Wright is one of 11 Australians and two Kiwis in the field for the second senior major championship in as many weeks, Wright buoyed by shooting 11-under across the weekend to finish eighth at the Regions Tradition.

But while he went 66-67 the final two rounds in Alabama, Wright expects that the 7,152 yardage and lack of a first cut of rough will make any score under par for four rounds a competitive one.

Now in his second year on the PGA TOUR Champions, Wright believes that his length will be a particularly effective weapon this week.

“Someone told me it was playing 7,200 yards which is very strong when you’ve got the wind as well,” said Wright, who will have son Noah on the bag.

“The second hole is brutal. It’s an uphill par 3, really hard to stop it on the green, but it’s not a standout because they’re all freaking tough.

“That’ll play into my hands a little bit. I feel young on this tour and I can hit it pretty long.

“It’ll be a big advantage having a little bit of length there.”

Host to the US Open in 1964, 1997 and 2011, Congressional was chosen by the PGA of America to host eight championships across two decades, the first being the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship won by In Gee Chun.

A week after Wright’s eighth-place finish led the Aussie contingent at the Regions Tradition, Brendan Jones, Scott Hend, Andre Stolz and Wisconsin-based PGA Professional Mick Smith, who qualified for a second consecutive Senior PGA Championship by finishing tied for 13th at the 2024 Senior PGA Professional Championship, add to the Aussie influence.

The Senior PGA Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo, starting at 3am on Friday and Saturday and 5am Sunday and Monday.
 
Round 1 tee times AEST

Senior PGA Championship
Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland
9:27pm*    Andre Stolz
9:38pm*    Michael Campbell (NZ)
9:44pm        Michael Wright
9:55pm        Brendan Jones
11:01pm    Richard Green
2:25am        Mark Hensby
2:31am*    Mick Smith
3:09am        Stuart Appleby
3:20am        Scott Hend
3:26am*    Steven Alker (NZ)
4:21am*    Rod Pampling
4:32am*    Cameron Percy
4:37am        David Bransdon

Past champion: Richard Bland
Past Aussie winners: Peter Thomson (1984)
Prize money: $US3.5m
TV times: Live 3am-6am Friday on Fox Sports 505; Live 3:15am-6am Saturday on Fox Sports 506; Live 5am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.

Australasians in the field

Steven Alker (NZ)
Previous appearances: 2 (2022-2023)
Best finish: 1st (2022)
Last start: T5 in 2023
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 9
Best finish in a senior major: Won, 2022 Senior PGA

Stuart Appleby
Previous appearances: 3 (2022-2024)
Best finish: T14 (2024)
Last start: T14 in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T3, 2022 Regions Tradition

David Bransdon
Previous appearances: 1 (2024)
Best finish: MC (2024)
Last start: MC in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T38, 2025 Regions Tradition

Michael Campbell (NZ)
Previous appearances: 3 (2019, 2022-2023)
Best finish: T55 (2022)
Last start: MC in 2023
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T41, 2023 Senior Open

Richard Green
Previous appearances: 3 (2022-2024)
Best finish: 2nd (2024)
Last start: 2nd in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: 2nd, 2024 Senior PGA and 2024 Senior Open

Scott Hend
Previous appearances: 1 (2024)
Best finish: T4 (2024)
Last start: T4 in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T4, 2024 Senior PGA

Mark Hensby
Previous appearances: 3 (2022-2024)
Best finish: T8 (2022)
Last start: T67 in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 1
Best finish in a senior major: 3rd, 2022 US Senior Open

Brendan Jones
Previous appearances: 0
Best finish: N/A
Last start: N/A
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: First start

Rod Pampling
Previous appearances: 4 (2021-2024)
Best finish: T20 (2021)
Last start: MC in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 2
Best finish in a senior major: T3, 2022 Regions Tradition

Cameron Percy
Previous appearances: 1 (2024)
Best finish: T21 (2024)
Last start: T21 in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T11, 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship

Mick Smith
Previous appearances: 1 (2024)
Best finish: T75 (2024)
Last start: T75 in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T75, 2024 Senior PGA

Andre Stolz
Previous appearances: 1 (2023)
Best finish: MC (2023)
Last start: MC in 2023
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: MC, 2023 Senior PGA

Michael Wright
Previous appearances: 1 (2024)
Best finish: T17 (2024)
Last start: T17 in 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T7, 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship