BENTON HARBOR - 156 of the top professional golfers in the world over the age of 50 will compete in the 73rd Senior PGA Championship this week at the golf club at Harbor Shores. WSBT sports director Pete Byrne breaks down the top ten players in the field he thinks are most likely to hoist the Alfred S. Bourne trophy at week's end.
Top Ten to Watch
FRED COUPLES - The obvious fan favorite. Couples is long enough to overpower the course with length off the tee, leaving himself short irons into Nicklaus' diabolical greens. He admits his game is not in top form. But if he can find a rhythm, Freddie could be the man to beat.
MICHAEL ALLEN - 2009 Senior PGA Champion. Nobody on the Champions Tour is playing better in 2012. He has two tour wins, and is tied with Couples for the best scoring average on tour. One of the few guys who can win without playing his absolute best.
KENNY PERRY - Along with Couples, Allen and Tom Lehman, one of the longest hitters on the tour. Perry has a win on tour this year, and trails only Allen in the all-around rankings.
JAY HAAS - 2006 & 2008 Senior PGA Champion. The only multiple Senior PGA winner on the list, Haas still has the game to win the trophy one more time. Among the tour leaders in putting, birdies and eagles per round, if he keeps it out of trouble, he will factor.
BERNHARD LANGER - The two time Masters winner has been a force on the Champions Tour since joining. His unbelievable short game prompted course designer Jack Nicklaus to peg him as one of the favorites, along with Couples.
JEFF SLUMAN - An excellent iron putter and player, Sluman ranks in the top 10 in the champion's tour in both greens in regualtion and putting average. He's also fifth in scoring average. Not long off the tee, but on this course that won't matter.
FRED FUNK - The little guys' parade continues. Like Pavin, Funk is short but accurate off the tee. Number one on tour in driving accuracy. He also has good vibes coming in. Funk is fresh off a win on the Champions Tour Insperity Championship two weeks ago. With more than $28 million in career earnings on the PGA & Champions tours, he's turned into a force to be reckoned with in the majors on the Champions Tour.
MARK CALCAVECCHIA - A birdie machine. He's able to make mistakes and win, because he makes so many birdies. And there WILL be mistakes made on this course. He's talented enough to overcome a bad day. And, Calc knows what it's like to win majors, having won the 1989 British Open.
MIKE GOODES - The best player you've never heard of. Fourth in the tour all-around rankings. Doesn't "Wow" you, but does everything well. If you see his name on the leaderboard, don't be surprised.
and the winner is...
TOM LEHMAN - 2010 Senior PGA Champion. 1996 British Open Champion. A world class iron player, Lehman leads the Champions Tour in greens in regulation. The last seven winners of the Senior PGA championship have finished no worse than 3rd in the field in GIR. For this reason, he is my pick to win his second Senior PGA championship.
