PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Germany's Bernhard Langer, recovered from 2011 thumb surgery and making his impact felt again in senior golf, heads a list of 36 international players, representing 18 countries, in the 73rd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, May 24-27, at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich.
Begun in 1937, the Senior PGA Championship has featured six international Champions combining for nine titles. Denis Watson, a native of Zimbabwe, who triumphed in 2007, was the last international-born Champion of the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf.
Langer, 54, missed the Senior PGA Championship a year ago after a freak left-thumb injury suffered in an off-season biking accident. That mishap delayed his return to play until mid-June. Prior to the injury, Langer had finished among the top 25 in three consecutive Senior PGA Championships, including a runner-up finish in 2008. This year, he has posted six top-10 finishes, including two runner-up and one third-place performance.
The 2012 Senior PGA Championship international roster includes England's Gary Wolstenholme, winner of last week's Mallorca Senior Open, the season-opening event on the European Senior Tour. He will make his second Championship appearance. England's Paul Wesselingh, who makes his debut in the Senior PGA Championship, is a former club professional and a six-time PGA Cup standout. He shared runner-up honors in Mallorca in his European Senior Tour debut.
The complete international roster competing at the 73rd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid: Gordon Brand Jr. (Scotland); Roger Chapman (England); Trevor Dodds (Namibia); Marc Farry (France); Peter Fowler (Australia); Angel Franco (Paraguay); David Frost (South Africa); Michael Harwood (Australia); Mark James (England); Jong-Duck Kim (South Korea); Barry Lane (England); Bernhard Langer (Germany); Chien-Soon Lu (Taiwan); Sandy Lyle (Scotland); Graham Marsh (Australia); Miguel Angel Martin (Spain); Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe); Francisco Minoza (Philippines); Mark Mouland (England); Kiyoshi Murota (Japan); Andrew Oldcorn (Scotland); Juan Quiros (Spain); Eduardo Romero (Argentina); Boonchu Ruangkit (Thailand); David Russell (Scotland); Jim Rutledge (Canada); Peter Seniors (Australia); Nobuo Serizawa (Japan); Andrew Sherborne (England); Ikuo Shirahama (Japan); Rod Spittle (Canada); Philip Walton (Ireland); Denis Watson (Zimbabwe); Paul Wesselingh (England); Christopher Williams (South Africa); and Gary Wolstenholme (England).
Past international Senior PGA Champions include: Jock Hutchison (Scotland), 1937, '47; Fred McLeod (Scotland), 1938; Roberto De Vicenzo (Argentina), 1974; Peter Thomson (Australia), 1984; Gary Player (South Africa) 1986, '88, '90; Denis Watson (Zimbabwe), 2007.
The 73rd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid welcomes back defending Champion Tom Watson, who also captured the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy in 2001. He is joined by seven other past Champions: Michael Allen (2009); Jay Haas (2006, '08), Denis Watson; Mike Reid (2005); Hale Irwin (1996, '97, '98, 2004); Tom Lehman (2010); and Tom Wargo (1993).
Joining Watson are seven other past Senior PGA Champions: Tom Lehman (2010), Michael Allen (2009), Jay Haas (2006, '08), Denis Watson (2007), Mike Reid (2005), Hale Irwin (1996, '97, '98, 2004), and Tom Wargo (1993).
The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid is the oldest event on the Champions Tour, originating in 1937 at Augusta National Golf Club at the invitation of the legendary amateur Bobby Jones. The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid will feature 12 hours of live television coverage on NBC and Golf Channel, with viewership in more than 130 countries and territories worldwide. Tickets to the 73rd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid are available by visiting SPGA2012.com.
About KitchenAid
Since the introduction of its legendary stand mixer in 1919 and first dishwasher in 1949, KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for cooks. Over 90 years later, the KitchenAid brand now offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand*, visit KitchenAid.com. Based on a 2010 survey, KitchenAid was found to be the home kitchen appliance brand chosen most often by members of the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $18 billion in 2010, 71,000 employees, and 66 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at whirlpoolcorp.com.
About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.