(Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) — The Champions Tour will officially welcome its newest member next week when Fred Funk makes his Champions Tour debut at the U.S. Senior Open. The 27th U.S. Senior Open begins on Thursday, July 6th at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, KS.
Funk’s U.S. Senior Open appearance will be the first of two straight on the Champions Tour. The seven-time PGA TOUR winner will travel to Dearborn, MI from Kansas for the Ford Senior Players Championship at the TPC Michigan (July 13-16). He is eligible for the Championship by virtue of his win in the 2005 PLAYERS Championship.
"I’ve heard a lot of guys are having a lot of fun out there on the Champions Tour," Funk said. "I even asked Craig Stadler in Hawaii this year about it and you know how gruff he always looks on the golf course, but he said he loves it. It’s great to have the extension in our careers and be able to compete and challenge yourself. These guys are not necessarily playing for money. They just want to feel that competition and have something to practice for and compete against. I think everyone really pinches themselves when you think about the fact that at age 50 you can start all over again.
"I’m really looking forward to the fan aspect of things. I pride myself on interacting with the crowd. I’m certainly no Chi Chi Rodriguez or Lee Trevino, but I like getting them involved and when I’m playing my best golf, that’s when I’m really conscious of trying to acknowledge the crowd after they acknowledge me. It’s fun to get them involved and with the Champions Tour having that as their focus, it’s a little better for me. I’ve been able to make a great living playing a gameâ?¦but at the same time we’re out there to entertain."
Funk, who turned 50 on June 14th, is scheduled to begin his Champions Tour career at 1:58 p.m. CT on Thursday. He will be paired with two-time U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson and one other player.
In addition to Funk, two other players will make their Champions Tour debuts next week at the U.S. Senior Open. Jack Renner, a three-time PGA TOUR champion, earned a berth in the field through open qualifying, as did Chris Starkjohann, a conditionally-exempt Champions Tour player this year. Renner will turn 50 on July 6th, the first day of the tournament, while Starkjohann, a veteran of the Nationwide Tour who has one career win, turns 50 on June 30th. Renner qualified in Murrieta, CA. Starkjohann was medalist in the Chula Vista, CA qualifying event.
Contact:
Jeff Adams
Director of Public Relations
Champions Tour
Tel: 904-273-3397
Email: jadams@pgatourhq.com
