Sr. PGA Championship: May 25-29
By Tom Lang
Michigan’s professional golf tournament season will kick off Memorial Day Weekend in Benton Harbor, with the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
The event brings arguably the most accomplished senior golfers to Harbor Shores, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, every other year with its rotating schedule between the home of KitchenAid/ Whirlpool and additional sites in the odd years.
In addition to Championship golf with all the iconic golf names like Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer and Jim Furyk, this family-friendly fan event provides a variety of experiences such as celebrity cooking demonstrations, a YMCA Kids Zone, and more.
One of the most popular fan experiences showcases a craft beer, wine, & spirits in a covered pavilion, called the Makers Trail that features local breweries’ best products.
A total of 27 major champions are in the field: Rich Beem (PGA Championship), Mark Brooks (PGA Championship), Mark Calcavecchia (The Open), Michael Campbell (U.S. Open), Darren Clarke (The Open), Fred Couples (The Masters), John Daly (PGA Championship, The Open), David Duval (The Open), Ernie Els (U.S. Open, The Open), Jim Furyk (U.S. Open), Retief Goosen (U.S. Open), Todd Hamilton (The Open), Padraig Harrington (PGA Championship, The Open), Lee Janzen (U.S. Open), Steve Jones (U.S. Open), Bernhard Langer (The Masters), Tom Lehman (The Open), Sandy Lyle (The Masters, The Open), Shaun Micheel (PGA Championship), Larry Mize (The Masters), Jose Maria Olazabal (The Masters), Corey Pavin (U.S. Open), Vijay Singh (The Masters, PGA Championship), Jeff Sluman (PGA Championship), David Toms (PGA Championship), Mike Weir (The Masters), and Y.E. Yang (PGA Championship).
There are also 11 past KitchenAid Senior PGA Champions competing and as of April 15, two Michiganders made the field: PGA Tour Champions member Tom Gillis of Lake Orion, and club pro Jeff Roth, of Harbor Springs and Boyne Resorts. Less than a year ago Roth qualified into the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic and was the oldest player in that field.
For more on the Championship and the Makers Trail, or to purchase tickets, visit: www.srpgachampionship.com/tickets.
