For nearly a decade, I have had the good fortune of watching some of golf’s greatest players compete for the Sr. PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor.

Ever two years I had the opportunity to cover the likes of Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Mark Calcavecchia and others battle for one of the biggest prizes on the Legends Tour, but starting today, I will get another opportunity to see the best seniors golfers square off at Warren Golf Course on the campus of the University of Notre Dame for the Senior U.S. Open title.

To say the least, I am a bit excited.

To a younger generation of golfers, most of these names will not be familiar.

But to someone who has followed golf for decades, these names bring back fond memories of sitting in front of the television set and watching Nicklaus, Watson and Palmer, along with the likes of Lee Trevino and Tom Kite, battle for regular tournament championships and major championships.

We have lost Arnold to the golf gods, and Nicklaus and Trevino no longer play competitive golf, but there are still plenty of golfers on the Champions Tour that can conjure up those memories on any given weekend.

I would love to see Watson finally capture the Senior U.S. Open Championship. He has been so close, finishing second three times. To win it at a place like Notre Dame would make it even more special.

Everyone who has won the Sr. PGA Championship at Harbor Shores is in the field this week. They include Paul Broadhurst (2018), Rocco Mediate (2016), Colin Montgomerie (2014) and Roger Chapman (2012).

You will not find a more likable guy than Chapman, who won the inaugural event in Benton Harbor.

Mediate is a stitch when he talks golf with the media. Even Montgomerie has become more entertaining now that he is on the Champions Tour.

I nearly fell off my chair Sunday night when I heard tornadoes were in the area of Warren Golf Course. To my knowledge, the course has not been damaged, but everyone involved in planning this event and getting the course ready for play were holding their breath, I am sure.

I am hoping that the recent bout of warmer weather has helped get the course into great shape. Back in May, there were concerns about getting the rough grown up due to the cold and wet weather.

The U.S. Open, be it the regular or the senior version, is supposed to be a challenge like no other for these world-class golfers. If you are fortunate enough to win a USGA championship, you have earned it.

Summer arrived last Friday, and it appears that temperatures will soar into the mid- to upper-80s this week for the tournament. That hopefully will not affect the play and it will not keep crowds away from the golf course.

This is your chance to see golf’s greatest players right in your own backyard. Some of the best in the history of the game, along with some players who were not household names when they played on the PGA Tour, but have since moved to the top of the list on the Champions Tour.

I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to help make the 40th Senior U.S. Open a success. It takes more than 1,000 volunteers to get the job done, both in planning and preparation leading up to the tournament, as well as the week the tournament is hosted.

If you see one of your friends or neighbors out on the golf course and they have volunteered for the tournament, make sure you tell them  “thank you” for the effort.

If for some reason you cannot make it out to the course, follow my updates throughout the weekend on the leaders and other elements of the tournament.

I can be found on the Leader Publication Sports Facebook fan page and on Twitter @LPSportsreport.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com