2015 Senior PGA headed to Indiana's French Lick Resort

2015 Senior PGA headed to Indiana's French Lick Resort

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PGA.COM July 31, 2013

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The eighth hole at the Pete Dye Course at French LickResort.(Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)




Click here to read the news conference transcript

FRENCH LICK, Ind. -- French Lick Resort, one of the Midwest's historic sports destinations long before it was recognized as home to a legendary basketball player, will attract its share of golf legends in the spring of 2015 as the site of the 76th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid.

French Lick Resort's Pete Dye Course, which opened in 2009, will be the site of the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf, May 21-24, 2015. The Senior PGA Championship becomes the fourth major championship hosted by the resort, following the 1924 PGA Championship, played on the Donald Ross Course, won byWalter Hagen whose triumph began a remarkable four-yearPGA winning streak. The French Lick Resort also hosted the 1959 and '60 LPGA Championships. French Lick's Pete Dye Course also hosted the 2010 PGA Professional National Championship.

The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid marks its first visit to Indiana, with an international 156-member field competing on the par-72, 7,400-yard Pete Dye Course, designed by its legendary namesake.

"The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid has demonstrated its ability to attract and establish a tradition of bringing this premier event to many of the premier courses in the country," said PGA of America President Ted Bishop. "It is exciting to have the opportunity to bring the Championship to French Lick, which most recognize as the hometown of basketball legend Larry Bird, but also became a site of golf history when Walter Hagen, one of our Association founders, enhanced his legendary career. The connection is now alive again in 2015 when the finest senior professionals in the world, including some of legendary status, compete for the Alfred S. Bourne trophy in Indiana."


"On behalf of all the dedicated Cook employees from around the world and the fine residents of Southern Indiana, we are pleased to once again be partnering with The PGA of America and bringing the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid to French Lick Resort," said Steve Ferguson, Chairman of the Board for the Cook Group. "Our resort is enthusiastic and energized to again serve as the host site for championship golf, and to help The PGA stage the most historic and prestigious championship in senior golf. We are looking forward to a long successful relationship with two great organizations The PGA of America and KitchenAid."

Corporate Hospitality packages, Tickets sales and volunteer opportunities will begin this fall for the 76th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid,

"French Lick is a quality venue, with a historic past and a premium experience, just like The PGA of America and our KitchenAid brand. We look forward to working with them and hosting our customers with their first class hospitality," said Jeff Fettig, Chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation.

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.

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. Today, the KitchenAid brand 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. Cook for the Cure®, the brand's partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, is now in its eleventh year and has raised over $8 million to help find a cure for breast cancer. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand, visit www.KitchenAid.com or join us at http://facebook.com/KitchenAid or http://twitter.com/KitchenAidUSA.

About French Lick Resort French Lick Resort is a $581 million restoration and development project including West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel and French Lick Casino. This Southern Indiana resort destination features 686 guest rooms and suites; a 51,000 square-foot casino; 63-holes of golf, including theDonald Ross Course and the Pete Dye Course; two full-service spas, meeting and event space, and an array of entertainment options. This historic resort has also hosted other golf events including the PGA Professional National Championship (2010), the Big Ten Conference Men's and Women's Championships (2012-2014), LPGA Legends Championship (2013-2015), and USGA Men's State Team Championships (2014). For more information, visit www.frenchlick.com.http://www.frenchlick.com

McIlroy once again looks to regain form at Firestone

McIlroy once again looks to regain form at Firestone

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Mark Lamport-Stokes July 31, 2013

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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his putt on the 18th green during his second round of the British …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Dispirited and frustrated after missing the cut at the British Open 12 days ago, Rory McIlroy was in a much more upbeat mood on Wednesday as he prepared for this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Twelve months ago, the Northern Irishman played well at this event to end a poor run of form and went on to win his second major title in record-breaking style at the PGA Championship the following week.

McIlroy is aiming to replicate that turnaround on a Firestone Country Club layout he has always enjoyed playing, and believes his game is in better shape than it was this time a year ago.

"I always love coming back here," the world number three told reporters on a wet, overcast day where he has posted top-10 finishes in his last three appearances.

"It's a golf course I feel like I can do well on, and if something similar could happen like it did last year, get a good finish here or get into contention, obviously that would set me up for the last major of the season.

"I was sitting up here this time last year probably not feeling as if my game was in great shape, and I'm sitting up here this year a lot more positive, so that's a great sign."

McIlroy arrived at Firestone last year after missing the cut at the U.S. Open and tying for 60th at the British Open in his previous two starts, but he swiftly put that behind him as he finished in a tie for fifth at the Bridgestone Invitational.

One week later, he clinched the PGA Championship by a record eight shots at Kiawah Island and went on to win twice more on the 2012 PGA Tour as he stormed to the top of the world rankings and claimed the order of merit on both sides of the Atlantic.

ROLLER-COASTER RIDE


However, this year has been a roller-coaster ride for the 24-year-old, both on and off the course.

He has mainly struggled for form since switching his club brand at the start of the season to Nike in a lucrative deal reported to be worth as much as $250 million over 10 years, recording just four top-10s in 11 starts on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy has also been criticized for the amount of time he spends with his girlfriend, former world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, with golfing great Gary Playersuggesting last week he needed to find "the right wife".

Asked to comment on what Player had said during an interview with Britain's Talksport radio, McIlroy replied: "I haven't heard. I don't know what you're talking about.

"I have the utmost respect for Gary Player. He is an incredible man. Obviously the success he's had on the golf course, and also the way he's lived his life and how healthy he is. He's an inspiration for everyone."

McIlroy readily admits the past 12 months have been "up and down" for him, with a tendency of late to become "a little bit too emotionally involved" with his game.

"I've let it either get me excited or get me down, where I should really just not get too high or too low about it at all," the 24-year-old said.

After missing the cut at the British Open for the first time in his career, McIlroy spent four days in Monaco with Wozniacki before returning to Northern Ireland where he regained his love for golf while playing a few social rounds with his friends.

"I was seven under for the last seven (holes) when we played Hollywood," McIlroy smiled. "It makes you realize why you play the game. It makes you realize why you started, because you love the game of golf."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)

Golf-No time to rest on laurels for U.S. Open champion Rose

Golf-No time to rest on laurels for U.S. Open champion Rose

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July 31, 2013


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio, July 31 (Reuters) - Winning his first major title at the U.S. Open in June has unquestionably been the golfing highlight of Justin Rose's career, but the Englishman said it also taught him the lesson of never resting on his laurels.

Rose tied for 13th at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship and then missed the cut at the British Open12 days ago in his next two starts, proof that every week on the circuit comes with the slate wiped clean.

"Coming into this week as a major winner, the way I view it is that it really shouldn't make any difference," he told reporters on Wednesday while preparing for Thursday's opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

"The golf course doesn't know that. Each and every week you've got to build a whole new body of work. If you keep coming back to the past and resting on your laurels and being U.S. Open champ, that doesn't work.

"After the U.S. Open I found that time constraint wise, I'd miss the odd session in the gym and the odd practice session just because there was a lot going on, and your game soon lets you know about that."

Rose felt he had gone into the British Open at Muirfield a little under-prepared, and ultimately paid the price as he missed the cut for only the second time in 11 starts on the 2013 PGA Tour.


"I was doing my best to get 100 percent ready that week, I think I came in a little bit under-prepared with my body, under-prepared with my game," said the world number four.

"And on that kind of golf course, there's a lot of variability out there, just the whole setup, how fast it was playing. You either kind of got into it or you didn't. I found I just didn't adjust to it well enough or fast enough."

Asked whether he had suffered because of his increased number of media commitments since winning the U.S. Open, Rose replied: "Time management has always been something I've had to work on and fight and struggle with, so it's no different.

"But it's just a good reminder of what makes me tick. I think it's perfectly manageable. I don't think life has been crazy since winning the U.S. Open. It's all pretty much manageable, just good for me to relearn those lessons.

"The last couple of weeks I've had the chance to get back to normal, get back to doing all the good things that work for me and hopefully beginning to feel really good about my game once again."

A five-times winner on the PGA Tour, Rose has been paired with British Open champion Phil Mickelson for the first two rounds at Firestone Country Club, a heavily tree-lined layout where he tied for fifth last year.

"This is a venue that I really enjoy being at," the 33-year-old said. "It's a golf course that really lets you know where you are with your game, very straightforward in the sense that you need to play good golf.

"You need to drive the ball well, and it offers you the opportunity that if you do do that, you can play well. But certainly if you're off your game, it lets you know as well." (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)