laser down the middle. He says, ‘First swing of the day.’ Just classic John Daly. He had a lot of constant excitement with him, too.”
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Rulon and his wife live on Tybee Island and operate Tybee Island Bike Rentals. I met them last year on vacation when we rented bikes and “accidentally” found out we had a mutual friend — Steve Fitzgerald, father of UK defensive lineman Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald.
My son was wearing a UK cap when Rulon mentioned his friend had a son playing at UK. I asked him who and told him I knew Steve as well.
Small world, right. Rulon and his wife delivered the bikes, picked them up, and could not have been more helpful.
If you need a bike on Tybee Island or know anyone who does, contact them at 912-656-5123 or tybeeislandbikerentals@gmail.com.
We already have our reservations made for July.
