He burst onto the scene from total obscurity at the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indianapolis and became one of the most colorful, and sometimes controversial, characters to ever play the game of golf…and now, he's coming to Benton Harbor.
1991 PGA and 1995 British Open Champion John Daly has indicated he will be playing this spring at Harbor Shores in the 2016 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, and that is excellent news for the entire community of Michigan's Great Southwest. Daly's foray in and out of the spotlight has be rekindled in recent months and now he has told Championship Director Ryan Ogle and other PGA of America officials that he will play here in what will be one of the first, if not the first, of his appearances on the Champions Tour.
To be eligible for the Champions Tour, a player must turn 50 before playing on that circuit and Daly turns 50 on April 26th, barely a month ahead of the Memorial Day weekend run of the 77th Senior PGA Championship at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor.
While Daly's decision wasn't official at the time, he created a short video message distributed early today to the nearly 1,500 volunteers who have signed on to work the Championship from May 26th to the 29th.
Later this afternoon The PGA of America confirmed that the two-time Major Champion had committed to play in the 77th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid.
Championship Director Ryan Olge says, “We are thrilled to have a personality and champion of John Daly’s caliber join us at Harbor Shores this Memorial Day Weekend.” He adds, “His popularity with golf fans and his joining a world-class field will bring even more attention to the wonderful area of Benton Harbor and southwest Michigan.”
Ogle says Daly is expected make his PGA TOUR Champions debut, May 6, at the Insperity Invitational. He joins a field for the 2016 Senior PGA Championship that includes two-time defending Champion Colin Montgomerie, three-time PGA TOUR Champions Major winner and 2008 USA Ryder Cup team member Kenny Perry, two-time Major Champions Lee Janzen, Sandy Lyle and Mark O’Meara, as well as 1997 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Kite.
The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid is the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf, and perennially presents the deepest international field of any senior major. Among the exempt players this year include Montgomerie, who first triumphed in America at Harbor Shores in 2014; Daly, Couples and Vijay Singh.
For more information about the 77th Senior PGA Championship, or to buy tickets, visit SrPGA.com or call 1-800-PGA-GOLF (800-742-4653).
Businesses interested in hosting clients in special hospitality opportunities at Harbor Shore should contact Brent Curtis at 269-487-3202. Spectators interested in obtaining tickets to see Daly and a whole host of top name players on the Champions Tour should click this link: http://srpga.com
