LOWER MACUNGIE, TWP., Pa. — Twenty-five years after winning the U.S. Senior Open at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Hale Irwin’s fondest memory of his stay in the Lehigh Valley isn’t the comeback victory over Bruce Fleischer.
Nor is it the $400,000 prize — although, he admits, that was nice.
Rather, it’s the kindness of the local residents he encountered here a quarter-century ago.
Irwin, a World Golf Hall of Famer, was at a news conference at Lehigh Country Club on Thursday where it was announced a PGA TOUR Champions event — the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic — would be held there for five years starting in 2026.
The three-round event, sponsored by Jefferson Health and Lehigh Valley Health Network, will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 4.
Legends in the 78-player field will include Stewart Cink, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer and others.
Proceeds will benefit local charities in northeastern Pennsylvania, Greater Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley.
Primary beneficiaries are Valley Youth House and the Eagles Autism Foundation, which was represented by Eagles Hall of Fame receiver Mike Quick.
Revisiting his last PGA-Tour victory
Given the focus of the PGA TOUR Champions events is charity first, golf second, Irwin said he viewed the Lehigh Valley as an ideal venue for the new seniors event.
“What I’m most proud of in my career is not the records, not the wins, but being part of an endeavor that helps people that may need help,” said Irwin, who in May will turn 80.
He's second all-time in Champions titles with 45.
"Because I remember when I won the (2000 US Senior) Open, what I remember most — my knee-jerk reaction to the question — is the hospitality of the people here. I remember that more than anything else."Hale Irwin, on his victory at Saucon Valley Country Club
“That’s why holding the event here is perfect,” he said. “Because I remember when I won the Open, what I remember most — my knee-jerk reaction to the question — is the hospitality of the people.
"I remember that more than anything else. I remember the other players feeling the same about the hospitality, how much they supported you and helped you.
"The entire community was very special. We all appreciated that. I have never forgotten that.”
Lehigh Valley has pro golf history
Miller Brady, PGA TOUR Champions president, called the marriage of the event and Lehigh Country Club a win-win.
“It’s a win for Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic, a win for the country club, a win for the community, a win for the spectators and especially a win for the economic impact and for local charities,” Brady said.
The new golf event is expected to generate a $50 million boost to the local economy.
The PGA TOUR Champions has generated more than $4 billion in charitable contributions.
Holding such a prestigious golf event is a great way for Jefferson Health and LVHN to drive long-term economic development for communities, officials said.
“We’d thought about different ways to bring our brand to life,” Jefferson Health Executive Vice President said Nick Ragone said.
“We found the best way was to partner with the PGA TOUR Champions. The tournament will be on Golf Channel for three days. That’s a great way to market Lehigh Valley to the entire country.”
“We’re going to put on a great show that will show off the club and the Lehigh Valley.”Allentown native Dan Sullivan is managing partner of HNS Sports Group, of Ohio
Allentown native Dan Sullivan is managing partner of HNS Sports Group, of Ohio, an event management company specializing in running golf tournaments.
After watching other courses such as Saucon Valley Country Club hold premier events, Sullivan said he believed it was Lehigh Country Club’s time.
Lehigh Country Club has never held a PGA event.
Saucon Valley Country Club’s Old Course hosted eight USGA events, starting in 1951.
Other USGA events there include the 1951 and 1983 U.S. Amateurs, the 1987 U.S. Senior Amateur, the 1992 U.S. Senior Open, and the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open.
Those tournaments drew as many as 150,000 fans for the week.
“It was our time to step up,” Sullivan said. “We had the officials and partners on site and they were thrilled with what we showed them.
“We’re going to put on a great show that will show off the club and the Lehigh Valley.”
'Can't wait to come back'
The PGA Tour Champions, formerly the Senior PGA Tour and, later, the Champions Tour, is a men’s senior golf tour for ages 50 and older.
The Senior PGA Championship was founded in 1937 and formally established in 1980. The tour was renamed the Champions Tour through the 2015 season after which it was again renamed as the PGA Tour Champions.
“I remember how nice the people here were to me in 2000."Golfing great Hale Irwin
Irwin, 79, was among the world’s top golfers on the regular PGA Tour, having won 20 events from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.
He and Tiger Woods have each won three U.S. Open titles, with Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson each having won the event a record four times.
In 1990, at age 40, Irwin became the oldest player in history to win the U.S. Open.
Irwin has won more than $27.1 million in prize money since joining the PGA TOUR Champions in 1995.
Saucon Valley Country Club was host for the U.S. Senior Open, most recently in 2022.
In 2000, Irwin beat Bruce Fleisher by three shots in the U.S. Senior Open at Saucon to win the last of his then-PGA Tour Champions-record 45 victories.
And he said he is looking forward to returning to the Lehigh Valley for the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic next year.
“I remember how nice the people here were to me in 2000,” Irwin said. “This is a very welcoming community. I can’t wait to come back.”
