Senior PGA Championship has royal history

by john rohde

Aprofessional golf tour for seniors was established in 1980, sparked by the stunning success and intrigue of the Legends of Golf event staged the previous two years.

The venture was launched as the Senior PGA Tour (1980-2002), was renamed the Champions Tour (2003-2015) and now goes by the PGA Tour Champions.

Not coincidentally, the budding senior tour would debut with a magnetic drawing card in legendary Arnold Palmer, who happened to become eligible when he turned 50 on Sept. 10, 1979.

Long before the inception of the senior tour, however, the Senior PGA Championship for decades served as the only highprofile tournament for golfers 50-and-older.

Founded in 1937, the first two Senior PGA Championships were held at Augusta National Golf Club. Yes, the same majestic site that in 1934 had staged the first “Augusta National Invitation Tournament,” which soon became known simply as the “Masters.”

The Senior PGA Championship is the oldest of the five major championships in senior golf, the others being the U.S. Senior Open, the Senior Open Championship (informally referred to the Senior British Open), the Senior Players Championship and The Tradition (a Champions Tour major since 1989).

Palmer won seven majors on the PGA Tour, but was unable to complete a career Grand Slam when he failed to win the PGA Championship, although he did tie for second three times (including the 1970 championship held at Southern Hills and won by Dave Stockton).

The formation of the senior tour allowed Palmer to soon fill his major void when he won the Senior PGA Championship in

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1980 and again in 1984. He also won the (which ranks fourth all-time) and $20.6 “I think that being able to win this tour1981 U.S. Senior Open and the Senior Play- million in official earnings (third all-time nament at this point in time in my career ers Championship in 1984 and 1985, giving behind Bernhard Langer and Irwin), was at this location, well that would be a real “The King” five senior major titles. the first- and third-round leader on his plus for me,” Morgan said after the third

Oak Tree’s Doug round. “I feel like this Tewell captured 2000 would be my last opSenior PGA Champi- portunity. At this point onship in dominat- in my career, at this ing fashion, winning point in my life, this by eight shots over probably won’t ever Hale Irwin, the senior come back here (Oak kingpin at the time. Tree) in a time frame Tewell’s eight career where I would be able Champions Tour vic- to compete.” tories also include the Alas, Morgan fal2001 Tradition and the tered with a closing2002 Legends of Golf. round 74 to finish third

This year’s Kitch- behind winner Jay enAid Senior PGA Haas and Brad Bryant. Championship will be Snead has captured held at historic South- more Senior PGA tiern Hills Country Club tles than anyone with in Tulsa on May 27-30. six (1964, 1965, 1967,

The Senior PGA Doug Tewell won in 2000. Dr. Gil Morgan 1970, 1972, 1973). IrChampionship has been win won the event four held in Oklahoma only once before, in home course. Morgan was 59 at the time times (1996, 1997, 1998, 2004), while Gary 2006 at Oak Tree Golf Club (now Oak Tree and his biological clock was ticking. He Player, Eddie Williams and Al Watrous National) in Edmond. had a chance to become the oldest Senior each own three titles. (Senior PGA Cham-

Popular long-time Oak Tree resident Gil PGA Championship winner since Sam pionship winners prior to the first season Morgan, who won 25 senior tour events Snead in 1973. of the senior tour are not considered major

champions of this event by the PGA Tour Champions.)

The Senior PGA was a 36-hole event until 1954. After four years at 54 holes, it became a 72-hole event in 1958. PGA National Golf Course in Florida has staged the most Seniors PGA Championships, doing so 44 times.