KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship to allow 8,000 spectators daily

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (April 2, 2021) 一 The PGA of America announced today that the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will be contested with a limited number of spectators on-site, May 25-30, at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship — the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf — will welcome approximately 8,000 spectators per day, a decision that was made in coordination with the city of Tulsa and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous estimates were that attendance would be limited to 5,000 daily, so this is a significant increase reflecting improved COVID-19 transmission numbers in Tulsa and Oklahoma.

“After a year away, we’re excited to re-establish the legacy of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. “Southern Hills, with all of its pedigree, is certainly a special place.  It’ll be exciting to watch this great American golf course ー which our friend Gil Hanse restored to Perry Maxwell’s original vision ー on a Major Championship stage, not once, but twice, in as many years.”

Those who purchase tickets to the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will have first priority for 2022 PGA Championship tickets when they go on sale on June 1. The 2022 PGA Championship will be played atSouthern Hills, May 16-22, 2022.

“Over the next 15 months, our friends in Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma will have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to see so many of golf’s greatest living Champions compete for two Major Championships at Southern Hills,” said SethWaugh, CEO of the PGA of America. “To that end, we’ll host and promote a responsible on-course environment that isboth memorable and in line with local health protocols.”

As the PGA of America continues to monitor COVID-19 developments and work in concert with local public health authorities through Championship Week, the following COVID-19 Policies and Procedures, among others, will be inplace for the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship:

• Face coverings will be required for all spectators, staff and volunteers, including those who have received aCOVID-19 vaccine, and should be worn at all times (indoors, outdoors or when riding any PGA-operatedshuttle).
• All spectators, staff and volunteers are expected to maintain appropriate social distancing at the
• Sanitization stations will be available throughout the grounds and regular handwashing is Spectators will be permitted to bring their own hand sanitizers.

All stakeholders are encouraged to review the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship’s Commitment toHealth at srpgachampionship.com to learn more about the Championship’s extensive health and wellnessmeasures.

Ken Tanigawa, 53, will defend the 2019 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship he won at Oak Hill Country Club inRochester, N.Y. The 2020 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship was not played in adherence to local COVID-19mitigation policies in Southwest Michigan.

“The health and well being of our volunteers, spectators and players has always been our top priority, and we are thrilled that we were able to work together to find a safe way to bring back this incredible event,” said Deb O’Connor, director of Global Corporate Reputation and Community Relations at Whirlpool Corporation, parent company of KitchenAid. “With 1,500 people currently employed at our Tulsa Whirlpool plant, we could not be more excited to bring this iconic Championship to such a special community.”

The field for the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will include the top 35 Senior PGA Club Professionals,who qualified during the 2020 Senior PGA Professional Championship, which was won by Omar Uresti of Austin, Texas,October 15-18, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.