“Well, I just love St. Louis,” Daly said. “I love the fans. And when I played Bellerive there a couple years ago when Brooks beat Tiger, it was like, ‘My God, I didn’t make the cut, but I gave it all I had.’ And I wore those St. Louis Cardinals pants from LoudMouth on Friday, man, it was just awesome how many fans supported me and were rooting me on in St. Louis. And they know I’m passionate about the Cardinals, as well.

“When I won the PGA in ’91, I defended at Bellerive and Pedro Guerrero took me out after. Pedro was a five-time All-Star. He was my buddy and we went down to Union Station downtown and my buddy that played the Helias High School football, he was our quarterback, he owned the bar we were at — and we didn’t even know it.”

The organizers behind the Ascension Charity Classic expectedthe inaugural PGA Tour Champions event to draw about 30,000 fans.  Their expectations were modest. 

The golf tournament drew 51,000 fans, a figure officials said set a record for a first-time event on the PGA's senior circuit. The attendance totals include the Ascension Charity Classic's three-day, 54-hole tournament as well as its pro-am event on Thursday. Net proceeds of the inaugural event will go to local charities.