Senior PGA Championship
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Benton Harbor, MI in 2022 |
| Established | 1937, 85 years ago |
| Course(s) | Harbor Shores Resort |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,852 yards (6,265 m) |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions European Seniors Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Prize fund | $3.25 million |
| Month played | May |
| Current champion | |
 Alex Čejka | |
Tulsa
Southern
Hills
Hills
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 Senior Tour. It was formerly an unofficial money event on the European Senior Tour, but since 2007 has been an official money event.[1] Winners gain entry into the next 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.
The lower age limit is 50, which is the standard limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. Like its PGA Tour counterpart, the Senior PGA Championship allows club professionals to enter. The tournament committee gives former winners of the PGA Professional National Championship a one time invitation upon turning 50 years of age and the top 35 club professionals who qualify through the Senior PGA Professional National Championship.
History[]
The inaugural event was played 85 years ago in 1937 at Augusta National Golf Club, with 54-year-old Jock Hutchison winning the 54-hole event on Thursday, December 2.[2][3] 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.[4][5] The next edition was moved to Florida in January,[6] No tournaments were held in 1943 and 1944 due to World War II. The event returned in 1945 at the PGA National Golf Course, where it stayed until 1962. The event moved to different courses in Florida through 2000. Due to scheduling moves, two tournaments were played in 1979 and 1984 and none in 1983, and 1985. 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.
It was a 36-hole event until 1954; after four years at 54 holes, it became a 72-hole event in 1958. 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.
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 PGA Tour Champions money list (previous year and current year)
- Any winner of a PGA Tour Champions 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 previous five Senior Open Championship
- The top eight players from the previous year's European Senior Tour Order of Merit
- The top four players from the previous year's 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 PGA Tour Champions and combined PGA Tour Champions 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
Tournament hosts[]
| Year | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Southern Hills Country Club | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 2008, 2019 | Oak Hill Country Club | Rochester, New York |
| 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 | The Golf Club at Harbor Shores | Benton Harbor, Michigan |
| 2017 | Trump National Golf Club | Potomac Falls, Virginia |
| 2015 | French Lick Resort | French Lick, Indiana |
| 2013 | Bellerive Country Club | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 2004, 2011 | Valhalla Golf Club | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2010 | Colorado Golf Club | Parker, Colorado |
| 2009 | Canterbury Golf Club | Beachwood, Ohio |
| 2007 | Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course | Kiawah Island, South Carolina |
| 2006 | Oak Tree Golf Club | Edmond, Oklahoma |
| 2005 | Laurel Valley Golf Club | Ligonier, Pennsylvania |
| 2003 | Aronimink Golf Club | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania |
| 2002 | Firestone Country Club | Akron, Ohio |
| 2001 | The Ridgewood Country Club | Paramus, New Jersey |
| 1982–2000 | PGA National Golf Club | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1979 (Dec.) −1981 | North Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 1975–1979 (Feb.) | Walt Disney World | Orlando, Florida |
| 1974 | Port St. Lucie, Florida | |
| 1964, 1966–73 | PGA National Golf Club (old) | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1965 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | |
| 1963 | Port St. Lucie Country Club | Port St. Lucie, Florida |
| 1945–62 | PGA National Golf Course | Dunedin, Florida |
| 1942 | Fort Myers, Florida | |
| 1940–41 | Sarasota, Florida | |
| 1937–38 (Dec.) | Augusta National Golf Club | Augusta, Georgia |
Name[]
The tournament has gone by several different names:
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 2017– | KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship |
| 2011–16 | Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid |
| 2001–10 | Senior PGA Championship |
| 1990–2000 | PGA Seniors' Championship |
| 1984–89 | General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship |
| 1937–82 | PGA Seniors' Championship |
Winners[]
| Year | Player | Country | Venue | Score | Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Alex Čejka | Germany |
Southern Hills Country Club | 272 (−8) | 585,000 |
| 2020 | Canceled due to coronavirus pandemic[7] | ||||
| 2019 | Ken Tanigawa |  United States |
Oak Hill Country Club | 277 (−3) | 585,000 |
| 2018 | Paul Broadhurst |  England |
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores | 265 (−19) | 585,000 |
| 2017 | Bernhard Langer | Germany |
Trump National Golf Club | 270 (−18) | 540,000 |
| 2016 | Rocco Mediate | United States |
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores | 265 (−19) | 504,000 |
| 2015 | Colin Montgomerie (2) |  Scotland |
French Lick Resort | 280 (−8) | 495,000 |
| 2014 | Colin Montgomerie | Scotland |
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores | 271 (−13) | 378,000 |
| 2013 | Kōki Idoki |  Japan |
Bellerive Country Club | 273 (−11) | 378,000 |
| 2012 | Roger Chapman | England |
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores | 271 (−13) | 378,000 |
| 2011 | Tom Watson (2) | United States |
Valhalla Golf Club | 278 (−10) | 360,000 |
| 2010 | Tom Lehman | United States |
Colorado Golf Club | 281 (−7) | 360,000 |
| 2009 | Michael Allen | United States |
Canterbury Golf Club | 274 (−6) | 360,000 |
| 2008 | Jay Haas (2) | United States |
Oak Hill Country Club | 287 (+7) | 360,000 |
| 2007 | Denis Watson |  Zimbabwe |
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course | 279 (−9) | 360,000 |
| 2006 | Jay Haas | United States |
Oak Tree Golf Club | 279 (−5) | 360,000 |
| 2005 | Mike Reid | United States |
Laurel Valley Golf Club | 280 (−8) | 360,000 |
| 2004 | Hale Irwin (4) | United States |
Valhalla Golf Club | 276 (−8) | 360,000 |
| 2003 | John Jacobs | United States |
Aronimink Golf Club | 276 (−4) | 360,000 |
| 2002 | Fuzzy Zoeller | United States |
Firestone Country Club | 278 (−2) | 360,000 |
| 2001 | Tom Watson | United States |
The Ridgewood Country Club | 274 (−10) | 360,000 |
| 2000 | Doug Tewell | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 201 (−15) | 324,000 |
| 1999 | Allen Doyle | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 274 (−14) | 315,000 |
| 1998 | Hale Irwin | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 275 (−13) | 270,000 |
| 1997 | Hale Irwin | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 274 (−14) | 216,000 |
| 1996 | Hale Irwin | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 280 (−8) | 198,000 |
| 1995 | Raymond Floyd | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 277 (−11) | 180,000 |
| 1994 | Lee Trevino (2) | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 279 (−9) | 115,000 |
| 1993 | Tom Wargo | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 275 (−13) | 110,000 |
| 1992 | Lee Trevino | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 278 (−10) | 100,000 |
| 1991 | Jack Nicklaus | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 271 (−17) | 85,000 |
| 1990 | Gary Player (3) |  South Africa |
PGA National Golf Club | 281 (−7) | 75,000 |
| 1989 | Larry Mowry | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 281 (−7) | 72,000 |
| 1988 | Gary Player | South Africa |
PGA National Golf Club | 284 (−4) | 63,000 |
| 1987 | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 282 (−6) | 47,000 |
| 1986 (Feb.) | Gary Player | South Africa |
PGA National Golf Club | 281 (−7) | 45,000 |
| 1984 (Dec.) | Peter Thomson |  Australia |
PGA National Golf Club | 286 (−2) | 40,000 |
| 1984 (Jan.) | Arnold Palmer (2) | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 282 (−6) | 35,000 |
| 1982 (Dec.) | Don January (2) | United States |
PGA National Golf Club | 288 (E) | 25,000 |
| 1981 | Miller Barber | United States |
Turnberry Isle Resort and Club | 281 (−7) | 20,000 |
| 1980 | Arnold Palmer | United States |
Turnberry Isle Resort and Club | 289 (+1) | 20,000 |
| 1979 (Dec.) | Don January | United States |
Turnberry Isle Resort and Club | 270 (−18) | 15,000 |
| 1979 (Feb.) | Jack Fleck | United States |
Walt Disney World | 289 (+1) | 8,000 |
| 1978 | Joe Jimenez | United States |
Walt Disney World | 286 (−2) | 8,000 |
| 1977 | Julius Boros (2) | United States |
Walt Disney World | 283 (−5) | 7,500 |
| 1976 | Pete Cooper | United States |
Walt Disney World | 283 (−5) | 7,500 |
| 1975 | Charlie Sifford | United States |
Walt Disney World | 280 (−8) | 7,500 |
| 1974 | Roberto De Vicenzo |  Argentina |
Port St. Lucie Country Club | 273 (−15) | 4,000 |
| 1973 | Sam Snead (6) | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 268 (−20) | 4,000 |
| 1972 | Sam Snead | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 286 (−2) | 4,000 |
| 1971 | Julius Boros | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 285 (−3) | 4,000 |
| 1970 | Sam Snead | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 290 (+2) | 4,000 |
| 1969 | Tommy Bolt | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 278 (−10) | 4,000 |
| 1968 | Chandler Harper | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 279 (−9) | 4,000 |
| 1967 | Sam Snead | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 279 (−9) | 4,000 |
| 1966 | Fred Haas | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 286 (−2) | 3,000 |
| 1965 | Sam Snead | United States |
Fort Lauderdale Country Club | 278 (−9) | 3,500 |
| 1964 | Sam Snead | United States |
PGA National Golf Club (old) | 279 (−9) | 2,500 |
| 1963 | Herman Barron | United States |
Port St. Lucie Country Club | 272 (−16) | 2,500 |
| 1962 | Paul Runyan (2) | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 278 (−10) | 2,000 |
| 1961 | Paul Runyan | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 278 (−10) | 1,500 |
| 1960 | Dick Metz | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 284 (−4) | 1,500 |
| 1959 | Willie Goggin | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 284 (−4) | 1,200 |
| 1958 | Gene Sarazen (2) | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 288 (E) | 1,200 |
| 1957 | Al Watrous (3) | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 210 (−6) | 1,000 |
| 1956 | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 215 (−1) | 1,000 | |
| 1955 | Mortie Dutra | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 213 (−3) | 1,000 |
| 1954 | Gene Sarazen | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 214 (−2) | 1,000 |
| 1953 | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 142 (−2) | ||
| 1952 | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 146 (+2) | ||
| 1951 | Al Watrous | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 142 (−2) | |
| 1950 | Al Watrous | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 142 (−2) | |
| 1949 | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 145 (+1) | ||
| 1948 | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 141 (−3) | ||
| 1947 | Jock Hutchison (2) | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 145 (+1) | |
| 1946 | (3) | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 146 (+2) | |
| 1945 | Eddie Williams | United States |
PGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club) | 148 (+4) | |
| 1943–44: No championships due to World War II | |||||
| 1942 | Eddie Williams | United States |
Fort Myers Country Club | 138 (−6) | |
| 1941 | Jack Burke Sr. | United States |
Bobby Jones Golf Complex Sarasota Bay Country Club |
142 (E) | |
| 1940 (Jan.) | Otto Hackbarth | United States |
Bobby Jones Golf Complex Sarasota Bay Country Club |
146 (+4) | |
| 1938 (Dec.) | Fred McLeod | Scotland |
Augusta National Golf Club | 154 (+10) | |
| 1937 | Jock Hutchison | United States |
Augusta National Golf Club | 223 (+7) | |
Source:[8]
Multiple winners[]
The following men have won the Senior PGA Championship more than once, through 2019:
- 6 wins: Sam Snead (1964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973)
- 4 wins: Hale Irwin (1996, 1997, 1998, 2004)
- 3 wins: (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 (2001, 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 |
Final round ratings[]
2019: 1.190 million on NBC[9]
Future tournament sites[]
- 2022, 2024 – The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Michigan[10][11]
- 2025, 2033 – Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland[12]
- 2026 – Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania[13]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "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, scheduled for May, canceled". ESPN. Associated Press. April 2, 2020.
- ^ "Senior PGA Championship Media Guide" (PDF). PGA of America. 2016. pp. 6–64.
- ^ "Senior PGA Championship ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "PGA to bring Ryder Cup, other top events to Congressional". ESPN. Associated Press. September 18, 2018.
- ^ "KPMG Women's PGA Championship: Aronimink Golf Club guide". Golf Channel. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
External links[]
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Coordinates: 43°06′47″N 77°31′59″W / 43.113°N 77.533°W
Categories:
- PGA Tour Champions events
- Recurring sporting events established in 1937
- 1937 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)