Golf Academy Stage

2012 Daily Herald Golf Academy Stage Line Up

golf-headliners

Craig Stadler

Craig Stadler - a/k/a "The Walrus" - will be making an appearance on the Daily Herald Golf Academy Stage on Saturday and Sunday for a Q and A session. Craig Stadler will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1982 Masters victory when he returns to Augusta National Golf Club this April as a past champion. One of the more colorful and popular members of the PGA TOUR, Stadler won a total of 20 times around the world before joining the Champions Tour at age 50 in 2003, where he has won eight times. In addition to winning at Augusta, Stadler's regular Tour wins came at several of the game's iconic venues: two at the World Series of Golf (Firestone CC), the TOUR Championship (Pinehurst No. 2), the Nissan (Los Angeles) Open (Riviera CC), and the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines GC in his home town of San Diego. Stadler lives in Denver and is an avid Colorado Avalanche fan. His son, Kevin, is a member of the PGA TOUR.

Stadler is also an exhibitor at this year's show and will be promoting CraigStadler.com and ShankMeister.com in booth 1116.

Mark Murphy

Making his first appearance on the Golf Academy Main Stage will be Mark Murphy, winner of the Golf Channel's 2011 Big Break Ireland competition. The only native of Ireland among the show's competitors, Murphy was a fitting winner of the "Survivor-style" made-for-TV competition.

"I'm thrilled to be coming to the Chicago Golf Show," Murphy said. "Chicago is a tremendous golf town and I'm looking forward to meeting all the golfers at the Chicago Golf Show. I'm sure many of them will be able to trace their roots back to Ireland."

Murphy will appear on the Daily Herald Golf Academy Stage on both Friday and Saturday.

Chip Beck

Chip Beck was voted 2011 Comeback Player of the Year on the over-50 Champions Tour. Before joining the senior circuit the longtime Chicago area resident carved out a sparkling 20-year PGA TOUR career from 1979-'99 during which he won four times, played on three U.S. Ryder Cup teams, and became only the second player ever to shoot 59 in a PGA TOUR event (third round; Las Vegas Invitational; Sunrise GC; Oct. 11, 1991).

Chip Beck will also be exhibiting with Grip Guides in booth 1008.