AKRON (Ohio) — Firestone South, the home of professional golf, returns.
The first round of the 2023 Kaulig Companies Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event, will be played on Thursday. This year’s tournament marks the 70th anniversary of professional golf at Firestone Country Club.
The tournament, previously known as the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship is now in its first season under a new title sponsor with local ties.
Matt Kaulig was raised in Cincinnati and born in Columbus. He played quarterback at the University of Akron during the early 1990s. He is now the executive chair of Kaulig Companies Limited. This office has connections to many markets including Leaf Home, NASCAR and others. In 2022, he also became a part of the Cleveland Guardians’ minority ownership when David Blitzer acquired a large stake in that team.
Kaulig stated in June that “we had to get involved because we love Akron and Northeast Ohio.” When the sponsorship of the tournament became available, it was a no-brainer. I’ve attended the tournament for over 30 years. I remember that my wife, Lisa, was a cheerleader. As part of the volunteers [and] the tournament], they drove the vans.
It’s almost surreal to be the official title sponsor for this tournament.
The organization reported that more than $900,000.00 was raised through philanthropic efforts last year. In 2023, they want to double this amount.
Kelly, the defending champion, returns
Jerry Kelly, the reigning Firestone South tournament champion, returns. Since Tiger Woods dominated PGA Tour events at Firestone South, Kelly has a good understanding of the course.
Kelly has won two races in the last three seasons and finished second.
He said that courses with lots of trees are more pleasing to his eye because they narrow his focus. Firestone South is a place that has become a second home for him in recent years.
Kelly stated in June that Firestone Country Club was the best course on the PGA Champions Schedule. It tests everything. You have to keep the ball on the fairway but hitting it far helps. The putting is a little difficult. It’s a great place to test your skills.
Stricker, Els and Singh are also on the field
The 2023 field includes some of golf’s most notable names from the past few decades. These include Steve Stricker and Bernhard Langer. Also included are Vijay Singh (Fred Couples), Colin Montgomerie, Davis Love III, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.
Kelly, Stricker, and Singh have all won at Firestone South during their career.
Stricker’s 2023 season has been a great one on the PGA Tour Champions. He won four events out of 12 starts and two majors. Kelly’s record on Firestone South is not far behind Stricker, who won the event in 2021. Stricker was also runner-up for last year.
Stewart Cink, who is playing his first season on the Champions Tour, is no stranger to Firestone. He won the WGC – NEC Invitational in 2004, and finished second in the four-hole playoff against Tiger Woods in 2006.
Langer , meanwhile won the U.S. Senior Open just eight days earlier. This was his 46th win as a senior, breaking Hale Irwin’s record.
