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M AY 25 - 30, 2021 S O U T HE R N HIL L S C O U N T R Y C L U B I N T U L S A , OK L A HOM A
2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Southern Hills awaits selves this year and next year with two great championships and then we’ll see what they decide ot many general for 2030. managers, superSidorakis, 62, would have intendents and been 70 if the PGA Champidirectors of golf outside of onship kept its 2030 date. It Augusta National get the moved up when the PGA of opportunity and responsiAmerica took the 2022 event bility of preparing for major from Trump Bedminster afchampionships in succester the Jan. 6 riot at the Capisive years. Fortunately for Southern Nick Sidorakis tol Building. “I’m ecstatic we have it Hills Country Club in Tulsa, now,” Sidorakis said. “It Nick Sidorakis, Russ Myers makes the golf course releand Cary Cozby have the vant. You never know what’s talent, experience and equagoing to happen with the nimity to handle just such a game or the course in nine challenge with aplomb. years. God willing I can witSo when the KitchenAid ness the next two and hopeSenior PGA Championship fully a third.” tees off May 27-30, all signs The field of 156 seniors point to a hugely successRuss Myers includes 31 major championful event, one that should ship winners and 11 memtransition smoothly into bers of the World Golf Hall of preparations for the 2022 Fame. All will be challenged PGA Championship. And if by the classic Perry Maxwell both those events go off as design which underwent an planned, well the 2030 date $11 million restoration by that Southern Hills previarchitect Gil Hanse, restorously held before moving up ing a more natural look to is still open. the bunkers and adding an “I’m proud that we were Cary Cozby extensive hydronics system able to land 2022,” Sidorakis said. “Hopefully we will prove our- under the greens so Myers can reguby ken macleod
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late the temperature of the bent grass year round. Just as importantly, Hanse rebuilt the greens to as close as possible to Maxwell’s 1936 originals. They now tie in with their surrounds more naturally, meaning balls will wander off the green and down slopes. Combined with greens that are virtually always going to be firm and fast, the course is playing two to three shots harder for members than previous to the renovation. For the seniors, Myers and Kerry Haigh, chief championships officer of the PGA of America, will set up the course at close to 6,900 yards with green speeds of 11.5 on the stimpmeter. The rough is unlikely to be more than 2.5 inches, particularly after a harsh winter, but the chance of high winds and even storms in May is ever present. “At 6,900 yards, it will really let the architecture dictate how they play the course,” Myers said. “It’s about playing all the slopes and doglegs and features. If the wind gets up, they’ll have a hard time. I could see the winning score being 14 under or as high as 2 under. “The PGA wants people to play well. It’s not looking to cut their knees off. These guys love to play a classic W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
