Hosting the PGA Professional Championship also will be a major moment for PGA Golf Club, the flagship property of the PGA of America since 1996. When PGA Golf Club hosted the 2021 PGA Professional Championship, it made history by completing the “Grand Slam” because the club had already hosted the Senior PGA Professional Championship a dozen times, the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship for 24 consecutive years and the PGA Cup in 2003.
But the 2021 PGA Professional Championship was greatly affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (the 2020 PGA Professional Championship had been canceled). Because of safety protocol, no spectators or caddies were allowed, meaning the players had to ride in golf cars. Moreover, the restaurants and clubhouse at PGA Golf Club were closed, making it difficult for the players to enjoy the club and its amenities.
PGA Golf Club officials are anxious to give the 312 players, their caddies and families the red- carpet treatment while playing the respected Tom Fazio-designed Wanamaker and Ryder courses.
“It’s only been four years, but it seems like a lifetime when you consider COVID,” says PGA Golf Club General Manager Jeremy Wiernasz, PGA, who has served the facility situated an hour north of West Palm Beach since 2013.
“Having them come back is very exciting and a huge opportunity for us to showcase our facility and the fantastic Wanamaker and Ryder courses under championship conditions. It means a lot to us to host every PGA of America member championship this year outside of the PGA Cup.”
Holly Taylor, PGA, the Director of Golf/Head Professional who has been at PGA Golf Club since 2008, echoes those same sentiments: “It’s nice to be hosting the PGA Professional Championship when it’s not a COVID year. The players are all walking and it’s going to be on Golf Channel for four days. It will be like a normal PGA Professional Championship.”
The 312 players will play one round on the Wanamaker and Ryder courses before a 36-hole cut is made at the low 90 players and ties (and another cut to 70 players and ties after the third round). The final two rounds will be played on the more difficult Wanamaker Course, which was renovated last summer by the Fazio family (Tom and son Nathan).
The top 20 finishers (no ties) earn coveted spots in the PGA Championship on May 15–18 at Quail Hollow Golf Club (a Fazio re-design) in Charlotte, North Carolina, as Corebridge Financial PGA Team members.
Many PGA of America Members are certainly familiar with PGA Golf Club, which also hosts the PGA Tournament Series every December and the PGA Winter Championships every January and February. With the PGA Professional Championship returning this spring, many top contenders made sure to play in those recent events to become familiar with the changes made on the Wanamaker.
“That was a big reason why I came to play this event – to get a couple of good looks at the courses,” says Jared Jones, PGA, the Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, who was second in mid-February’s PGA Stroke Play Championship and tied for second in last year’s PGA Professional Championship. “This is always the one tournament I think about all year.”
While every player may not have the expectation of winning, just getting to the PGA Professional Championship is considered a victory for most.
“This will be my 20th, and it never gets old,” says Jeff Martin, PGA, the Head Professional at Wollaston Golf Club in Milton, Massachusetts. “I appreciate it more every year.”
At the other end of the experience level, Andy Svoboda will be playing in just his second PGA Professional Championship. But an impressive tied-for-second finish in his inaugural start last year proved he’s a contender.
“I know I’ve got a chance, but I don’t hit it nearly as long as most of these guys,” says Svoboda, the 45-year-old PGA Head Golf Professional at Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, Illinois. “I’m hitting long irons and they’re hitting hybrids. I’m sure it will be hotter and play different in April.”
Larkin Gross also proved you don’t have to play in a lot of PGA Professional Championships to contend. He made his first start at PGA Golf Club in 2021 as the youngest player (23) in the field and his father caddied for him. He shot rounds of 71-72-64-76 to finish fourth.
“I played super solid the first two rounds and then came out with my hair on fire and shot 64, which was awesome,” recalls Gross, a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Virginia. “It’s a memory I’ll never forget.”
