Senior PGA Championship
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Benton Harbor, Michigan in 2016 |
| Established | 1937, 87 years ago |
| Course(s) | The Golf Club at Harbor Shores (2016) |
| Par | 71 (2016) |
| Length | 6,852 yards (6,265 m)[1] (2016) |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions European Seniors Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Prize fund | $2.8 million |
| Month played | May |
| Current champion | |
 Rocco Mediate | |
Harbor
The Senior PGA Championship is the oldest of the five major championships in men's senior golf. It is administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and is recognized as a major championship by both PGA Tour Champions and the European Seniors Tour. It was formerly an unofficial money event on the European Seniors Tour, but since 2007 has been an official money event.[2] Winners gain entry into the same season's PGA Championship. The winners prior to 1980, the first season of the senior tour, are not considered major champions of this event by the PGA Tour Champions.
Like its PGA Tour counterpart, the Senior PGA Championship allows club professionals to enter. The tournament committee invites former winners of the PGA Professional National Championship and the top 35 club professionals who qualify through a tournament.
It was founded 87 years ago in 1937, and the inaugural event was played at Augusta National Golf Club, with 54-year-old Jock Hutchison winning the 54-hole event on Thursday, December 2.[3][4] The second edition at Augusta was reduced to 36 holes due to rain, but had an 18-hole playoff on December 9 to decide the winner, Fred McLeod.[5][6] The next edition was moved to Florida in January,[7] and it was 36-hole event until 1954; after four years at 54 holes, it became a 72-hole event in 1958. The championship was played only in Florida from 1940 through 2000. It moved from winter to mid-April in 1990 and when it rotated to various sites in 2001, it became a late spring event, played in late May or early June.
The lower age limit is 50, which is the standard limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. In the past, the event has had long spells of playing on a single host course, but currently it is played on a different course each year. No tournaments were held in 1943 and 1944 due to World War II. Due to scheduling moves, two tournaments were played in 1979 and 1984 and none in 1939, 1983, and 1985. The tournament has gone by several different names:
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1937–82 | PGA Seniors' Championship |
| 1984–89 | General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship |
| 1990–2000 | PGA Seniors' Championship |
| 2001–10 | Senior PGA Championship |
| 2011–16 | Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid |
| 2017– | KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship |
Eligibility
Here is who may be eligible to compete in the Senior PGA Championship (provided they meet the age requirement):
- Any past winner of the Senior PGA Championship
- Any past winner of a regular major championship
- Any past member of the United States Ryder Cup team
- The top 15 finishers in the previous year's Senior PGA Championship
- The top 50 on the Champions Tour money list (previous year and current year)
- Any winner of a Champions Tour event since the last Senior PGA Championship
- The top 35 finishers from the Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship
- Any winner of the previous five U.S. Senior Opens
- The winner of the last Senior British Open
- The top eight players from the previous year's European Seniors Tour Order of Merit
- The top four players from the previous year's Japanese Seniors Tour Order of Merit
- A one-time exemption for those who have just turned 50 and have won a PGA Tour, Japan Golf Tour, or European Tour event in the last 5 years
- The top 30 on the career money list, both Champions Tour and combined Champions Tour and PGA Tour
- A one-time exemption for former PGA Professional National Champions turning 50
- Invitations for those not meeting criteria above also are made
Course layout
2016 yardages
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yards | 423 | 174 | 324 | 209 | 573 | 417 | 436 | 384 | 578 | 3,518 | 539 | 144 | 412 | 197 | 450 | 549 | 422 | 201 | 420 | 3,394 | 6,852 |
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
Source:[1]
Tournament hosts
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Rocco Mediate |  United States |
265 (−19) | 504,000 |
| 2015 | Colin Montgomerie (2) |  Scotland |
280 (−8) | 495,000 |
| 2014 | Colin Montgomerie | Scotland |
271 (−13) | 378,000 |
| 2013 | Kōki Idoki |  Japan |
273 (−11) | 378,000 |
| 2012 | Roger Chapman |  England |
271 (−13) | 378,000 |
| 2011 | Tom Watson (2) | United States |
278 (−10) | 360,000 |
| 2010 | Tom Lehman | United States |
281 (−7) | 360,000 |
| 2009 | Michael Allen | United States |
274 (−6) | 360,000 |
| 2008 | Jay Haas (2) | United States |
287 (+7) | 360,000 |
| 2007 | Denis Watson |  Zimbabwe |
279 (−9) | 360,000 |
| 2006 | Jay Haas | United States |
279 (−5) | 360,000 |
| 2005 | Mike Reid | United States |
280 (−8) | 360,000 |
| 2004 | Hale Irwin (4) | United States |
276 (−8) | 360,000 |
| 2003 | John Jacobs | United States |
276 (−4) | 360,000 |
| 2002 | Fuzzy Zoeller | United States |
278 (−2) | 360,000 |
| 2001 | Tom Watson | United States |
274 (−10) | 360,000 |
| 2000 | Doug Tewell | United States |
201 (−15) | 324,000 |
| 1999 | Allen Doyle | United States |
274 (−14) | 315,000 |
| 1998 | Hale Irwin | United States |
275 (−13) | 270,000 |
| 1997 | Hale Irwin | United States |
274 (−14) | 216,000 |
| 1996 | Hale Irwin | United States |
280 (−8) | 198,000 |
| 1995 | Raymond Floyd | United States |
277 (−11) | 180,000 |
| 1994 | Lee Trevino (2) | United States |
279 (−9) | 115,000 |
| 1993 | Tom Wargo | United States |
275 (−13) | 110,000 |
| 1992 | Lee Trevino | United States |
278 (−10) | 100,000 |
| 1991 | Jack Nicklaus | United States |
271 (−17) | 85,000 |
| 1990 | Gary Player (3) |  South Africa |
281 (−7) | 75,000 |
| 1989 | Larry Mowry | United States |
281 (−7) | 72,000 |
| 1988 | Gary Player | South Africa |
284 (−4) | 63,000 |
| 1987 | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | United States |
282 (−6) | 47,000 |
| 1986 (Feb.) | Gary Player | South Africa |
281 (−7) | 45,000 |
| 1984 (Dec.) | Peter Thomson |  Australia |
286 (−2) | 40,000 |
| 1984 (Jan.) | Arnold Palmer (2) | United States |
282 (−6) | 35,000 |
| 1982 (Dec.) | Don January (2) | United States |
288 (E) | 25,000 |
| 1981 | Miller Barber | United States |
281 (−7) | 20,000 |
| 1980 | Arnold Palmer | United States |
289 (+1) | 20,000 |
| 1979 (Dec.) | Don January | United States |
270 (–18) | 15,000 |
| 1979 (Feb.) | Jack Fleck | United States |
289 (+1) | 8,000 |
| 1978 | Joe Jimenez | United States |
286 (–2) | 8,000 |
| 1977 | Julius Boros (2) | United States |
283 (–5) | 7,500 |
| 1976 | Pete Cooper | United States |
283 (–5) | 7,500 |
| 1975 | Charlie Sifford | United States |
280 (–8) | 7,500 |
| 1974 | Roberto DeVicenzo |  Argentina |
273 (–15) | 4,000 |
| 1973 | Sam Snead (6) | United States |
268 (–20) | 4,000 |
| 1972 | Sam Snead | United States |
286 (–2) | 4,000 |
| 1971 | Julius Boros | United States |
285 (–3) | 4,000 |
| 1970 | Sam Snead | United States |
290 (+2) | 4,000 |
| 1969 | Tommy Bolt | United States |
278 (–10) | 4,000 |
| 1968 | Chandler Harper | United States |
279 (–9) | 4,000 |
| 1967 | Sam Snead | United States |
279 (–9) | 4,000 |
| 1966 | Fred Haas | United States |
286 (–2) | 3,000 |
| 1965 | Sam Snead | United States |
278 (–9) | 3,500 |
| 1964 | Sam Snead | United States |
279 (–9) | 2,500 |
| 1963 | Herman Barron | United States |
272 (–16) | 2,500 |
| 1962 | Paul Runyan (2) | United States |
278 (–10) | 2,000 |
| 1961 | Paul Runyan | United States |
278 (–10) | 1,500 |
| 1960 | Dick Metz | United States |
284 (–4) | 1,500 |
| 1959 | Willie Goggin | United States |
284 (–4) | 1,200 |
| 1958 | Gene Sarazen (2) | United States |
288 (E) | 1,200 |
| 1957 | Al Watrous (3) | United States |
210 (–6) | 1,000 |
| 1956 | Pete Burke | United States |
215 (–1) | 1,000 |
| 1955 | Mortie Dutra | United States |
213 (–3) | 1,000 |
| 1954 | Gene Sarazen | United States |
214 (–2) | 1,000 |
| 1953 | Harry Schwab | United States |
142 (–2) | |
| 1952 | Ernie Newnham | United States |
146 (+2) | |
| 1951 | Al Watrous | United States |
142 (–2) | |
| 1950 | Al Watrous | United States |
142 (–2) | |
| 1949 | Marshall Crichton | United States |
145 (+1) | |
| 1948 | Charles McKenna | United States |
141 (–3) | |
| 1947 | Jock Hutchison (2) | United States |
145 (+1) | |
| 1946 | Eddie Williams (3) | United States |
146 (+2) | |
| 1945 | Eddie Williams | United States |
148 (+4) | |
| 1943–44 | No championships due to World War II | |||
| 1942 | Eddie Williams | United States |
138 (–6) | |
| 1941 | Jack Burke, Sr. | United States |
142 (E) | |
| 1940 (Jan.) | Otto Hackbarth | United States |
146 (+4) | |
| 1938 (Dec.) | Fred McLeod | Scotland |
154 (+10) | |
| 1937 | Jock Hutchison | United States |
223 (+7) | |
Source:[8]
Multiple winners
The following men have won the Senior PGA Championship more than once, through 2016:
- 6 wins: Sam Snead (1964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973)
- 4 wins: Hale Irwin (1996, 1997, 1998, 2004)
- 3 wins: Eddie Williams (1942, 1945, 1946), Al Watrous (1950, 1951, 1957), Gary Player (1986, 1988, 1990)
- 2 wins: Jock Hutchison (1937, 1947), Gene Sarazen (1954, 1958), Paul Runyan (1961, 1962), Julius Boros (1971, 1977),
Don January (1979, 1982), Arnold Palmer (1980, 1984), Lee Trevino (1992, 1994), Jay Haas (2006, 2008),
Tom Watson (2010, 2011), Colin Montgomerie (2014, 2015)
Winners of both PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship
The following men have won both the PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship, the majors run by the PGA of America:
| Player | PGA Championship | Senior PGA Championship |
|---|---|---|
| Jock Hutchison | 1920 | 1937, 1947 |
| Gene Sarazen | 1922, 1923, 1933 | 1954, 1958 |
| Paul Runyan | 1934, 1938 | 1961, 1962 |
| Sam Snead | 1942, 1949, 1951 | 1964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973 |
| Chandler Harper | 1950 | 1968 |
| Julius Boros | 1968 | 1971, 1977 |
| Don January | 1967 | 1979, 1982 |
| Gary Player | 1962, 1972 | 1986, 1988, 1990 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980 | 1991 |
| Lee Trevino | 1974, 1984 | 1992, 1994 |
| Raymond Floyd | 1969, 1982 | 1995 |
Future tournament sites
- 2017 – Trump National Golf Club, Potomac Falls, Virginia[9]
- 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024 – The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Michigan[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Senior PGA Championship: Course". PGA of America. 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "Strong Seniors contingent head to the United States". PGA European Tour. May 21, 2007.
- ^ "Jock Hutchison wins inaugural senior tourney". Sarasota Herald. Florida. Associated Press. December 3, 1937. p. 5.
- ^ "Hutchison named for golf job here". Sarasaota Herald-Tribune. Florida. July 7, 1940. p. 6.
- ^ "Two golfers tie for first place in senior event". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. December 9, 1938. p. 6.
- ^ "M'Leod defeats Hackbarth in seniors' golf". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. December 10, 1938. p. 22.
- ^ "Hackbarth wins seniors golf crown". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida. January 17, 1940. p. 7.
- ^ "Senior PGA Championship Media Guide" (PDF). PGA of America. 2016. pp. 6–64.
- ^ "Trump courses to host majors". ESPN. Associated Press. May 1, 2014.
- ^ Di Carlo, Angelo (July 25, 2013). "Senior PGA Championship Returning to Benton Harbor in 2014, 2016 and 2018". WNDU-TV. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ^ "Wednesday Notebook: KitchenAid extends Senior PGA Championship sponsorship". PGA of America. May 25, 2016.
