Published on May 28, 2018

Broadhurst Wins KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship


BENTON HARBOR, MI – MAY 27: Paul Broadhurst of England poses with the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy after winning the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores on May 27, 2018 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Paul Broadhurst became a two-time Senior Major Championship winner after dominating on the final day of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, winning by four strokes.

This is the 1991 Ryder Cup player’s seventh victory since joining the over-50s ranks, and his second Senior Major after coming from four strokes behind to win The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Carnoustie in 2016.

The 52-year-old started the final day at Harbor Shores Golf Club two strokes behind 54-hole leaders Tim Petrovic and Scott McCarron and immediately made his move with a birdie on the first hole.

He drew level at the turn with a birdie on the ninth hole, moving to 15 under par alongside Petrovic. Both reached 16 under par with birdies on the tenth before Broadhurst pulled away with a birdie on the 12th hole.

Broadhurst had a two stroke lead after Petrovic dropped a shot on the 16th hole, and he increased that to three strokes with a birdie on the par three 17th.

He then finished in incredible fashion with a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, reaching a joint-Championship record low 72-hole total of 19 under par and signing for a tournament-low eight under par 63, one better than his seven under par 64 the previous day.

The Englishman started the week with a one over par first round, recovered with a five under par second round and played his final two rounds 15 under par.

Broadhurst said, “It’s obviously up there with the Senior Open. They’re the top two. I couldn’t choose between the two, they’re both equal in my opinion. I just wish I was playing like this on the main tour 20 years ago.

“I didn’t play too badly the first day, I just didn’t make any putts. I just hit a poor shot there on number 14 and made double and that was it, 1-over. I guess you think you’re out of the tournament, but when I won the Senior Open in Carnoustie I started with a 75, so you never are out of it.

“I was playing catch up and it was important that I got off to a good start Friday, which I did, birdied three of the first four holes and I managed to continue that good form over the weekend. It’s not very often you shoot 66 on a Friday, better it Saturday and then better that Sunday. So yeah, it’s been a special week.

“Once I got into the round I started to relax a little bit and it was only, I guess when I finished the front that you, I wouldn’t say tense up, but you know you got something to lose now. You’re leading the tournament, it’s not necessarily yours to lose because you got no control on what Tim or Scott were doing behind, but it felt it was not necessarily mine to lose, but there was something to lose if I hit bad shots.

“I actually spoke to my caddie about that going down the last, we don’t want to 3-putt and give him the opportunity, because stranger things have happened in golf by people holing their second shots. And to see it go in the middle of the hole on the last was just a special feeling to finish a tournament off like that.”

Miguel Angel Jiménez finished fifth on 12 under, with fellow Staysure Tour members Colin Montgomerie and Chris Williams a shot further back in sixth place.

2002 Ryder Cup player Phillip Price carded a final round 67 to share eighth place on ten under par.

Broadhurst is the second English player in history to win the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, following in 2012 winner Roger Chapman’s footsteps. Five of the last seven winners are European: Broadhurst (2018), Chapman (2012), Bernhard Langer (2017), Colin Montgomerie (2014, ’15).