A year ago, officials of the Senior PGA tournament — then called the Novell Utah Showdown — weren't too happy with some of our pre-tournament coverage, which pointed out the relatively weak field at Park Meadows CC.
We were just telling it like it was, even if the tournament people didn't like it. So now that this year's tournament, called the Uniting Fore Care Classic, has put together an excellent field, we need to give credit where it is due.
Tournament director Bryan Naugle has worked hard to put together one of the best fields in the 21-year history of the event. Not only did he get Hale Irwin, arguably the best Senior player of all time, but also Tom Watson, one of the all-time best golfers, as well as Arnold Palmer, the most popular golfer of all time.
As late as last week, Naugle was even working to get the greatest of them all, Jack Nicklaus, who rarely plays Senior Tour events, as well as Tom Kite. Despite striking out on those two, the field for this week's tourney set for Friday through Sunday, is looking pretty good.
Seven of the top nine players on this year's Senior money list are coming, including Irwin (No. 1), 2000 champ Doug Tewell (2), Bob Gilder (3), Dana Quigley (6), Jim Thorpe (7), Bobby Wadkins (8) and John Jacobs (9).
Gilder and Wadkins will be making their first appearances in the Utah tourney as is Don Pooley, who won the U.S. Senior Open in a five-hole playoff over Watson and ranks 17th on the money list.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment for the tournament was losing Senior Tour rookie Fuzzy Zoeller, who had to renege on his commitment because he forgot about a family wedding the same week.
JUNIORS JOIN PROS: One reason for an improved field is the fact that there is no Senior event this weekend because of the PGA Tournament. With last week off, golfers are more inclined to play this week. It also allows them to come to Utah earlier to practice and get involved in pre-tournament activities.
One of those events is the Zion's Bank Jr. Pro-Am Monday at Park Meadows. Nine Senior pros will team with 36 boys and girls in a nine-hole pro-am, including defending champion Steve Veriato, local favorite Bruce Summerhays and two-time U.S. Open champ Andy North. The boys' qualifiers include Tyler Herzog, Robbie Filmore, Jesse Wheeler, Sterling Clark, Dustin Pimm, Brandt Hoffman, Tony Finau, Gipper Finau, Robert McRae, Jacob Abraham, Garrett Moss, Nic Booth, Patrick Fishburn, Kobin Courtney, Zac Blair, Joseph Wight, Denny Job and Jordan Herzog.
The girls' qualifiers include Rachel Newren, Heidi Kim, Mercede Kroon, Natalie Stone, Stephi Graves, Jessica Thomas, Emily Copier, Daley Owens, Aubree Nickle, Echo Thatcher, Stefanie Fischer, Selu Fotu, Jenteal Jackson, Stephanie Fox, Monica Fox, Sami Crouch, Aly Tingey and Sadie Palmer.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn and have fun alongside some of the greatest players ever," said tournament director Bryan Naugle.
MINNESOTA WEATHER: The weather problems at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine Golf Club the past three days brought back memories of my visit to Hazeltine to cover the NCAA golf tournament in 1999. That was the year a young BYU team trailed by one shot after two rounds and ended up in seventh place.
The hole I remember best was the par-4 16, a risk-reward hole that doglegs around a large lake. It's the kind of hole that if you hit your drive close to the green you can get a birdie, but if you're off line even a little, you can easily end up with a triple-bogey or worse.
But back to the weather. After the final round was complete, the worst thunderstorm I've ever seen hit as I was driving back from Chaska to Minneapolis. As I was driving toward the city, I heard the words "tornado warning" and immediately got off the freeway and headed out into the middle of nowhere, away from the dark clouds.
So when I heard Friday night about these terrible thunderstorms (which dropped three inches of rain) moving in on Chaska, I could certainly imagine how bad they'd be.
STRAY SHOTS: Additional events scheduled for the Senior tournament this week include a qualifying tournament for three spots Monday, the Georgia-Pacific Super Seniors Pro-Am Thursday and the Championship Pro-Am on Wednesday and Thursday. Among new events this year are a special clinic conducted by Chuck "The Hit Man" Hiter on Wednesday at 3 p.m. (kids 17 years of age and under will be admitted free), the "Caddie for a Day," "Honorary Observer" and "Behind the Scenes Tour" programs and an opportunity for fans to walk up the fairways of the last three holes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday . . . Two-for-one tickets for the Uniting Fore Care Classic are available through the tournament office by calling 1-888-335-4345 . . . Salt Lake's Rachel Newren finished 22nd in the girls' division at the Independent Insurance Agents Junior Classic in Houston. In the boys division, Ogden's Tyler Herzog tied for 32nd and Sandy's Dustin Pimm tied for 58th place . . . The 36-hole UGA Senior Amateur will be played Wednesday and Thursday at Hobble Creek Golf Course with nearly 100 participants.
E-mail: sor@desnews.com