Time flies.
It’s already been a month since Bernhard Langer and son Jason captured the silly season’s PNC Championship.
This week, Langer and the PGA Tour Champions are back in action.
Langer, the ageless wonder, is among the 42 golfers in the field at the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Hawaii.
“One of the great traditions on PGA Tour Champions is starting each year on the Island of Hawaii at this one-of-a-kind setting,” said PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady. This marks the 28th straight year the circuit started at Hualalai. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Mitsubishi Electric as we kick off the 2024 season.”
This will be the 45th year for the PGA Tour Champions. Here are some of the key storylines for 2024.
Steve Stricker is back for more
Steve Stricker had one of the more remarkable seasons ever on the PGA Tour Champions.
- Won six times, including three majors (which ties the circuit’s single-season record)
- Won the season-long points race without even playing in any of the three postseason events
- Banked $3,986,063, falling just short of becoming the first to surpass the $4 million mark in one season
- Set mark for scoring average at 67.54
- Had five second-place finishes in 16 starts
He wasn’t the only Steve (or some variation of the name) to win in 2023, which also saw Stephen Ames, Steven Alker and Steve Flesch find victory lane.
Who are the rookies?
He played four senior events a year ago but because he didn’t play the minimum of five, Stewart Cink will be considered a rookie in 2024. He turned 50 last May 21.
Heath Slocum turns 50 on Feb. 2.
Chad Campbell turns 50 on May 31.
Four of the five who made it through Champions Q-School will be rookies in 2024: Cameron Percy, Michael Wright, Steve Allan and David Bransdon.
There are 28 events with $67 million in prize money
The PGA Tour Champions is offering up $67 million in prize money in 2024, the most ever for the senior circuit.
The 2024 schedule features 25 regular-season tournaments and three Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs events. There will be five majors on tap as well.
Where are the majors?
The Champions tour has five majors once again. They are:
Regions Tradition
Greystone Golf & Country Club, Birmingham, Alabama
May 9-12
KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Michigan
May 23-26
U.S. Senior Open
Newport Country Club, Newport, Rhode Island
June 27-30
Kaulig Companies Championship
Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
July 11-14
Senior Open
Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus, Scotland
July 25-28
What are the two new venues?
The Simmons Bank Championship is the one new event on the schedule. It will be the second event of the three-tournament Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas, is the host.
The Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Arizona, has moved about five miles up the road from Omni Tucson National to La Paloma Country Club. Tucson National had hosted since 2015.
