HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. - Fighting Illini head coach Mike Small is set to appear in the field at the 2018 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Illinois beginning on July 11.
TOURNAMENT RELEASE
University of Illinois men's golf coach Mike Small will test his skills against the legends of golf at the 2018 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Ill., July 11-15.
Small has made a name for himself at the University of Illinois, overseeing a men's golf program that is perennially among the best in the country. But it was his excellence on the golf course that earned him a spot in the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship.
Small made his way into the field by cracking the top 70 on the PGA TOUR Champions Charles Schwab Cup money list, thanks in large part to a tie for 10th at the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison, Wis., on June 24. Two weeks earlier, Small tied for ninth in the Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines, Iowa.
Since he is not a PGA TOUR Champions member, Small had to make the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS field by performing well in three events where he received sponsor exemptions. In addition to the American Family Insurance and Principal Charity championships, he also received an exemption in March into the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Ariz., where he tied for 24th.
"I knew I had to have a top 10 finish in Wisconsin – to make the field," Small said. "This is really special because you have to qualify to get in. I'm excited to have the opportunity to play. Majors are always something you get up for … majors are different.
"And it's always fun to play in front of fans in Chicago," Small added. "I played in the Western Open when it was at Cog Hill many times. Being at Exmoor, it's going to be a semi-home game for me. We have a lot of Illinois alumni and friends who are members at Exmoor, but I've never played there, so I'm excited to get up there and compete."
The PGA of America's 2017 Senior Professional Player of the Year, Small has enjoyed years of success playing at the professional level. He has played in 10 PGA Championships, making three cuts. He also has played in three U.S. Opens and finished tied for 43rd and tied for 42nd in the 2016 and 2017 U.S. Senior Opens, respectively. Small competed in eight Western Opens at Cog Hill, with his best finish a tie for 27th in 2004.
"We're excited to have Mike Small in the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS field," said Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. "Mike is well known and respected throughout Illinois and the Midwest, and we expect his presence to add an extra level energy and excitement to this year's championship."
Small is recognized as the top professional player among all college coaches while also excelling as a coach. He led the Illini to their fourth consecutive Big Ten Championship title this year, and the ninth in the last 10 seasons, on the way to the program's 11th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. The streak marks the second-longest active streak in the nation behind the Texas Longhorns.
The Big Ten Coach of the Year for a record 10th time this year, Small was honored as National Coach of the Year in 2015 and has earned Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors nine times, including in 2018.
Next week at Exmoor, Small will be competing against the top players on the TOUR Champions, including past Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS champions Jay Haas, Kenny Perry, Bernhard Langer and 2017 champion Scott McCarron. Other well-known stars expected to compete are Vijay Singh, John Daly, Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jeff Sluman and Lee Janzen. The final field will be released at 5 p.m. Friday and is subject to change.
TICKETS
Guests that purchase through this link will automatically receive $5 off all Any Day Tournament Round Grounds or upgraded Egan Pavilion tickets. No promo code is needed to take advantage of this special offer.
Any Day Tournament Round Grounds tickets are valid on any one day, Thursday July 12th - Sunday July 15th. The Egan Pavilion is a hospitality venue located on the 16th green. Upgraded food and beverages are available for purchase inside the venue. This location has tables and open seating available to all ticket holders. Children 16 and under receive complimentary grounds and Egan Pavilion admission when accompanied by a properly ticketed adult.
