97th PGA Championship

The Road to the Championship

Video Trailer: https://vimeo.com/134726374

The PGA of America’s annual CBS Special, “The Road to the PGA Championship,” focuses on eight competitors in the 97th PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, including defending PGA Champion Rory McIlroy, and 12-time PGA Tour winner Steve Stricker.

CBS will debut “The Road to the PGA Championship” nationally on Sunday, Aug. 2, from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m., with three separate one-hour rebroadcasts on the Golf Channel taking place Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Aug. 6 at 5 a.m. (all times ET).

The Road to the PGA Championship chronicles the journey of two-time PGA Professional National Champion Matt Dobyns, of Lake Success, New York, whose victory at the 48th PGA Professional National Championship was highlighted by a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole. Dobyns will be playing in his second PGA Championship.

In addition to Dobyns, five PGA Club Professionals who are competing at Whistling Straits are profiled in the program, including:

• Brian Cairns of Walled Lake, Michigan
• Ryan Helminen of Menasha, Wisconsin
• Jeff Olson of Delaware, Ohio
• Ben Polland of Manhasset, New York
• Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio

Wyatt Worthington II of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, a PGA Golf Management University graduate who missed a berth in this year’s PGA Championship in a playoff, is also featured.

The PGA Professionals highlighted instructing and mentoring their PGA Tour students are:

• Dennis Tiziani, Steve Stricker’s father-in-law
• Michael Bannon, a long-standing member of the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, who has worked with World #1 Rory McIlroy for nearly two decades

The program also features prominent representatives to speak on behalf of Whistling Straits: Herb Kohler, Executive Chairman of Kohler Co.; Pete Dye, Hall of Fame golf course designer; and Jim Richerson, PGA General Manager and Group Director of Golf for Kohler Co.

The PGA Championship is one of the premier golf events conducted by the PGA of America. Others include the Ryder Cup and the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid. The PGA Championship perennially features the strongest field, the fairest set-up and deepest international lineup of any major golf championship. The 2015 PGA Championship will feature one of the largest purses of any major championship ($10 million). Since 1916, golf’s best professionals have won the PGA Championship, including: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Raymond Floyd, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen.

Contact: Jamie Carbone, PGA of America at 561-624-8446, [email protected]