Senior PGA Tour rookie Bruce Lietzke, winner of 13 events on the regular PGA Tour, is one of 36 players who have committed to play in the Kroger Senior Classic Aug.27-Sept.2 at the Golf Center at Kings Island.

        Lietzke won't turn 50 until July 18, but he committed to playing in the Kroger Classic after tournament director Margie French, sent him an invitation last month.

        “I know the players like coming to Cincinnati, so when Margie asked me to play I told her to go ahead and put me in,” said Lietzke, who served as an assistant to Ben Crenshaw on the 1999 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

        Lietzke, who has played no more than 20 events a year because of his desire to spend summers with his family, played in nine PGA Tour events last year, making the cut in five and finishing tied for ninth at the Doral Open.

        “When a player like Bruce comes on the Senior Tour, it is a thrill to get him to play in your tournament,” French said. “He is a class guy, and he still has a great game. I look for him to challenge for the title.”

        Other notables committed so far in the 78-player field include leading money winners Dana Quigley, Jose Maria Canizares, Ed Dougherty, Vicente Fernandez and Mike McCullough, who has already won once this year. Also:

        Tommy Aaron, Jim Ahern, Don Bies, John Bland, Bill Brask, Bob Charles, Frank Conner, Terry Dill, Gibby Gilbert, Bill Holstead, Jim Holtgrieve, Joe Inman, Tom Jenkins, John Mahaffey, Terry Mauney, Jerry McGee, Tom McGinnis, Orville Moody, Christy O'Connor, Jesse Patino, Tony Peterson, Tom Shaw, J.C. Snead, Rocky Thompson, Jim Thorpe, Howard Twitty, Steven Veriato, Bobby Walzel and Walt Zembriski.

        Tickets: 513-398-5742.

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