Ford Senior Players Update

Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Lee Trevino have received commissioner’s exemptions and will compete in this year’s Ford Senior Players Championship. Fred Funk, who turned 50 on June 14, is exempt by virtue of his 2005 Players Championship victory.

With these four players in the field, the top 74 committed players from the Ford Senior Players Championship points list will compete in this year’s event, which will be held at the Tournament Players Club Michigan in Dearborn.

In other news, Hale Irwin, John Bland, Raymond Floyd and Dave Stockton have not committed. If the field remains as is, Mark McCumber will be the last player in at No. 78.

USA and CBS will televise live all four rounds of the Ford Senior Players Championship. The air times (all EDT) are:

Thursday, July 13,USA – 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday, July 14, USA – 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 15, CBS – 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 16, CBS – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Former Major League pitcher Rick Rhoden will make his first appearance at the Ford Senior Players Championship this year. A two-time All-Star (1976, 1986), Rhoden played 16 years in the majors with the Dodgers, Pirates, Yankees and Astros. He finished 12th at last year’s Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament and is conditionally exempt this year. Rhoden posted his best career finish at the 2003 Allianz Championship when he was T5.

For ticket information, visit http://www.fordseniorplayerschamp.pgatour.com.