Azinger set to make Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid debut

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Former Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger, who guided the U.S. Team to victory in 2008, will return to the scene of that triumph as one of 19 major champions scheduled to compete in the 72nd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, May 24-29, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

Azinger, 51, will make his debut in the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf, having withdrawn due to illness a year ago prior to the first round. The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid makes its second visit to Valhalla Golf Club, and first since 2004, with 156 players competing on the 7,297-yard Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

Azinger, the 1993 PGA Champion, will be joined by defending Champion and 1996 Open Champion Tom Lehman, along with the following major champions: Mark Calcavecchia (1989 Open Championship); Fred Couples (1992 Masters); Hale Irwin (1974, '79, '90 U.S. Open); Tom Kite (1992 U.S. Open); Bernhard Langer (1985, '93 Masters); Sandy Lyle (1985 Open Championship, ‘88 Masters); Andy North (1978, '85 U.S. Open); Mark O'Meara (1998 Masters, '98 Open Championship); Jerry Pate (1976 U.S. Open); Nick Price (1992, '94 PGA Championship, '94 Open Championship); Scott Simpson (1987 U.S. Open); Jeff Sluman (1988 PGA Championship); Craig Stadler (1981 Masters); Hal Sutton (1983 PGA Championship); Bob Tway (1986 PGA Championship); Tom Watson (1975, '77, '80, '82, '83 Open Championship, '77, '81 Masters, '82 U.S. Open); and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979 Masters, '84 U.S. Open).

Lehman is one of seven Senior PGA Champions among the entrants, and is joined by Jay Haas (2006, '08); Irwin (1996, '97, '98, 2004); Mike Reid (2005); Tom Wargo (1993); Watson (2001) and Zoeller (2002).

The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid brings together the strongest field in senior golf. Begun in 1937, the Championship attracts the legends of the game and the newest members of senior professional golf to new audiences throughout the United States.

For nearly 25 years, Valhalla Golf Club has hosted premier events - from the 1996 and 2000 PGA Championships, the 2002 PGA Professional National Championship and 2004 Senior PGA Championship, to the 2008 Ryder Cup.

JUNIOR TICKETS: FREE
Juniors 17 years of age and younger will be admitted into the Championship Grounds for FREE with an accompanying ticketed adult. Each ticketed adult will be permitted four (4) junior admissions daily at no additional charge. Junior tickets will be picked-up onsite at the Will Call Office on the day of admission.

ACTIVE MILITARY: FREE
To honor the men and women who serve our country in the armed forces, the PGA of America is pleased to offer FREE admission for all active military personnel (offer valid for Any Day Grounds Tickets only - I.D. Required). Tickets will be picked-up onsite at the Will Call Office on the day of admission.

ONSITE PARKING:
A limited quantity of premium parking is now available onsite at Valhalla Golf Club. Reserve your spot while supplies last! Purchase Today - visit 2011SeniorPGA.com/parking.

Any Day and Weeklong ticket packages may be purchased by visiting 2011SeniorPGA.com, or by calling the PGA Ticketing Center at (800) PGA-GOLF (742-4653).