As we all know, Erik is on-site at the Senior PGA Championship, which is set to begin on Thursday in Ligonier, Pennsylvania at the Laurel Valley Golf Club. This is the oldest championship in senior golf, started by Bobby Jones in 1937, and boasts a list of past winners that includes Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus.
Assuming the weather holds up in the Pennsylvania region (it looks like rain is in the forecast), the players will be competing for over $2 million with $360,000 going to the winner. Last year, Hale Irwin won his fourth Senior PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Lousiville, Kentucky and looks to add a fifth title to trail only Sam Snead in holding the most Senior PGA Championship victories (Slammin Sammy owns six titles).
Even though Irwin is pushing 60, he’s still got game. He has won 42 career Champions Tour titles, including 16 after turning 55 years old. Pretty impressive, huh? Three of Irwin’s Senior PGA Championships came in successive years from 1996-98. Could he repeat this year? I wouldn’t bet against it. Odds are he’ll be hanging around the leaderboard this week.
Also in the field is last week’s winner D.A. Weibring. Even though he had a scare after his ball moved a bit as he was approaching his last putt of the tournament (possible two-stroke penalty), Weibring claimed the victory over Tom Jenkins and Tom Kite. Weibring sits in a similar position to that of 2004 when he won the previus week before the Championship at the 2004 Allianz Championship. Weibring finished tied for 17th in the Senior PGA Championship last year, and hopes to change that trend this year.
Kite is also entered in this year’s Championship. His approach to the game this year is different than most 55 year olds would take. He decided to give the PGA Tour one last try, using a special one-year exemption to compete players nearly half his age. He’s played in nine PGA events (only making 2 cuts) and four Champions Tour events. Maybe the increased level of competition and more challenging layout of courses will help Kite in this week’s Championship? His game seemed sharp last week as he finished tied for second at Bruno’s.
Jim Thorpe is another player entering the tournament playing some good golf. He’s won back-to-back tournaments this year on the Tour. First, defeating Morris Hatalsky in a three-hole playoff at the Blue Angel’s Classic, then winning the following week at the FedEx Kinko’s Classic. Keep an eye on him this week. His go for broke attitude and power should lead to him rattling off a bunch of birdies.
Speaking of bidies, Dana Quigley had quite a run last week as he tied a tour record with eight straight birdies. He had a chance to birdie every hole on the back nine, but three-putted on the 18th for bogey. If he’s able to find that hot streak again, he’ll shoot right up the leaderboard.
One player who was set to make his Champions Tour debut and was sure to draw a large crowd was Greg Norman. Unfortunately, he has withdrawn from this year’s tournament due to the advice of his surgeon and personal trainer.
Other players who will be competing this week include past PGA Senior Champions Allen Doyle and John Jacobs, as well as Ben Crenshaw, Jay Haas, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Watson, Curtis Strange, Craig Stadler, Rick Rhoden (formerly of the Pittsburg Pirates), Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.
Palmer will be making his 24th appearance at the Senior PGA Championship, and I think this one will be special. Laurel Valley Golf Course is Arnie’s home course. Palmer has won this event twice in 1980 and 1984. Even though Palmer is 75 years old, it’s certain he will be the sentimental favorite to win this year’s event. I know I’m rooting for him.
Maybe Erik can re-energize Arnie’s Army for one last hurrah!? Who knows, but stay tuned for Erik’s on-site take of the course and players, including pictures.
My picks this week are Arnold Palmer (sentimental) and Tom Kite.
The weather forecast is calling for good weather on Thursday, and rain and thunderstorms for Friday and the weekend. Keep your fingers crossed. I’d hate to see bunch of rain delays and cancelations for this tournament.
Television Coverage is as follows:
5/26 12:00-4:00 pm ET ESPN 5/27 12:00-4:00 pm ET ESPN 5/28 3:00-6:00 pm ET NBC 5/29 12:30-3:30 pm ET NBC
My picks, having watched the players hitting shots this week in practice rounds: Jay Haas, Tom Watson, Hale Irwin, and Dana Quigley, of all people. š