First Major Championship to be contested May 24-28
The PGA of America hosted Media Day for the 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at PGA Frisco–the new Home of the PGA of America, Omni PGA Frisco Resort and Monument Realty PGA District–with defending champion Steven Alker.
The 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, the first Major Championship contested at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, will be held May 24-28. Fields Ranch will be home to an unprecedented run of 26 championships over an 11-year span.
“It's been a very impactful event,” said John Lindert, PGA of America President. “The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is one of our four key majors along with the PGA Championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup. So this is, as you see, very rich in history and tradition, and I'm extremely proud to be part of this.”
Alker started his day by playing a practice round on Fields Ranch East. The reigning champion played alongside Paul Earnest, PGA Director of Golf & Operations at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco.
“It took me by surprise, and a very nice surprise,” said Alker. “It's very, very fair, and I think the best compliment I can give the golf course is that the more holes I played, the more I enjoyed it, and that's a sign of a good golf course.”
A special fireside chat followed, featuring Alker, Lindert, Championship Director Jason Mengel, Director of Community Relations at Whirlpool Corporation Deb O’Connor, and NBC Sports Executive Vice President of Golf Tom Knapp. Alker discussed his experiences since joining the PGA TOUR Champions in 2021, including winning the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Alker was named Player of the Year after leading the Tour in scoring average (68.27) on his way to winning four times and securing 13 top-three finishes in 23 starts.
Alker also had the opportunity to explore the new, state-of-the-art Home of the PGA of America, including the PGA Professional Development Center. The facility is a hub for professional development that will enable nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals to drive growth of the game initiatives for golfers of all ages and abilities.
Alker finished his day with a ceremonial first tee shot on Fields Ranch East alongside PGA, KitchenAid and Omni representatives to signal the course’s opening. The next time Alker returns to Fields Ranch and PGA Frisco, he will defend his title against the best senior players in the world.
“Today’s media day was an exciting milestone as we approach the first Major Championship at PGA Frisco,” said Mengel. “We cannot wait for spectators to experience Fields Ranch East and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.”
Now in its seventh year as title sponsor, KitchenAid will once again elevate the spectator experience at this year’s Championship. The KitchenAid Fairway Club will host a variety of celebrity guests and local chefs in addition to samples at the KitchenAid Cafe, the opportunity to test out small appliances and the chance to be inspired by a fully designed kitchen.
“We talk to players, we talk to spectators, and they all think that great golf and great cooking goes together,” said O’Connor. “It's really like you're out there having a good time with your friends, your family, you're laughing a lot, you're learning a lot together, and it's just about making memories.”
Future Major Championships to be held on Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco include: the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2029; KPMG Women's PGA Championship in 2025 and 2031; and the PGA Championship in 2027 and 2034.
A limited number of ticket, hospitality and pro-am experiences remain available to be a part of the 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Visit SRPGA.com for more information.
