players senior tour

2024 Senior PGA Championship final results: Prize money payout, PGA Tour Champions leaderboard, how much each golfer won

The 2024 Senior PGA Championship final leaderboard is headed by winner Richard Bland, who topped the PGA Tour Champions leaderboard this week with a major win on the 2024 PGA Tour Champions schedule at The Club at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Bland closed the second major of the senior season with a 63 to pull away from the field and win by three shots on 17-under 267. The Australian Richard Green finished runner-up on the week, while Greg Chalmers finished in third.

Jason Caron had an incredible week to finish T-4 with Asian Tour regular Scott Hend, who made it three Aussies in the top five.

Bland won the $630,000 winner's share of the $3,500,000 purse.

Senior PGA Championship recap notes

Bland wins the 11th PGA Tour Champions title of the year, getting into the winner's circle on the 50-plus tour.

The money Bland (were he a member) -- and every PGA Tour Champions player in the field -- earned is converted into Charles Schwab Cup points, with every dollar converted into two points during the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs.

There is no cut on PGA Tour Champions-run events, including the major championships they run. Every pro who finished the tournament was paid, though there was a 36-hole cut to the top 70 and ties as this event is run by the PGA of America.

The 2024 PGA Tour Champions schedule continues next week with the Principal Charity Classic in Iowa.

2024 Senior PGA Championship final leaderboard, results and prize money payouts

Click header to sort; rotate mobile screens for details

About the author

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is currently a +2.6 USGA handicap, and he has covered dozens of major championships and professional golf tournaments. He likes writing about golf and making it more accessible by answering the complex questions fans have about the pro game or who want to understand how to play golf better.

Ryan talks about golf on various social platforms:

X or Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanballengee Facebook: https://facebook.com/ryanballengeegolf Instagram: https://instagram.com/ryanballengee YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ryanballengeegolf

Ballengee can be reached by email at ryan[at]thegolfnewsnet.com

Ryan occasionally links to merchants of his choosing, and GNN may earn a commission from sales generated by those links. See more in GNN's affiliate disclosure.

Follow Playing Through online:

• Follow Playing Through on Twitter
• Follow Playing Through on Instagram
• Follow Playing Through on Facebook

Site search

• Champions Tour
• DP World Tour
• Latest News

Filed under:

Steve Stricker dominates Senior Players Championship for remarkable 3rd major win this year

Steve Stricker continues his major championship dominance on the Senior Tour, capturing the Senior Players Championship Sunday.

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Twitter
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Steve Stricker dominates Senior Players Championship for remarkable 3rd major win this year

Steve Stricker has done it again. He won the Senior Players Championship Sunday, giving him three Senior Tour majors on the season. Stricker beat David Toms by three strokes after shooting a final round 66.

Incredibly, he has now won three of the four majors this season with one to go.

He previously won The Regions Tradition in May and the Senior PGA Championship a week later. He also finished runner-up to Bernhard Langer at the U.S. Senior Open.

It’s mind-blowing how good Stricker is playing right now. At Firestone Country Club in Akron, OH, he shot 65-73-65-66 to post an 11-under total score. Harrison Frazar, K.J. Choi and Ernie Els finished T3 at 7-under.

Stricker outlasted Frazar, who shared the lead heading into Sunday’s round. Frazar shot a 70 on the day as he fell short.

Absolute dominance @stevestricker 's trophy case keeps growing with another title @KauligChamp ! pic.twitter.com/CvKm2qWjJm — PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 16, 2023

The Wisconsin native is steamrolling the competition this season. He opened his final round with a birdie on the par-4 1st hole. Stricker made another birdie on the par-3 7th to go out in 33 strokes. His strong play continued on the back nine. Stricker made a birdie on the par-4 10th.

He coughed up a stroke by making a bogey on the par-4 14th but quickly got that back when he made back-to-back birdies on the next two holes.

He never relented down the stretch to capture another title.

With this victory, Stricker has won four of his last six starts. There is one major left for the Senior Tour, along with the Charles Schwab Playoffs. Stricker already has five victories on the season. How many more will he add?

Next Up In Golf

• Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley catapults into BMW Championship lead at Castle Pines
• Scottie Scheffler says he’s “fine,” no injury sustained at BMW Championship
• Charley Hull steals spotlight at St. Andrews, has fun and leads by 1 at Women’s Open
• Can she win again? LPGA star Nelly Korda contending once more at AIG Women’s Open
• St. Andrews forces Rose Zhang’s ‘head to pound;’ reveals anxiety amid 40 mph winds
• Georgia Hall reveals St. Andrews is “favorite place, like ever,” in strong spot early at Women’s Open

Loading comments...

Sign up for the newsletter sign up for the playing through daily roundup newsletter, thanks for signing up.

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

PGA TOUR Champions 2024 Schedule + Tournament Details

Our website is supported by our readers. We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. For more details see our disclaimers page .

Table of Contents

The PGA Tour Champions starts in January with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship and concludes in November with the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

The PGA senior tour schedule 2024 provides every tournament’s details, venue information, purse, and past winners. Bettors will want to follow this guide closely to gain inside information on the course and players to watch .

PGA Tour Champions Schedule 2024

Pga tour champions tournament details, mitsubishi electric championship.

Tournament History

Originally named the MONY Tournament of Champions, the event was played in California, Mexico, and Puerto Rico before finding a stable home in Hawaii. The inaugural tournament took off in 1984 when Orville Moody claimed a 7-stroke win over Dan Sikes.

Since then, the name has changed on eight occasions, with the current title sponsor, Mitsubishi, the longest-serving partner. The lush fairway and ocean backdrop of Haualalai golf club has been on the Senior PGA Tour schedule since 2006.

The Kona-based golf course is a par 72 design and measures 7,117 yards off the back tees on an average day.

⛳️ Fun Fact: When Senior Golf Source polled the PGA Tour Champions caddies, this was their favorite location, with Pebble Beach in a close second.

Chubb Classic

The Chubb Classic debuted in 1988 as the Aetna Challenge and was played at The Club at Pelican Bay until 1990. Gary Player , a fellow citizen of South Africa (like me), won the 1988 edition. And another compatriot, Harold Henning, finished second in the 1989 vintage, two strokes behind Gene Littler.

The tournament has featured at 12 golf courses since its inception, with the latest change in 2021. The organizers switched the venue to the Tiburon Black Course, designed by Australian Greg Norman. The Tiburon Black course is a par 72 layout reaching 6,945 yards off the back tees.

Our team particularly loves this course in Naples because of its idyllic location near beaches and plenty of sunshine in southwest Florida. However, be prepared; the Ritz Carlton is on the property, and staying here tends to come at a hefty price.

Trophy Hassan II

The Trophy Hassan II tournament is older than the PGA Tour Champions itself. The first event teed off in 1971, called the Moroccan Grand Prix, which saw Orville Moody defeat Jerry Heard by 2 strokes.

Prince Moulay Rachid hosts the event in honor of his father, Hassan II, and it is played at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The tournament was removed from the schedule between 1986 to 1990 but returned in 1991 when Vijay Singh defeated the late Payne Stewart in a playoff.

The Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is situated on a 440-hectare estate, winding through cork oak forests, and is littered with lakes and bunkers.

Cologuard Classic

The Cologuard Classic is the third event on the annual calendar and is one of the newest editions of the Tour. It was launched in 2015 at the Omni Tucson National in Arizona as the Tuscon Conquistadores Classic. The name changed to its current form in 2018.

Marco Dawson is the first name on the silverware after bagging the inaugural title in 2015 by 2 strokes over Barty Bryant. The Omni Tucson National reaches 7,328 yards off the back tees with a total par rating of 73.

Hoag Classic

The first tee shot in the Hoag Classic was struck in 1995, but back then was known as the Toshiba Senior Classic. The name remained in 2005 when “senior” was dropped from the title and became the Toshiba Classic. Toshiba continued as the title sponsor until 2018 when Hoag took over.

The William F. Bell designed Newport Beach Country Club is the host golf course and has set the stage for several fierce battles since its inception. Bob Murphy and Jay Sigel entered the record books in 1997 when the duo went 9 holes in a playoff before the winner was decided.

Newport Country Club is a par 72 golf course which is not as long as some on tour, measuring 6618 yards off the Championship tees.

The Galleri Classic

The Galleri Classic entered the Tour Champions fray in 2023, holding its first outing at the Dinah Shore course at the Mission Hills Country Club, Coachella Valley, California. The Par 72 golf course played 7,112 yards for the Galleri on average.

David Toms surged to victory in the inaugural version of this tournament played in 2023, beating Steven Alker by 4 shots.

Invited Celebrity Classic

Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas, hosted the ClubCorp Classic in 2022, adding a new event to the Tour schedule. The event name changed to the Invited Celebrity Classic after the company rebranding in 2022.

The course measures 6973 yards off the black tees, and 71 is a par score. Scott Parel from Michigan was the first to get his hands on the trophy in the 2022 edition. Mark Hensby from Australia took the second iteration of the event in 2023 with a 54-hole score of 12 under par.

Mitsubishi Electric Classic

The PGA Tour Champions made the Mitsubishi Electric Classic a reality in 2013. However, its original title was the Greater Gwinnett Championship. Bernhard Langer won the inaugural event in 2013 by 3 strokes over Tom Lehman and Tom Pernice Jr.

TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia, has put on the spectacle since it teed off over a decade ago. The 27-hole facility was designed by “The Great White Shark,” Greg Norman. The Stables/ Meadows are the usual combination for tournament events, but it may change depending on the years.

The Meadows and Stables 18-hole combination totals 7322 yards off the back tees and is a par 72 layout.

Insperity Invitational

The Insperity Invitational has cemented its place as a mainstay on the annual sporting calendar in Houston. It started in 2004 as the Administaff Small Business Classic and immediately entertained us. Larry Nelson crawled his way back from 7 shots down to force a playoff with Hale Irwin.

Nelson bagged the title, and the tournament holds firm two decades on. Since Administaff changed their name in 2008, the event is now the Insperity Invitational. It was initially played at Augusta Pines, Texas, but is now hosted by The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course.

The par 72 Tournament Course at Woodlands Country Club extends 7025 yards off the back tee. John Daly set the par 3 16th alight in the 1994 Shell Houston Open when he pured a 6 iron off the tee and drained the shot for a memorable ace.

Principal Charity Classic

The Principal Charity Classic resumes regulation tour play in June after back-to-back Majors in May. Des Moines, Iowa, has welcomed professionals with open arms since the event commenced in 2001 as the Allianz Championship.

Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines hosted the inaugural showing of the Principal Charity Classic. It moved twice between 2001 and 2012 before finding solace at the Wakonda Club, which has held the Classic since 2013. Wakonda totals 6,847 yards off the back tees and is a par 72. 

Jim Thorpe won the first-ever Principal Charity Classic beating Gil Morgan by 2 strokes in 2001. Jay Haas has lifted the trophy three times, more than any of his peers.

American Family Insurance Championship

Tour Champions professionals stay in the midwest for the American Family Insurance Championship played at University Ridge Golf Club, Madison, Wisconsin. Steve Stricker is the tournament host, and 78 of the tour’s best players are penciled in on the tee sheet.

The Championship was born in 2016, and Kirk Triplett claimed a 2 shot victory over Bart Bryant and Mike Goodes. University Ridge is a par 72 Robert Trent Jones Jr design and is slightly lengthy for senior tour pros, stretching 7,259 yards. 

The front nine is relatively open, while the back nine is lined with trees and demands course management from tee to green.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Open

After a stint in the midwest, the tour heads east to Upstate New York, where the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open awaits. En-Joie has gracefully hosted the event since its inception in 2007, where R.W. Eaks triumphed over Bruce Vaughan by 3 strokes.

En-Joie is a 7,030-yard track off the back tees, and 72 is a par score for the round. The course was originally designed and built by local businessman George F. Johnson, but upgrades were made in 1998 and 1999. The greens transformed from flat round greens into challenging large and undulated dance floors.

We particularly “enjoy” the En-Joie course for its local, friendly vibe and beautiful rolling hills. While it’s not nearly as polished as most of the courses on this tour, we found it to be one of the best for spectators, with free tickets and giveaways.

Boeing Classic

The Boeing Classic has become a permanent fixture on the PGA Tour Champions and Seattle sporting calendar. 2005 saw the first tee shot struck in the tournament when it was the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic.

David Eger claimed the inaugural trophy winning by 3 strokes over Tom Kite. However, in 2007, fans were treated to the largest contingent of players in a Tour Champions playoff. Seven players ended the tournament on 9 under par. Zimbabwean Denis Watson would eventually steal the show as he drained an eagle putt on the second playoff hole to bag the crown.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed Club at Snoqualmie Ridge has hosted the tournament since it launched, frequently challenging the Pros. The 7,264-yard layout with a par score of 72 suits long hitters given its wide fairways. It also treats you to spectacular mountain and water vistas.

Shaw Charity Classic

The Tour makes its way north to Calgary, Canada, in mid-August for the Shaw Charity Classic, a mainstay on the schedule since 2013. Although the course plays a par 72 for amateurs, they corrected the rating to a par 70 for the Shaw Charity Classic.

Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club has welcomed the tour since 2013, measuring 7,158 yards from the black tees. In addition, the course sits at 3,590 feet above sea level, adding extra yards to each shot. Rocco Mediate lifted the first trophy in 2013, obliterating the field by 7 strokes.

The Ally Challenge

Grand Blanc Township in Michigan is the venue for the Ally Challenge, one of the newer events on tour. The PGA Tour Champions arrived at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in 2018 when Paul Broadhurst became the first champion.

The 7,112-yard golf course is a par 72 layout designed by Joe Lee and is relatively long for senior tour players, and is lined with trees. This demands a combination of driving distance, fairways, and greens in regulation.

Ascension Charity Classic

The Ascension Charity Classic is another tournament in its infancy on tour. It teed off for the first time in 2021 when David Toms beat Dicky Pride in a playoff. The St Louis-based Norwood Hills has hosted the first two Ascension Charity Classics on their West course, which is no stranger to tournament golf.

Norwood Hills plays 6,992 yards, and 71 is considered a par score. The fairways are lined with trees and demand an accurate tee shot to attack the flag on approach. In addition, 5 lakes are scattered throughout the links and come into play for half the round.

Sanford International

The tour returns to the Midwest in September for the Sanford International, another relatively young event. 2018 saw the Sanford International debut, and Steve Stricker showed his class to defeat Tim Petrovic and Jerry Smith by 4 shots.

Minnehaha Country Club is the host venue, littered with water hazards and tree-lined fairways. It is not the longest golf course on tour, reaching 6,530 yards off the burgundy tees, but it does demand precision to walk away with a low round.

Pure Insurance Championship

As we enter the back end of the season, the Tour Champions journeys to the West Coast for the Pure Insurance Championship. The famed Pebble Beach is the host venue for the event, originally titled the First Tee Open. However, organizers have changed the name on five occasions.

The Pure Insurance Championship became the official title in 2017 and has remained since. Craig Stadler lifted the cup in the inaugural event in 2004, winning by 3 strokes over Jay Haas.

Constellation Furyk & Friends

The Constellation Furyk and Friends event kicked off in 2021 as a way for the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation to raise funds for at-risk children. Timuquana Country Club puts on the event, which was first won by Phil Mickelson in the 2020-21 season.

The Country Club is located a short distance from my base for two years when I was navigating the high seas. Timuquana measures 6,949 yards from the back tees and is a standard Par 72 layout. Finally, its tree-lined fairways leave little margin for error, demanding accuracy off the tee.

If you’re traveling with family, Furyk & Friends is one of our favorites to bring the kids. In 2023, the tournament went all out with food trucks, a petting zoo, free ice cream, and more!

SAS Championship

The SAS Championship has featured on the PGA Tour Champions since 2001, played at the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina. Bruce Lietzke won the inaugural outing and went back to back in 2002.

The 54-hole complex opts for the Meadow and Highlands combination of courses for the SAS, playing 7,237 yards and carrying a 72-par total.

Dominion Energy Charity Classic

The Dominion Energy Charity Classic is the first playoff round for the Charles Schwab Cup. The top 72 players on the money list will be invited to the no-cut event after the SAS Championship.

The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond has hosted the event since it teed off in 2016 when Scott McCarron bagged the title. The venue is dominated by tree-lined fairways and the odd water hazard, making accuracy vital for success.

Simmons Bank Championship

The top 54 golfers on the money list after the Dominion Energy Charity Classic progress to the Simmons Bank Championship. The penultimate event of the year is hosted by Pleasant Valley Country Club, a parkland golf course with lightning-quick greens.

The tournament has a new headline sponsor this year after the partnership with TimberTech expired at the end of 2023.

Charles Schwab Cup Championship

The entire season has built up to this moment, where the remaining top 36 players are the only ones invited. The tour travels to Phoenix Country Club, Arizona, for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Puerto Rico, Oklahoma, and California all hosted the event before its switch to Arizona in 2014. The initial Charles Schwab Cup Championship was called the New York Life Champions played in Dorado, Puerto Rico, with Mike Hill winning the first two editions.

The parkland-styled Phoenix Country Club has hosted the cup since 2017,  measuring 6,764 yards, and it is a par 71.

5 PGA Tour Champions Major Tournaments

Regions tradition.

Golf Course: Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, AL Tournament Purse: $2,500,000 Dates: May 10 – 12, 2024

Past champions.

The Regents Tradition was first played in 1989 at the Desert Mountain Cochise course. Don Bies won the inaugural event by a shot over my compatriot Gary Player. Since 2016, the Founders Course at Greystone Golf and Country Club has remained the host venue.

It is the first major on the calendar, typically occurring in the second week of May after the Mitsubishi Electric Classic.

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

Golf course: the golf club at harbor shores (mi) tournament purse: $3,500,000 dates: may 25 – may 28, 2024.

Like the PGA Championship, the senior edition is hosted at a different golf course every year. Years ago the tournament was hosted at Dunedin Golf Club in Florida from 1945 to 1962. Then, it moved to the PGA National Golf Club, which hosted it from 1982 to 2000.

The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is the oldest senior golf tournament on the calendar, with Jock Hutchinson winning the first event in 1937 on 7 over par.

U.S. Senior Open

Golf course: newport country club tournament purse: $4,000,000 dates: jun 27 – jun 30, 2024.

The third PGA TOUR major of the season sees the pros vie for the coveted Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy. The U.S. Senior Open is played at a different golf course every year. In 2024, it’s being held at the Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island.

Winged Foot hosted the first U.S. Senior Open in 1980, and Argentine Roberto De Vicenzo claimed a 4-stroke victory.

Bridgestone Senior Players Championship

Golf Course: Firestone Country Club, Akron, OH Tournament Purse: $3,500,000 Dates: Jul 11 – Jul 14, 2024

The penultimate PGA Tour Champions major hits our screens in mid-July 2024 when the Kaulig Companies Championship returns to Firestone Country Club. The South Course or the “Monster” as it is colloquially known, is the chosen track.

It measures 7,400 yards off the Championship tees and is a par 70, with only one par 5 on each nine. The course is best suited to long hitters, and Jerry Kelly will attempt to win here for the third time in four years.

The inaugural Kaulig Companies Championship went ahead in 1983 at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio. Miller Barber was the first to etch his name onto the trophy defeating Gene Littler by one stroke.

Senior Open Championship

Golf Course: Carnoustie Links, Scotland Tournament Purse: $2,850,000 Dates: Jul 25 – Jul 28, 2024

The Senior Open Championship returns to Carnoustie for the first time since 2016. Englishman Paul Broadhurst walked away victorious on that weekend. This is the third time that ‘Car-nasty hosts the best in the seniors game, and Alex Čejka will look to defend the title he won at Royal Porthcawl in 2023.

Gale-force winds and rain always remain a threat. We will see plenty of punch shots on approach and bump and runs around the dance floor. The first official Senior Open Championship was played at Turnberry in 1987 as Neil Coles walked away with a one-stroke victory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the pga champions playing.

The PGA Champions play on the PGA Tour Champions, for former tour and major winners. The Tour hosts over 28 tournaments a year at different venues across North America, Europe, and Africa.

What is the difference between PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions?

The PGA Tour is for professional golfers under the age of 50. Conversely, the PGA Tour Champions is for past tour winners and major champions over 50 .

What yardage does the PGA Champions Tour play?

The yardage on the PGA Senior Tour courses plays between 6800 to 7300 yards. The yardage differs depending on the golf course and changes from one week to another.

How much do Champions Tour players make?

The 2023 PGA Champions Tour average was $303,404. Steve Stricker topped the list, winning $3,986,063, while Dennis Hendershott was at the bottom, taking home $1080.

How much do caddies make on the Champions Tour?

Caddies on the Champions Tour typically take home 5 to 10% of their players’ PGA Senior Tour winnings. However, each player-caddie agreement varies as there are no specific guidelines. 

Final Thoughts on the PGA Tour Champions

There you have everything you need to know about the PGA Tour Champions 2024. I have covered it all, from the schedules, history and past winners. It is evident that Bernhard Langer is a dominant force on the Tour, as he is tied with Hale Irwin for the most victories.

I recommend you bookmark this guide to refer back to for dates, past winners and tournament information. It is everything you need to stay updated and informed about the PGA Tour Champions.

Related Golf Articles to Read Next

Darren Clarke WITB 2023 | Senior Open Championship Winner

Are Single Length Irons Good for You? Expert Buyers Guide

Srixon Soft Feel vs Callaway Supersoft 2023 [Expert Review]

6 Best Golf Clubs for Seniors That You’ll Want In Your Bag

Playing Golf From The Senior Tees: Must-Have Advice [2024]

Matt Callcott-Stevens has lived and breathed golf since he was four. As a junior, he played competitively, until he discovered his talents were better suited to writing about the game. Matt holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing through the Johan Cruyff Institute in Barcelona and has provided golf game improvement tips to seniors and the average golfer for seven years.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

© 2024 Senior Golf Source

The Ally Challenge

Latest golf videos, couples scores a birdie on 13.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Disney Ad Sales Site
• Work for ESPN
• Corrections

FedEx St. Jude Championship

TPC Southwind

TOTAL GOLF FITNESS

Age is just a number

All hail Bernhard Langer, who sets record for oldest PGA Tour Champions winner at 64

Bernhard Langer celebrates after making the winning putt on the 18th green during the first playoff hole during the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

If Phil Mickelson is the Tom Brady of golf, then Bernhard Langer must be George Blanda.

Langer beat Doug Barron on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday to win the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Va., and became the oldest winner in senior golf history at the age of 64 years and change.

MORE: Hideki Matsuyama's Zozo victory far different than his Masters triumph

About 15 minutes after his two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th hole forced a playoff with Barron at 14-under 202, Langer sank a five-foot birdie putt on the same hole at the Country Club of Virginia to win for the 42nd time on the PGA Tour Champions, three shy of Hale Irwin’s all-time record for victories. Barron lipped out from six feet for birdie to open the door for Langer, 12 years older, to win for the first time in 20 months.

“I’ve been knocking on the door. I’ve lost a bunch of playoffs. I tried to forget about that and block it out of my mind because I’ve had a lot of close calls,” said Langer, who, by the way, beat defending champion Phil Mickelson by 14 strokes. “It’s an awesome feeling. I hadn’t won since Tucson last year, but that’s how much sweeter it is.”

Langer, who had four runner-up finishes since his last win, extended to 15 his streak of consecutive calendar years with at least one victory. The German native shot a closing three-under 69, while Barron, 52, seeking his third senior title, had a 68 that included birdies on two of his last four holes.

Doug Barron tees off on the first hole during the final round of the PGA Tour Champions Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

“I don't aspire to play when I'm at the same age as him. He's just an anomaly,” Barron said of Blanda … er, Langer. “He's incredibly, incredibly gifted, and he's one of my heroes and good friends. If I'm going to get beat, I don't mind getting beat by him. He's one of those guys that you just never can pull against.”

Langer extended his lead in the Charles Schwab Cup, the season-long points race that draws back from the beginning of 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of a number of tournaments. He has won the Schwab Cup five times; no one else has won it more than twice.

“The Schwab Cup is the next goal as it has been for a year and a half or two years now,” Langer said. “We're a little bit closer, but it's not over yet.”

Steve Flesch, who began the day with a two-stroke lead over Langer and Steven Alker, ended up solo third after a 73. Mickelson played his final six holes in six over par, including a quadruple-bogey 9 at his final hole, but still shot 71. He finished T-47.

More from Golf Digest

Trending now.

#TheMoment a humpback whale greeted N.B. tour boat passengers

• 24 hours ago
• Duration 1:16

Danielle Dion, senior naturalist with Quoddy Link Marine, recounts the moment a humpback whale stopped by to greet tour boat passengers on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick.

More from News

A look behind the scenes of election campaigning in B.C.

Whitby family seeks answers after death of 13-year-old son

Body of missing Markham realtor found, 3 teens charged

B.C.’s election campaign begins Sept. 21, but party leaders have already begun making their pitch

Democrats are preaching unity at the DNC. Can Harris deliver?

Trending now.

Donald Trump could face legal fallout over fake Taylor Swift AI endorsement

CCTV footage shows yacht Bayesian as deadly storm strikes

#TheMoment Shania Twain reunited with a friend after 40 years in Newfoundland

When a humpback comes to say ‘hello’

This is your last 'Kamala' pronouncer check

Moscow tours

• Page active

Jewish Tour in Moscow

Moscow Kremlin tour

Red Square & Moscow City Tour

Moscow Non-Touristy Tour

Izmailovo Tour in Moscow Flea Market & Kremlin

Moscow Must See Tour

2-Day Tour in Moscow With a Friendly Guide

3-Day Tour in Moscow With a Friendly Guide

Moscow Night Tour

Steve Stricker wins by six at Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship

Daily Wrap Up

Change Text Size

Steve Stricker makes a birdie on No. 9 at SENIOR PLAYERS

AKRON, Ohio — Steve Stricker won the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship on Sunday at difficult Firestone for his second victory of the year and third major title.

Eight strokes ahead in the third round and four in front entering the final round, Stricker closed with an even-par 70 for a six-stroke victory over defending champion and Wisconsin friend Jerry Kelly.

“It was so hard,” Stricker said. “It’s so hard to have a lead. And then to play with a friend, Jerry, out there, basically it’s his home course. This is exactly what he grew up on in Madison, Wisconsin. He plays well here. I could tell that he was playing well and I’m just trying to hang on. It’s tough to play when you’re not that aggressive, but I’m happy. It was a tough fight.”

Stricker finished at 7-under 273 on the South Course. The U.S. Ryder Cup captain opened with a 63, shot 68 in the second round and 70 in the third.

Kelly bogeyed four of the last five holes in a 72. He was coming off a victory two weeks ago in the American Family Insurance Championship, the PGA TOUR Champions event that Stricker runs in their hometown of Madison.

“Just a good golf course,” Kelly said. “I mean, to shoot even par when you’ve got a lead like that, that’s tough. I would have had to shoot 4 under to catch him.”

Stricker rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 fourth with birdies on the par-4 sixth, par-3 seventh and par-4 ninth to make the turn at 9 under. He dropped strokes on the back nine on the par-4 11th and 13th.

He won the Chubb Classic in April in Florida, then squandered leads in the first two majors of the year, falling to Alex Cejka in the Regions Tradition in Alabama and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Oklahoma.

“I knew that I had the lead in the other two and didn’t come away with a victory in either one of them,” Stricker said. “It was even harder because I had that in the back of my mind, so it means even more that I was able to come out on top.”

Wife Nicki worked as his caddie.

“It’s always great to have her out here,” Stricker said. “She’s a calming influence and we work well together. Yeah, it’s good. She still enjoys coming out, the kids still enjoy coming out, so it’s a lot of fun.”

Stricker has seven PGA TOUR Champions victories after winning 12 times on the PGA TOUR. He earned a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass next March.

“Looking forward to that,” Stricker said. "I got in this year on Thursday morning, so next year I get a little more practice and prep. Looking forward to that. It’s always fun to go to THE PLAYERS Championship.

Fred Couples shot a 67 to tie for third with David Toms (70) at even par. Ernie Els (72) was fifth at 2 over. Jim Furyk (73) was another stroke back.

The groundbreaking Dynamo Moscow tour of Britain in 1945

S everal months after World War Two had been declared a victory Great Britain and its allies, the English FA, striving to discover the intriguing nature of football behind the Iron Curtain, decided to invite the Soviet champions of 1945, Dynamo Moscow, to play against some of the Kingdom’s best clubs. After arranging the trip with the USSR embassy in London, the Englishmen awaited the arrival of the strongest Russian team of the era.

Meanwhile in Moscow, the Dynamo players rejoiced at the opportunity to take on the British teams, who still had an aura of invincibility in Eastern Europe having founded the game almost a century earlier. However, before departing to England, the Muscovites were asked to visit Joseph Stalin who, along with Lavrentiy Beria, Dynamo’s authoritative patron and also the chief of NKVD, the Soviet secret police, clarified to their sportsmen the impossibility of losing to the capitalist sides.

Strengthened by CDKA’s gifted striker Vsevolod Bobrov and two more talented players from the kindred Dynamo Leningrad, the team flew to glamorous London, whereas CDKA (later CSKA) who finished second in the USSR league table, settled with an amicable, slightly dull trip to Yugoslavia.

Chaos and noise followed news about the tour in England, where people knew next to nothing about their opponents. Few had ever heard of Dynamo Moscow, despite their star-studded domestic squad and wealth of talent. With dates of the Soviets’ arrival constantly changing, their team’s squad was mixed with a number of players having no relation to Dynamo Moscow; in reality, it was a national side that visited Britain under the name of Dynamo.

Some even speculated that it was Torpedo Moscow who were about to visit the British Isles. Regardless of rumour and intrigue, the coming men represented the nation that had just helped stop Hitler, so they were awaited with respect and esteem in most circles.

Dynamo finally arrived in the middle of November 1945. The Soviet delegation, with a translator and a commentator in its ranks, was disappointed to be greeted without their nation’s flag at Croydon airport, however that frustration soon gave way to a series of interviews with the waiting press. The tour was becoming big news in the written media.

Confusion reigned supreme for many of the players, who were rarely interviewed back in the USSR and were regular citizens to most. Even their translator seemed unwilling to talk much. Perhaps the Soviets’ lack of confidence in front of the press was what forced one major newspaper to brand them ‘The Silent Ones’. It just added to their mystique. After all, this was an era before frequent trips abroad for matches.

The entire squad was dressed in the same blue coats, carrying curious cases wrapped in a dark cloth in their hands. The media was puzzled about the content of those cases – some conspiracists even speculated that they may have smuggled an atomic bomb into the country. The answer was far more prosaic; knowing about the food rationing system operating in London, the Russians brought their meals with them.

The real problem for the hosts lay in finding safe accommodation for their guests in post-war London. Initially, they drove the Soviets to the Royal Horse Guards’ barracks in Whitehall. However, being offered nothing but bare beds without pillows and linen, the visitors refused to stay there. The only alternative option was to place the players and those accompanying them in different hotels.

Many calls and letters from London’s citizens, who learned about such negligence from their authorities, arrived at the Soviet embassy, with many offering to host the visitors in their houses and flats. The issue was finally settled when the whole delegation was provided with rooms at the Imperial Hotel in Russell Square.

Dynamo, despite being camera shy and lacking in English, were not as timid as they seemed. They came to the capital with a list of 14 requests, among which were, for example, that they would only eat  at the Soviet embassy – in an era of conspiracies, some suggested the players were afraid of being poisoned – would have one match refereed by a Soviet official, and would have to play Arsenal.

The English deemed their requests as brash ultimatums, although accepted all bar two. The request that Dynamo would play only once a week and on Saturdays were declined; after all, Saturday had always been the most important day of the week for the domestic game. With revenue being split 50-50, the tour was set.

Strangely, the Soviet players were to train during their tour at a dog track, although officials were suitably impressed with the quality of grass and changing rooms – all ensuring that no issue was taken.

Dynamo Moscow first appeared on pitch against Chelsea at a Stamford Bridge packed with 85.000 spectators, with tickets sold within days of going on release. The stands were awash with excitement and intrigue.

Before the game began, the visitors surprised their hosts with two unusual acts. First, they went on to the pitch 15 minutes before the game to warm up and stretch dynamically, which was something new to the locals; soon after, the Dynamo men gave a wreath of flowers to each Chelsea player, which was normal practice in the Soviet Union but far from so in England’s rough and tumble league. Dynamo’s quality of play turned out to be a surprise for the supporters too with nobody expecting anything of note from a side of amateurs. In the end, the Muscovites showed they were anything but.

The game started with Chelsea taking the initiative. Dynamo’s players were clearly overawed with the way fans supported the Blues – the noise was in complete contrast to the regimented Soviet style where supporters calmly followed the game, clapping and whistling on the odd occasion. In England, people sat incredibly close to the pitch and that generated more pressure on the players.

Precocious post-war goalscorer Tommy Lawton shone in Chelsea blue, but Russian goalkeeper Alexei Khomich was having the game of his life. He certainly played up to his nickname ‘The Tiger’, pulling off magnificent acrobatic saves and helping his team to a 3-3 draw.

When the final whistle blew fans invaded the pitch and lifted the Russian players on their shoulders, parading them as heroes from the East. The Football Association was suitably impressed with the Soviet football style and its representatives’ tactical acumen. It was something totally new to the British: players were constantly interchanging positions and running in different directions so that no defender could follow their movement. This is what was later famously termed ‘Organized Disorder’. “Dynamo is the best side I have ever played against,” John Harris, the Chelsea centre-back, confessed.

News about Dynamo’s unexpected performance spread rapidly round Europe and on 14 November, a day after the game at Stamford Bridge, Jules Rimet, the head of FIFA, met with the Soviet sports officials in Paris and the men signed a document that contained an invitation for the USSR to join FIFA. The tour was breaking ground in the football world.

Dynamo’s next stop was Cardiff, Wales, where the Soviet players were presented with miners’ lamps as souvenirs in honour of the region’s prevalent coal mining industry. Cardiff City had a reputation as an upcoming, young, fast team, but were merely a Third Division side. Incidentally, this was the level many expected the Dynamo players to be at.

The Russian champions managed to score 10 goals, many sublime team moves, to which the Welsh side responded only once. The Cardiff players were rumoured to have put their boots and a ball in a soda solution before the game to make their equipment harder, but the trick was of no use.

Dynamo returned to London to face their third challenge, this time the great Arsenal, who the Soviets were most keen to pit their wits against. Arsenal, a forward-thinking, progressive team during that era, like their Eastern counterparts boasted national team players on loan for the day from a selection of other clubs around the country. Stanley Matthews from Stoke City, Stanley Mortensen from Blackpool, Harry Brown from QPR and other distinguished players from Fulham and Bury joined The Gunners.

White Hart Lane, where the game was held – probably the only time in history Arsenal have called their dreaded rivals’ ground ‘home’ – was awash with thick fog, and little of the game could be seen from the stands. Even the referee, Nikolay Latyshev, experienced difficulty as he failed notice Arsenal’s George Drury, who had been sent off, returning to the pitch later as if nothing had happened.

Latyshev, who would later referee the 1962 World Cup final in Santiago  between Brazil and Czechoslovakia, controversially chalked off one of Arsenal’s goals, which was scored with the game at 3-3 and supposedly a perfectly fair effort – despite a foul deemed to have been committed in the build up. Controversy aside, the only thing that mattered to the Dynamo players was that they had won 4-3.

Despite the English voicing their dissatisfaction at the quality of officiating, the next game against Glasgow Rangers, their last on the tour, would see a Scottish referee take centre stage. The referee pointed to Dynamo’s penalty spot twice, both controversially. The Scots converted one of their spot-kicks but ultimately drew 2-2.

The atmosphere before and during the match at Ibrox was incredibly tense – euphoria and respect for their Eastern rivals giving way to a feeling that the Brits had embarrassed themselves by failing to beat their ideological rivals. Rangers invited the highly-promising James Caskie from Everton to help their cause, but Dynamo protested at such a move. In the end Caskie didn’t play; the thought of an Englishman coming to the help of a Scottish powerhouse was too much for the fans to accept.

Dynamo’s return to Moscow resembled scenes reminiscent of soldiers returning from war – as they had done just months earlier. The triumph in the war against Germany was still fresh in people’s minds and the footballers’ successful trip to Great Britain was regarded as another victory for the Union. Dynamo finished the tour unbeaten with a goal difference of plus 10, highlighting their might on the field to the rest of the world. Through their tour to Great Britain, Dynamo announced the coming of USSR football to the world.

Perhaps the quality of the Dynamo players and the respect they garnered during their tour was best summed up by one of the greatest English footballers of all time, Sir Stanley Matthews: “Many years passed since we first met the Russian football players. Since then, in the hearts of everyone who lived in those days, the words Dynamo Moscow are associated with the concept of class football.”

By Vladislav Ryabov

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Comments are closed