About the Senior PGA Championship:
The Senior PGA Championship, run by the PGA of America, was the first truly "major" tournament specifically for "senior" golfers (golfers over age 50) in the U.S. The tournament was founded in 1937 at the urging of Bobby Jones, and has been played ever since (with a few exceptions). It now is considered one of the Champions Tour's majors, and rotates among golf courses ala the PGA Championship and USGA championships.
2012 Senior PGA Championship
Journeyman Roger Chapman opened a 5-stroke lead after three rounds, then held on to win by two strokes over John Cook. Chapman earned that big lead after 54 holes by shooting 64 in Round 3. His final-round 72 wasn't as pretty, but it got the job done. Chapman was a 2-time winner on the European Tour in a career that included more than 600 starts. He entered the 2012 Senior PGA having played only one tournament this season. Sixty-six-year-old Hale Irwin was third.
2011 Tournament
Tom Watson won this tournament for the second time with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Watson and David Eger tied after 72 holes at 10-under 278. Watson, age 61, became the second-oldest winner of the tournament.
Tom Watson won this tournament for the second time with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Watson and David Eger tied after 72 holes at 10-under 278. Watson, age 61, became the second-oldest winner of the tournament.
Senior PGA Championship Records:
- 72-hole scoring record: 268 - Sam Snead, 1973
- 18-hole scoring record: 62 - Kenny Perry, 2012
Senior PGA Championship Golf Courses:
The Senior PGA Championship currently rotates among courses, just as the "regular" PGA Championship does. And so the tournament visits some of the great courses in the U.S. annually.
For many years, this event was permanently hosted at PGA National Golf Club in Florida, first played there in 1945. PGA National was the host course from 1945-1962, 1964, 1966-1973, 1982-2000.
Senior PGA Championship Trivia and Notes:
- Bobby Jones was the driving force behind the inauguration of a Senior PGA Championship, organizing the first one in 1937 and hosting the first two at Augusta National Golf Club.
- The first tournament was only three rounds in duration. From 1938 through 1953, the seniors played just two rounds. It was back to three rounds in 1954-57. The tournament extended to 72 holes in 1958 and has remained so since.
- The Senior PGA Championship debuted in 1937. The first winner, Jock Hutchinson, won again 10 years later in 1947. Hutchinson was runner-up six other times.
- Sam Snead holds the record with six victories in the Senior PGA Championship, winning in 1964-65, 1967, 1970, 1972-73. His win in 1973 was by 15 strokes.
- Hale Irwin is the other golfer with more than three wins. Irwin's victories came in 1996-98 and 2004.
- Irwin is the only golfer to win this tournament three straight years - although Eddie Williams won three straight tournaments. Williams won in 1942, the tournament was not played in 1943-44, then Williams won again in 1945-46.
- Other three-time winners of the tournament are Al Watrous (1950-51, 1957) and Gary Player (1986, 1988, 1990).
- In 1979 and 1984, the Senior PGA Championship was played twice. In 1979, it was played in February and then December; in 1984, it was played in January and then December (and was not played in 1985).
Senior PGA Championship Winners:
2012 - Roger Chapman
2011 - Tom Watson
2010 - Tom Lehman
2009 - Michael Allen
2008 - Jay Haas
2007 - Denis Watson
Full List of Senior PGA Championship Winners
2011 - Tom Watson
2010 - Tom Lehman
2009 - Michael Allen
2008 - Jay Haas
2007 - Denis Watson
Full List of Senior PGA Championship Winners
