Fred Couples, Tom Watson and defending champion Michael Allen lead an impressive field at the oldest and most prestigious event in senior golf, the 71st Senior PGA Championship from Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo. this Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. ET on NBC Sports.
Host
Dan Hicks and analyst Gary Koch anchor the coverage from the 18th hole tower. They are joined by tower reporter Mark Rolfing; course reporters Roger Maltbie and Dottie Pepper; and interviewer/essayist
Jimmy Roberts.
Couples has three victories this year on the 50-and-over circuit and took sixth at the Masters. Joining him is Watson, who won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship season opener in Hawaii and finished 18th at Augusta National. The field of senior professionals is comprised of numerous additional familiar names, including Bernhard Langer, Jay Haas, and Loren Roberts.
In addition to a competitive field, golfers will also compete with a unique combination of elements -- elevation, wind and heat. The "mile high" Colorado Golf Club has experienced severe winds this week and temperatures are expected to exceed 80 degrees.
KOCH ON FITNESS: "Fitness is going to be a key factor this week. This was designed as a walking course but there are some severe uphill walks. Throw in the altitude plus high temperatures, and fitness will become more of an issue than usual."
ROLFING ON THE COURSE: "I love Ben Crenshaw-designed courses. It's a great course. Everything will be dictated by the wind because it's a wide-open place. This course will test every aspect of everybody's game."
KOCH ON THE WIND AND ELEVATION: "It adds another layer of the shot process. Normally, it's a two-part process: yardage and wind. Now, it's yardage, elevation adjustment, up or down hill, and wind, possibly severe wind. It's going to be a fun process to watch."
ROLFING ON THE WIND: "Fewer players have a chance to win when it's windy. The best players will get to the top.
Tom Watson has been in the wind so much – he won five British Opens – you can't replace that experience. It's also the first major of the year so there's a different buzz and a big-event feel. That's important, too."
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