Posted: 9:06 PM May 23, 2012
Reporter: Angelo Di Carlo

So Who will win the Senior PGA Championship?

With defending champion Tom Watson out of the field for The Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores, there are just two multi-time Senior PGA winners in the field. 3-time champ Hale Irwin and 2-time winner Jay Haas.

But certainly are contenders as the 73rd edition of the Senior PGA Championship tees off Thursday and runs through Sunday in Benton Harbor.

Of course there are plenty of other contenders.

The last player to win a senior major is Fred Couples. Slowed by a recent virus and steady back issues, the ‘92 Masters Champion says he's feeling good heading into Thursday and is ready to win his first Senior PGA crown.

"That's our goal,” Couples says of winning the tourney. “I lost a couple of years ago to Tom Lehman in a playoff. Last year, I didn't play. I haven't played much in the last month. I had a couple of good practice rounds and we'll see what happens Thursday. It's a good golf course. I think for all of us, we're here to win and it's a major. The best players will be up there for sure."

Couples will tee-off at 8:10 Thursday morning along with Kenny Perry and one of the biggest favorites, Jeff Sluman.

1992 U.S. Open Champion Tom Kite owns 10 Champions Tour victories. He's making his 13th Senior PGA appearance but has never won it.

"I'd love to,” Kite said of winning this weekend. “The PGA has been a huge part of my life. Having played in the PGA Championship for years and years. Now the Senior PGA--it would be great."

Kite tees off at 1:10 Thursday afternoon along with Chip Beck an Barry Lane.

1989 British Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia is a relative rookie on the senior tour but that just makes his thirst to win this thing even greater.

"That's why we are all here,” Calcavecchia said when asked of winning it all. “It's a major. I've always enjoyed playing in PGA's my whole career and now this is my 2nd Senior PGA. It's one of our biggest tournaments. I'd love to win it--it would mean a lot."

Calcavecchia will tee off at 1:30pm with Hal Sutton and Larry Mize.

2010 Senior PGA Champion Tom Lehman will certainly be another contender. He tees off at 1:20pm Thursday. Bernhard Langer, Fred Funk and Michael Allen will tee off at 1:40pm.

Jay Haas starts at 8:20am. Hale Irwin begins the tournament Thursday at 8:40am with Andy North and Bob Tway.

I’ll be live at Harbor Shores for a full report of Day one starting on NewsCenter 16 at 5 on Thursday. The final two rounds of the tournament on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast live on Channel 16, beginning at 3pm on each of those days.

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