Davis Love III gets the Gold Tee Award from Met Golf Writers

Davis Love III checked into Baltusrol Golf Club around lunchtime Monday, then headed up to Westchester a few hours later. The 52-year-old captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team received the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association's prestigious Gold Tee Award during the organization's 65th annual National Awards Dinner at the Westchester Marriott.

The recognition is a nod of appreciation for longtime contributions to the game.

Love, whose biggest victory was the PGA Championship in 1997 at Winged Foot, joined an impressive list of past winners that includes the likes of Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Nancy Lopez, Tom Watson, Annika Sorenstam and Phil Mickelson.

The MGWA presented its Distinguished Service Award to Jay Mottola, a Tarrytown resident who's is retiring later this year after serving as the Metropolitan Golf Association's executive director for 35 years. Tim Rosaforte, a Brewster native who covers the sport for Golf World and Golf Digest and contributes to Golf Channel and NBC received the Lincoln Werden Golf Journalism Award.

Notah Begay picked up the Winnie Palmer Award for devoting time and energy to the less fortunate, The organization's Family of the Year went to former PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, his father Mark Bradley, a PGA club professional and his aunt Pat Bradley, an LPGA Tour legend. Century Country Club was celebrated as the MGWA's club of the year.

Sold out: Daily tickets for all four championship rounds of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club sold out over the weekend along with all Wanamaker Club packages. Tickets for the remaining practice rounds can still be purchased online at PGAChampionship.com. A daily grounds ticket is $35 on Tuesday and $40 on Wednesday.

Juniors age 17 and under get free admission to the championship grounds when accompanied by an adult.

Most of the top players only do nine holes each day, then work on their games in the practice areas, which on Monday were popular viewing spots for the spectators who braved the heat.

And the rain came down: The golf course got a shot of cold water Monday evening when a nasty thunderstorm unleashed a lengthy downpour just after 5 p.m. Practice rounds were suspended at 4:38 p.m. and spectators moved quickly to the exits. Most of the players got their work done early due to the excessive heat. A few walked the course in the afternoon while caddies filled in yardage books.