PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Whistling Straits of Kohler, Wis., one of golf's unique and challenging major championship venues, has been selected to host the 2010 and 2015 PGA Championship, PGA of America officials have announced. In 2020, it will host the Ryder Cup Matches subject to sufficient guaranteed quality hotel rooms, bringing the best of America in team competition against the best of Europe.
"Golf experienced a new chapter of major championship excitement last year at Whistling Straits and The PGA of America is excited to be able to return to Wisconsin and its outstanding sports fans for both the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup Matches," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "The golf world spotlight will continue to shine in Wisconsin for years to come."
Whistling Straits' Pete Dye-designed Straits Course, which was opened for play in 1998 on the shores of Lake Michigan, is ranked "one of the top five course you can play" in the United States by GOLF Magazine and "the best course of the year" by Golf Odyssey. The longest (7,536 yards) layout in major championship history, Whistling Straits attracted 320,000 spectators during last August's 86th PGA Championship won in a three-way playoff by world No. 1-ranked Vijay Singh.
Said Herb Kohler, Chairman, CEO and President of Kohler Co., "if I had written a script for the 2004 PGA Championship, I could not have created the color and drama of the actual event. To a person amongst players and spectators, they and the 446 million households around the world who watched on television were taken aback by what they experienced. Competition for their attention that weekend was none other than the beginning of the summer Olympics and Hurricane Charlie. In its aftermath, we are honored that the club professionals of The PGA of America have made such a strong long-term commitment to return to this venue."
The PGA Championship, which enjoys a rich heritage dating back to its inaugural event in 1916, will mark its 87th Championship, Aug. 11-14, 2005, and first visit to historic Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.
The Ryder Cup Matches, begun in 1927, and now golf's most compelling event, brings together the finest tour professionals from the United States and Europe in match-play competition. Last September, the United States hosted Europe in the 35th Ryder Cup Matches, and was defeated 18 1/2 to 9 1/2, at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Mich.
The PGA of America, founded in 1916, promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
Future PGA Championships:
87th PGA Championship: Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J., on Aug. 11-14, 2005
88th PGA Championship: Medinah (Ill.) Country Club in August 2006
89th PGA Championship: Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla., in August 2007
90th PGA Championship: Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Township, Mich., in August 2008
91st PGA Championship: Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn., in August 2009
92nd PGA Championship: Whistling Straits-Straits Course, Kohler, Wis., in August 2010
93rd PGA Championship: Atlanta Athletic Club, Duluth, Ga., in August 2011
94th PGA Championship: TBD
95th PGA Championship: TBD
96th PGA Championship: TBD
97th PGA Championship: Whistling Straits-Straits Course, Kohler, Wis., in August 2015
Future Ryder Cup Matches:
36th Ryder Cup Matches: The K Club, Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland, on Sept. 22-24, 2006
37th Ryder Cup Matches: Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Ky., in September 2008
38th Ryder Cup Matches: The Celtic Manor, Newport, South Wales, in September 2010
39th Ryder Cup Matches: Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, in September 2012
40th Ryder Cup Matches: Gleneagles, Scotland, in September 2014
41st Ryder Cup Matches: Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn., in September 2016
42nd Ryder Cup Matches: TBD
43rd Ryder Cup Matches: Whistling Straits-Straits Course, Kohler, Wis., in September 2020
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