CLEVELAND — If seven decades of professional golf in Akron is ending this year, it is going out with the bang.
That was the attitude on display as the Kaulig Companies Championship hosted a media day June 15 at Progressive Field.
The PGA Tour Champions tournament, formerly known as the Senior Players Championship, returns to Firestone Country Club July 9 to 12.
Matt Kaulig, executive chairman of Kaulig Companies Limited, said he was proud to be the title sponsor for the fourth consecutive year.
“It is definitely my favorite week of the year,” Kaulig said. “I don’t know of anything bigger that goes on in Akron other than the Kaulig Companies Championship. We’re at famed Firestone. They’ve been playing professional golf here for 75 years. With all the events we have … we have massive amounts of fun.”
“We can’t be more excited for this tournament,” said Tim Clepper, president and CEO of Kaulig Companies. “I think it will be the biggest one yet. We have many returning champion coming to play in Akron. It’s a big deal. We’ve got to show our true colors, and I know we’re going to do that.
There was one dark cloud hanging over the sunny day at Progressive Field. The PGA announced May 26 the Senior Players Championship will switch to the Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif., starting in 2027.
David Utlak, interim executive director of tournament, said the PGA has not closed the door on future play Firestone.
“The tour found a long-term partner at an existing venue, the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach,” Utlak said. “We were able to find a long-team sponsorship. We, as a tour, found a partner that would step up with us. It’s just a longer term deal. I’m just focused on this year as much as I can.
“The tour is always open to discussions for a long-team partner at Firestone.”
Both Kaulig and Clepper said Kaulig Companies is not giving up on golf in Akron.
“We’re going to look for what we do next,” Clepper said. “We will do something in Akron next. We just don’t know what that looks like yet. We are so committed to Akron. We don’t do this for Instagram likes and visibility as we do raising money for charity.”
“I don’t know if it’s bittersweet. They say all good things have to come to an end sometimes,” Kaulig said. “We don’t know that it’s coming to an end. We just know they have moved this particular tournament to California. We’re going to do our best to keep something going to Akron or Firestone.”
As for this year’s tournament, Utlak said there’s no question the course is ready at Firestone.
“We have a great golf course ready to go for this year,” Utlak said. “It will be a great test. We had a very wet spring, which means it will be a tough challenge for them with the rough. In July, the green start to roll.”
The 78-player field will be set on July 3. Utlak said defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez and runner-up Steven Alker, who lost last year’s title in a playoff, both will return to this year’s field.
Five World Golf Hall of Famers, including 2024 champion Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomery, Vijay Singh and Bernhard Langer, also have committed to play
Defending Charles Schwab Cup champion Stewart Cink and senior tour “rookie” Zach Johnson also have committed to play.
Utlak also said there will be a celebration of the tournament July 8 at House 330 with ambassador of golf John Daly.
Michael Leonard can be reached at mleonard@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kaulig Companies Championship returns for one last party at Firestone
Reporting by Michael Leonard, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michael Leonard, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
