Southern Hills brings out stellar field

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SOUTHERN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA MAY 25-30, 2021

Southern Hills awaits

by ken macleod

selves this year and next year with late the temperature of the bent grass two great championships and then year round.

Not many general we’ll see what they decide Just as importantly, Hanse rebuilt managers, super- for 2030. the greens to as close as possible to intendents and Sidorakis, 62, would have Maxwell’s 1936 originals. They now directors of golf outside of been 70 if the PGA Champi- tie in with their surrounds more natuAugusta National get the onship kept its 2030 date. It rally, meaning balls will wander off opportunity and responsi- moved up when the PGA of the green and down slopes. Combility of preparing for major America took the 2022 event bined with greens that are virtually championships in succes- from Trump Bedminster af- always going to be firm and fast, the sive years. ter the Jan. 6 riot at the Capi- course is playing two to three shots

Fortunately for Southern Nick Sidorakis tol Building. harder for members than previous to Hills Country Club in Tulsa, “I’m ecstatic we have it the renovation. Nick Sidorakis, Russ Myers now,” Sidorakis said. “It For the seniors, Myers and Kerry and Cary Cozby have the makes the golf course rele- Haigh, chief championships officer of talent, experience and equa- vant. You never know what’s the PGA of America, will set up the nimity to handle just such a going to happen with the course at close to 6,900 yards with challenge with aplomb. game or the course in nine green speeds of 11.5 on the stimpme-

So when the KitchenAid years. God willing I can wit- ter. The rough is unlikely to be more Senior PGA Championship ness the next two and hope- than 2.5 inches, particularly after a tees off May 27-30, all signs fully a third.” harsh winter, but the chance of high point to a hugely success- Russ Myers The field of 156 seniors winds and even storms in May is ever ful event, one that should includes 31 major champion- present. transition smoothly into ship winners and 11 mem- “At 6,900 yards, it will really let the preparations for the 2022 bers of the World Golf Hall of architecture dictate how they play PGA Championship. And if Fame. All will be challenged the course,” Myers said. “It’s about both those events go off as by the classic Perry Maxwell playing all the slopes and doglegs and planned, well the 2030 date design which underwent an features. If the wind gets up, they’ll that Southern Hills previ- $11 million restoration by have a hard time. I could see the winously held before moving up architect Gil Hanse, restor- ning score being 14 under or as high is still open. ing a more natural look to as 2 under. “I’m proud that we were able to land 2022,” Sidorakis Cary Cozby the bunkers and adding an extensive hydronics system “The PGA wants people to play well. It’s not looking to cut their knees said. “Hopefully we will prove our- under the greens so Myers can regu- off. These guys love to play a classic

Allen, Michael 2001 (12) Ames, Stephen (57) 2007 (12) Andrade, Billy (57) 1994 (47) 2001 (cut) Armour III, Tommy (61) 1994 (cut) Austin, Woody (57) 1995 (4) 2007 (cut) Baker Peter (53) 1994 (cut) Beem, Rich (50) 2001 (cut) 2007 (cut) Brier Marcus (52) 2007 (cut) Brooks, Mark (60) 1994 (cut) 1996 (27) 2001 (2) 2007 (cut) Byrum, Tom (60) 2001 (44) Cabrera, Angel (51) 2001 (7) 2007 (cut) Calcavecchia, Mark (60) 1994 (cut) 1995 (27) 1996 (15)2001(24) 2007(cut) Campbell, Michael (52) 2001 (cut) 2007 (cut) Choi, KJ (51) 2001 (cut) 2007 (12) Clarke, Darin (52) 2001 (cut) 2007 (cut) Coceres, Jose (57) 2001 (52) Couples, Fred (61) 1982 (3) 1994 (39) 1996 (5) 2001 (cut) Daly, John (55) 1994 (cut) 2007 (32) Day, Glenn (55) 1994 (15) 2001 (cut) Dennis, Clark (55) 2001 (cut) Dimarco, Chris (52) 2001 (16) 2007 (cut) Duke, Ken (52) 2007 (18) Scott Dunlap (57) 2001 (52) Durant, Joe (57) 2001 (24) 2007 (18) Els, Ernie (51) 1994 (25) 1995 (16) 1996 (6) 2001 (66) 2007 (3) Estes, Bob (56) 1994 (47) 2001 (30) Faxon, Brad (59) 1994 (30) 1996 (2) 2001 (cut) Flesch, Steve (54) 2001 (cut) 2007 (23) Frost, David (61) 1994 (25) Funk, Fred (64) 1994 (55) 1995 (27) 1996 (14) 2001 (44) 2007 (cut) Furyk, Jim (51) 2001 (62) 2007 (cut) Goosen, Retief (52) 2001 (1) 2007 (23) Goydos, Paul (56) 2001 (cut) 2007 (cut) Haas, Jay (67) 1977 (5) 1982 (5) 1994 (14) 1995 (20) Hamilton, Todd (55) 2007 (66) Hoch, Scott (65) 1994 (cut) 1995 (27) 1996 (18) 2001 (16) Jaidee, Thongchai (51) 2001 (74) 2007 (cut) Janzen, Lee (56) 1994 (66) 1995 (20) 2001 (cut) Jimenez, Miguel Angel (57) 2001 (cut) 2007 (cut) Jobe, Brandt (55) 2001 (52) Jones, Steve (62) 2001 (30) 2001 (48) Karlsson, Robert (51) 2001 (57) Kelly, Jerry (54) 2007 (cut) Kite, Tom (71) 1977 (27) 1982 (9) 1994 (9) 2001 (5) Lane, Barry (60) 1994 (25) Langer, Bernhard (63) 1994 (25) 2001 (40) Lawrie, Paul (52) 2001 (cut) Leaney, Stephen (52) 2007 (cut) Lehman, Tom (62) 1994 (39) 1995 (12) (1996) (1) 2001 (24) 2007 (69) Love III, Davis (57) 1994 (cut) 1995 (16) 1996( 13) 2001 (7) 2007(cut) Lyle, Sandy (63) 1994 (73) Maggert, Jeff (57) 1994 (cut) 1996 (27) 2001 (44) McGinely, Paul (54) 2007 (60) Mediate, Rocco (58) 2001 (40 2007 (WD) Micheel, Shawn (52) 2007 (32) Mize, Larry (62) 1994 (15) Montgomerie, Colin(57) 1994 (36) 2001 (52) 2007 (42) Olazabal Jose Maria(55) 1994 (7) 2001 (cut) 2007 (cut) O’Meara, Mark (64) 1995 (13) 1996 (18) 2001 (cut) Pampling, Rod (51) 2007 (42) Parnevik, Jesper (56) 1994 (cut) 2001 (30) 2007 (42) Pavin, Corey (61) 1994 (2) 1995 (2) 1996 (21) 2001 (19) 2007 (62) Jerry Pate (67) 1977 (cut) 1982 (9) Perry, Kenny (60) 1994 (55) 1995 (20) 996 (4) 2007 (23) Petrovic, Tim (54) 2001 (62) Price, Phillip (54) 2001 (WD) Quigley, Brett (51) 2001 (cut) 2007 (62) Roberts, Loren (65) 1994 (9) 1995 (11) 1996 (WD) 2001 (8) Sandelin, Jarmo (54) 2001 (WD) Senden, John (50) 2007 (4) Simpson, Scott (65) 1982 (32) 1995 (4) Singh, Vijay (58) 1994 (cut) 1995 (6) 1996 (9) 2001 (7) 2001 (cut) Sluman, Jeff (63) 1994 (25) 1996 (9) 2007 (cut) Stricker, Steve (54) 1996 (3) 2001 (cut) 2007 (23) Sutherland, Kevin(56) 2001 (44) 2007 (9) Toledo, Esteban (58) 2001 (cut) Toms, David (54) 2001 (66) 2007 (42) Triplett, Kirk (59) 1994 (15) 1995 (20) 2001 (7) Verplank, Scott (56) 2001 (22) 2007 (9) Waldorf, Duffy (58) 1996 (26) 2001 (44) Weir, Mike (51) 2001 (29) 2007 (cut)

FIELD NOTES

82 or the 147 registered have played in championships at Southern Hills. All 31 of the Major Championship winners have played at SHCC. Tom Kite is the oldest in the field at 71. Tom Kite, Jay Haas and Jerry Pate played in 1977 (44 years ago). Kite, Haas and Pate plus Couples and Simpson played in 1982. Calcavecchia, Els, Funk, Lehman, Love, Pavin, and Singh have played here 5 times (1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2007). Brooks, Couples, Haas, Hoch, Kite, Perry and Roberts have played here 4 times.

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course where you don’t have to manufacture golf out there.”

Many in the field will have played Southern Hills as many as five times previously in high level competition. Retief Goosen, who won the U.S. Open in 2001, is back, as is Tom Lehman, who won the 1996 Tour Championship.

“You always love to get an opportunity to play a classic design like Southern Hills,” Lehman said.

“It’s always been a shot maker’s course and will continue to be,” Sidorakis said. “it will put a premium on having a great short game.”

Before the pandemic, Sidorakis and his team of member volunteers had already set a record for corporate sales for this event. Now many of those sales are being combined with 2022 packages. There will not be traditional fully enclosed corporate tents for 2021 but there will be open air tents.

Access to the clubhouse will be limited, which means only players and a few others will be able to enjoy the new history hall looking at the club’s long history of championship golf.

Sidorakis has devoted himself to the renovations and the championships, but nothing pulls harder at his heart and soul than the club’s support of The First Tee of Tulsa, one of the most successful First Tee branches in the country and one of the few in which all programs are free to the participants. Both the Tuesday pro-am and a Wednesday player’s clinic will raise funds for the First Tee of Tulsa.

For regular ticket buyers, the experience will be slightly different than normal. There is very limited onsite parking, so the best bet is to get an Uber or other ride share to drop inside the gate. There may be some parking paid or unpaid at businesses nearby on Lewis Ave., but there will be no shuttles.

The final number of ticket sales per day was negotiated between the PGA of America and the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County Health Department and announced at 8,000 per day. There will be no bleachers on the course, but there will be concession stands and a merchandise tent. • Tickets: All tickets can be purchased in advance at www.srpga.com. Those who purchase early will have first priority access to purchase tickets for the 2022 PGA Championship. • Parking: Plan to use ride shares or park within walking distance of Southern Hills. Some parking may be available at businesses on Lewis Ave. • Covid 19 protocols. Tickets will be limited to a number specified by the Tulsa Health Department. There will not be temperature testing on entry. Contestants are tested before arrival and are discouraged from attending pro-am parties and signing autographs.

There will not be any bleachers, but there will be areas, such as above the greens on holes nine and 18, where socially distanced seating is allowed. KitchenAid will have several kiosks doing cooking demonstrations. There will be an area to register for 2022 PGA Championship tickets.

“Hopefully it will be as close to a normal experience for the fans as we can be at this stage,” said Championship Director Bryan Karns. • The event will be televised on The Golf Channel and NBC. Times are noon to 3 p.m. on Golf Channel Thursday and Friday. Saturday coverage will run on NBC from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., then switch Golf Channel from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Final round coverage Sunday will begin on Golf Channel at 2 p.m. and switch to NBC from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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