Senior PGA Championship

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.

This article is about the Champions Tour major championship. For the European Senior Tour event, see PGA Seniors Championship.
Senior PGA Championship
Tournament information
LocationBenton Harbor, Michigan
in 2020
Established1937, 84 years ago
Course(s)The Golf Club at Harbor Shores (2020)
Par71 (2020)
Length6,852 yards (6,265 m) (2018)
7,145 yards (6,533 m) (2019)
Tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
European Seniors Tour
FormatStroke play – 72 holes
Prize fund$3.25 million
Month playedMay
Current champion
Ken Tanigawa
Benton Harbor
Location in the United States
Benton
Harbor
Location in Michigan

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 invites former winners of the PGA Professional National Championship and the top 35 club professionals who qualify through a tournament.

History

The inaugural event was played 84 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 last 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 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 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
YearVenueLocation
2021Southern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma
2008, 2019Oak Hill Country ClubRochester, New York
2012, 2014, 2016, 2018The Golf Club at Harbor ShoresBenton Harbor, Michigan
2017Trump National Golf ClubPotomac Falls, Virginia
2015French Lick ResortFrench Lick, Indiana
2013Bellerive Country ClubSt. Louis, Missouri
2004, 2011Valhalla Golf ClubLouisville, Kentucky
2010Colorado Golf ClubParker, Colorado
2009Canterbury Golf ClubBeachwood, Ohio
2007Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean CourseKiawah Island, South Carolina
2006Oak Tree Golf ClubEdmond, Oklahoma
2005Laurel Valley Golf ClubLigonier, Pennsylvania
2003Aronimink Golf ClubNewtown Square, Pennsylvania
2002Firestone Country ClubAkron, Ohio
2001The Ridgewood Country ClubParamus, New Jersey
1982–2000PGA National Golf ClubPalm Beach Gardens, Florida
1979 (Dec.) −1981Turnberry Isle Country ClubNorth Miami Beach, Florida
1975–1979 (Feb.)Walt Disney WorldOrlando, Florida
1974Port St. Lucie Country ClubPort St. Lucie, Florida
1964, 1966–73PGA National Golf Club (old)Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1965Fort Lauderdale Country ClubFort Lauderdale, Florida
1963Port St. Lucie Country ClubPort St. Lucie, Florida
1945–62PGA National Golf CourseDunedin, Florida
1942Fort Myers Country ClubFort Myers, Florida
1940–41Bobby Jones Golf Complex
Sarasota Bay Country Club		Sarasota, Florida
1937–38 (Dec.)Augusta National Golf ClubAugusta, Georgia

Name

The tournament has gone by several different names:

YearsName
2017–KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
2011–16Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid
2001–10Senior PGA Championship
1990–2000PGA Seniors' Championship
1984–89General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship
1937–82PGA Seniors' Championship

Winners
YearPlayerCountryVenueScoreWinner's
share ($)
2020Canceled due to coronavirus pandemic[7]The Golf Club at Harbor Shores585,000
2019Ken Tanigawa United StatesOak Hill Country Club277 (−3)585,000
2018Paul Broadhurst EnglandThe Golf Club at Harbor Shores265 (−19)585,000
2017Bernhard Langer GermanyTrump National Golf Club270 (−18)540,000
2016Rocco Mediate United StatesThe Golf Club at Harbor Shores265 (−19)504,000
2015Colin Montgomerie (2) ScotlandFrench Lick Resort280 (−8)495,000
2014Colin Montgomerie ScotlandThe Golf Club at Harbor Shores271 (−13)378,000
2013Kōki Idoki JapanBellerive Country Club273 (−11)378,000
2012Roger Chapman EnglandThe Golf Club at Harbor Shores271 (−13)378,000
2011Tom Watson (2) United StatesValhalla Golf Club278 (−10)360,000
2010Tom Lehman United StatesColorado Golf Club281 (−7)360,000
2009Michael Allen United StatesCanterbury Golf Club274 (−6)360,000
2008Jay Haas (2) United StatesOak Hill Country Club287 (+7)360,000
2007Denis Watson ZimbabweKiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course279 (−9)360,000
2006Jay Haas United StatesOak Tree Golf Club279 (−5)360,000
2005Mike Reid United StatesLaurel Valley Golf Club280 (−8)360,000
2004Hale Irwin (4) United StatesValhalla Golf Club276 (−8)360,000
2003John Jacobs United StatesAronimink Golf Club276 (−4)360,000
2002Fuzzy Zoeller United StatesFirestone Country Club278 (−2)360,000
2001Tom Watson United StatesThe Ridgewood Country Club274 (−10)360,000
2000Doug Tewell United StatesPGA National Golf Club201 (−15)324,000
1999Allen Doyle United StatesPGA National Golf Club274 (−14)315,000
1998Hale Irwin United StatesPGA National Golf Club275 (−13)270,000
1997Hale Irwin United StatesPGA National Golf Club274 (−14)216,000
1996Hale Irwin United StatesPGA National Golf Club280 (−8)198,000
1995Raymond Floyd United StatesPGA National Golf Club277 (−11)180,000
1994Lee Trevino (2) United StatesPGA National Golf Club279 (−9)115,000
1993Tom Wargo United StatesPGA National Golf Club275 (−13)110,000
1992Lee Trevino United StatesPGA National Golf Club278 (−10)100,000
1991Jack Nicklaus United StatesPGA National Golf Club271 (−17)85,000
1990Gary Player (3) South AfricaPGA National Golf Club281 (−7)75,000
1989Larry Mowry United StatesPGA National Golf Club281 (−7)72,000
1988Gary Player South AfricaPGA National Golf Club284 (−4)63,000
1987Chi-Chi Rodríguez United StatesPGA National Golf Club282 (−6)47,000
1986 (Feb.)Gary Player South AfricaPGA National Golf Club281 (−7)45,000
1984 (Dec.)Peter Thomson AustraliaPGA National Golf Club286 (−2)40,000
1984 (Jan.)Arnold Palmer (2) United StatesPGA National Golf Club282 (−6)35,000
1982 (Dec.)Don January (2) United StatesPGA National Golf Club288 (E)25,000
1981Miller Barber United StatesTurnberry Isle Resort and Club281 (−7)20,000
1980Arnold Palmer United StatesTurnberry Isle Resort and Club289 (+1)20,000
1979 (Dec.)Don January United StatesTurnberry Isle Resort and Club270 (−18)15,000
1979 (Feb.)Jack Fleck United StatesWalt Disney World289 (+1)8,000
1978Joe Jimenez United StatesWalt Disney World286 (−2)8,000
1977Julius Boros (2) United StatesWalt Disney World283 (−5)7,500
1976Pete Cooper United StatesWalt Disney World283 (−5)7,500
1975Charlie Sifford United StatesWalt Disney World280 (−8)7,500
1974Roberto De Vicenzo ArgentinaPort St. Lucie Country Club273 (−15)4,000
1973Sam Snead (6) United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)268 (−20)4,000
1972Sam Snead United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)286 (−2)4,000
1971Julius Boros United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)285 (−3)4,000
1970Sam Snead United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)290 (+2)4,000
1969Tommy Bolt United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)278 (−10)4,000
1968Chandler Harper United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)279 (−9)4,000
1967Sam Snead United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)279 (−9)4,000
1966Fred Haas United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)286 (−2)3,000
1965Sam Snead United StatesFort Lauderdale Country Club278 (−9)3,500
1964Sam Snead United StatesPGA National Golf Club (old)279 (−9)2,500
1963Herman Barron United StatesPort St. Lucie Country Club272 (−16)2,500
1962Paul Runyan (2) United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)278 (−10)2,000
1961Paul Runyan United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)278 (−10)1,500
1960Dick Metz United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)284 (−4)1,500
1959Willie Goggin United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)284 (−4)1,200
1958Gene Sarazen (2) United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)288 (E)1,200
1957Al Watrous (3) United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)210 (−6)1,000
1956Pete Burke United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)215 (−1)1,000
1955Mortie Dutra United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)213 (−3)1,000
1954Gene Sarazen United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)214 (−2)1,000
1953Harry Schwab United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)142 (−2)
1952Ernie Newnham United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)146 (+2)
1951Al Watrous United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)142 (−2)
1950Al Watrous United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)142 (−2)
1949Marshall Crichton United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)145 (+1)
1948Charles McKenna United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)141 (−3)
1947Jock Hutchison (2) United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)145 (+1)
1946Eddie Williams (3) United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)146 (+2)
1945Eddie Williams United StatesPGA National Golf Course (Dunedin Golf Club)148 (+4)
1943–44: No championships due to World War II
1942Eddie Williams United StatesFort Myers Country Club138 (−6)
1941Jack Burke Sr. United StatesBobby Jones Golf Complex
Sarasota Bay Country Club		142 (E)
1940 (Jan.)Otto Hackbarth United StatesBobby Jones Golf Complex
Sarasota Bay Country Club		146 (+4)
1938 (Dec.)Fred McLeod ScotlandAugusta National Golf Club154 (+10)
1937Jock Hutchison United StatesAugusta National Golf Club223 (+7)

Source:[8]

Multiple winners

The following men have won the Senior PGA Championship more than once, through 2019:

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:

PlayerPGA ChampionshipSenior PGA Championship
Jock Hutchison19201937, 1947
Gene Sarazen1922, 1923, 19331954, 1958
Paul Runyan1934, 19381961, 1962
Sam Snead1942, 1949, 19511964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973
Chandler Harper19501968
Julius Boros19681971, 1977
Don January19671979, 1982
Gary Player1962, 19721986, 1988, 1990
Jack Nicklaus1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 19801991
Lee Trevino1974, 19841992, 1994
Raymond Floyd1969, 19821995

Final round ratings

2019: 1.190 million on NBC[9]

Future tournament sites

See also

References
  1. "Strong Seniors contingent head to the United States". PGA European Tour. May 21, 2007.
  2. "Jock Hutchison wins inaugural senior tourney". Sarasota Herald. Florida. Associated Press. December 3, 1937. p. 5.
  3. "Hutchison named for golf job here". Sarasaota Herald-Tribune. Florida. July 7, 1940. p. 6.
  4. "Two golfers tie for first place in senior event". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. December 9, 1938. p. 6.
  5. "M'Leod defeats Hackbarth in seniors' golf". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. December 10, 1938. p. 22.
  6. "Hackbarth wins seniors golf crown". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida. January 17, 1940. p. 7.
  7. "Senior PGA Championship, scheduled for May, canceled". ESPN. Associated Press. April 2, 2020.
  8. "Senior PGA Championship Media Guide" (PDF). PGA of America. 2016. pp. 6–64.
  9. "Senior PGA Championship ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  10. Di Carlo, Angelo (July 25, 2013). "Senior PGA Championship Returning to Benton Harbor in 2014, 2016 and 2018". WNDU-TV. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  11. "Wednesday Notebook: KitchenAid extends Senior PGA Championship sponsorship". PGA of America. May 25, 2016.
  12. "Southern Hills CC to host Senior PGA, PGA championships". ESPN. Associated Press. May 30, 2017.
  13. "PGA to bring Ryder Cup, other top events to Congressional". ESPN. Associated Press. September 18, 2018.

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