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Watson to be keynote speaker at 36th Junior PGA Championship

By The PGA of America
Published on
Watson to be keynote speaker at 36th Junior PGA Championship

Tom Watson, winner of eight major championships and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, will be the keynote speaker at the players’ welcome reception to kick off the 2011 Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Heritage F.S.E.

The Championship will be held for a second consecutive year at renowned Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind. Set for Aug. 2-5, it will be free and open to the public.

“As a professional golfer, I am honored to be in Fort Wayne for one of the Junior Majors,” said Watson.  “These are tomorrow’s professionals and avid golfers, and I am happy to participate in a sport that is truly life long and encourages honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.”

Watson has been one of the leading golfers over the last 30 years, and his famous rivalry with Jack Nicklaus in the 1970s and 80s increased awareness and viewership of golf across the country and around the world.

In 2009, at age 59, Watson made international headlines, becoming the oldest man to hold the lead after any round in a major when he was tied for the lead after the second round and held the lead alone following the third round of the Open Championship. Watson ended up losing in a four-hole playoff with Stewart Cink.

Among other notable accomplishments, Watson has been named PGA Player of the Year six times, won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average three times, was a member of four United States Ryder Cup Teams and captained the victorious 1993 U.S. squad.

About the 36th Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Heritage F.S.E.

From Aug. 2-5, a 156-player field will descend upon Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind., for the second consecutive year. This year's field includes past winners of the Championship, PGA Junior Series event champions, PGA Section winners, many of Polo Golf and Golfweek's top-ranked players, and selected national junior tournament winners.

Golf Channel will present a one-hour highlight show of the 36th Junior PGA Championship, with the first airing on Thurs., Sept. 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Begun in 1976, the Junior PGA Championship has traditionally produced unforgettable golf performances and brings together the best junior golfers from around the country to compete for the Jack Nicklaus Trophy in the Boys' division and the Patty Berg Trophy in the Girls' division.

About The PGA of America
Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.