Stars of the 50-and-over set are aligned in fine fashion to compete for $2.1 million in prize money.
BINGHAMTON, New York — Off one dark year followed by a decidedly modified version last summer, the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open is in celebratory mode for its return to presumed normalcy this week at En-Joie Golf Course.
Stars of the 50-and-over set are aligned in fine fashion to compete for $2.1 million in prize money on a municipal course that will host PGA Tour-sanctioned golf for the 51st time.
Competition is to commence Friday morning, with the conclusion of play − if all goes according to script − to come roughly 5:30 Sunday in Endicott.
Aside from utilization of digital tickets, which has become increasingly popular in the sports and entertainment industries, there’ll be no remnants of last year’s ticketing model. For 2021, when in deference to lingering COVID precautions capacity was capped at 5,000 per day − including for Friday’s Old Dominion concert − there were no exceptions to the $500 all-inclusive package for the tournament proper.
The field has been assembled — entries closed at 5 p.m. Friday and participants in the $2.1 million PGA Tour Champions event are to include:
• Steven Alker, who tops the PGA Tour Champions’ 2022 earnings list with $2,321,361.
• Alex Cejka, who has three top-four finishes this season.
• Darren Clarke, winner of last month’s Senior British Open.
• Ernie Els, runner-up by a stroke last summer in his Dick’s Open debut.
• Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner on the regular tour who was a three-time winner and three-time runner-up in 2020-21.
• Padraig Harrington, two-time British Open winner and this year’s U.S. Senior Open champion.
• Miguel Angel Jimenez, 10-time top-10 finisher this year who won last weekend’s Boeing Classic.
• Bernhard Langer, 43-time PGA Tour Champions winner who topped the 2014 Dick’s Open.
“I had a great time last year and you had a great champion, Cameron Beckman,” Els said via video on Twitter. “ … I’m really looking forward to coming back and enjoying the golf course and the people. Everything about the Dick’s tournament is just world-class.”
The 78-player field will be rounded out in today’s four-spot qualifier at The Links at Hiawatha Landing in Apalachin.
The Dick’s Sporting Goods Open has been played every year in Endicott from 2007 on, but for 2020, when the event was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just one previous Dick’s Open wrap-up round has been played later in a calendar year than will be this week’s Aug. 21 closer. That came in 2015 when on Aug. 30, Jeff Maggert completed a two-stroke win over Paul Goydos for his fourth victory in a 10-start span − as an astute columnist wrote, “ … fairly well Langerian, or back in the day, Irwinian.”
A pre-competition treat comes in the form of the UHS Golf Expo featuring World Golf Hall of Fame member and PGA Tour Champions legend Bernhard Langer. That’ll be held Wednesday, with Langer’s presentation to come some time in the 6:15 p.m. range on the 18th green.
Stricker led wire-to-wire in winning the 2021 tournament and endured a life-threatening illness in the months that followed.
Who will win the final Bridgestone Senior Players Championship? It’s up for grabs, but players appear to be enjoying themselves at the fourth and penultimate senior major of the season.
Here are some stories of what golfers do to prep for arguably the toughest set of greens they’ll face all year.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The week before Tiger Woods played in the Masters for the first time as an amateur in 1995, he practiced for Augusta National’s lightning-fast greens by putting on Stanford’s basketball court.
Ernie Els famously practiced on a billiards table to which Stewart Cink said, “My ceilings aren’t high enough for me to putt on my pool table otherwise I would too.”
Others have settled for the smooth concrete of their garage. Then there’s the possibly apocryphal story of players trying to simulate the speed of the Augusta greens by putting in a bath tub. Something tells us Bryson DeChambeau tried this or something even wackier.
When TPC Sawgrass superintendent Jeff Plotts was asked if the pros that practice there ask him to ratchet up the green speed on the practice green ahead of the Masters, he said, “Get it all the time.”
Here are some of the stories of the rude awakening pros experienced their first time at Augusta National and what they do to prep for arguably the toughest set of greens the pros face all year.
Tim Swain, a Republican running for Senate in South Carolina, posted a photo proclaiming Donald Trump made an ace.
Donald Trump was scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. Saturday night at his “Save America” rally in Commerce, Georgia.
Before he got there, he appeared to be doing one of his favorite activities: playing golf.
And according to one of his playing partners, he made a hole-in-one. But not everyone on Twitter was buying it.
Tim Swain is a Republican running for Senate in South Carolina. He posted a photo of a group of people having a round of golf. In the group was Ernie Els, a Hall of Fame golfer and four-time major winner.
“Trump just made a hole-in-one!” Swain wrote in all caps.
Trump owns several golf courses in Florida, as well as one in North Carolina.
Twitter has doubts over Trump’s hole-in-one
The post got some congratulatory reviews, as well as plenty of people sowing doubt on whether the former president actually sank the ace.
In golf circles, Trump is known for cheating to post better scores in golf and breaking standard golf etiquette.
People also brought up the infamous story of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who said he got a hole-in-one in all 18 holes on the course the first time he played a round of golf.
Two years ago, Carter Bonas was a different person. Even though he was just 8, he had suicidal thoughts.
Today, the 10-year-old golfer with autism is thought of as a role model for those on that spectrum after starting his own golf clothing company.
This week at the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Bonas received a behind-the-scenes tour, along with his parents Eddie and Dr. Thelma Tennie.
They met two-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els, who has his own foundation supporting those with autism. Els’s son Ben, 19, is on the spectrum.
Carter Bonas, 10, has autism and launched his own apparel line, Spectrum Golf, as a source of inspiration to others. Bonas met Ernie Els on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, during the second day of the Chubb Classic Pro-Am at the Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida
And Friday, Bonas was an honorary observer, along with his golf instructor Corey Henry of the Country Club of Coral Springs, walking with Els and fellow tour pros Bernhard Langer and Retief Goosen.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Bonas said before the round. “I would just like to thank everyone.”
Spectrum Golf started by 10-year-old Carter Bonas
Bonas started his company, Spectrum Golf, when he was 10, and only got into the game a couple of years ago.
“I chose golf because it was a sport that I felt like I could take my time and the coach didn’t yell, I didn’t get touched, and I got to be with nature most of the time,” he said.
Bonas’ acceptance in the golf world has been so important, particularly considering where he was just two years ago.
“It means the world to us to be able to see him in a positive light, such a big change from two years ago when he actually had suicidal ideation,” Thelma Tennie said, “to go from always feeling down about himself and believing the bad things that people would say about him.
Carter Bonas, 10, has autism and launched his own apparel line, Spectrum Golf, as a source of inspiration to others.
“Now he knows that people say mean things and it’s OK, and how to just do your best and what really matters is you, your performance, how you respond to things and to always be kind no matter what. When someone’s being mean, you walk away or you just be kind back.”
Thoughts of life without parents prompts inspired Carter Bonas
Part of the inspiration for Bonas to start his own company came from wondering what his life was going to be if something happened to his parents. The Tennies simply reassured him he would be taken care of, but when the coronavirus pandemic hit, the conversations became a bit more serious, to the point they shared their wills and trust information with him.
Bonas wasn’t satisfied, though, simply with knowing that his parents’ assets would be passed on to him.
“He didn’t just say, ‘Oh, you’re going to leave me money’ or ‘OK, you’re going to leave me the house,'” Thelma Tennie said. “He went a step further and said ‘But what am I going to do for work? What am I going to do? Nobody’s going to hire me because I can’t even get a friend. No one’s going to hire me.’
“Now he has something where he knows he’s going to be employed, and how hard he works is how good his business will be. and he’s made so many great friends on the golf course.”
Carter Bonas, 10, and his golf instructor Corey Henry, of the Country Club of Coral Springs, walk off the tee box on the first hole during the first round of the Chubb Classic, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida.
What’s to love about golf? Etiquette, core values
What Bonas and his parents also love about the game is its emphasis on etiquette and the core values taught by The First Tee, a nonprofit organization that passes along those values through the game of golf.
“Even when he’s with other kids and he’s golfing, everyone is always kind,” Thelma Tennie said. “They’re always respectful. ‘Good shot.’ ‘The next one will be best.’ ‘Remember the next shot, don’t focus on this shot.'”
“The etiquette, the core values of The First Tee that we got to hear (Thursday), that’s Carter.”
Bonas said he chose golf apparel for his company for more than just his interest in the game.
“We were paying lots of money that clothes that were supposed to be comfortable,” he said. “I have sensitive skin and those clothes weren’t comfortable. We decided to get my own so I could have my own clothing line so I could always be comfortable.”
The clothing also has messages, for example, inside the waistline on pants, that says either “Lead the Way” or “Be Determined.”
Carter Bonas, 10, the “Honorary Observer” with the Ernie Els (RSA) group talks with Els on the first hole during the first round of the Chubb Classic, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida.
“You always want to stay positive on the golf course,” Bonas said of the meaning of the messages. “It’s physical, but I think it’s mainly mental.”
Carter Bonas’ drive impresses Ernie Els
The Els for Autism Foundation is in nearby Jupiter, but Els had heard of Bonas and his story on YouTube, and is more than impressed, not only for the accomplishment of a 10-year-old starting a business in and of itself but what it could mean for others with autism.
“What he’s done, it’s just unbelievable,” Els said. “He started a company at 10 years of age because he didn’t feel like he was fitting into our society. How incredible is that?”
“He started a company at 10 years of age because he didn’t feel like he was fitting into our society. How incredible is that?”
Thursday as part of Bonas’ behind-the-scenes tour, Els took him through the fitness trailer that travels to stops on the PGA Tour Champions for each event. He also toured the Golf Channel compound, the SHOTLINK truck, the equipment trailer, and did the Conditioned Air Putting Challenge.
Later, he attended a clinic along with First Tee Champions Challenge participants on the driving range.
Els is hoping this isn’t his only encounter with Bonas and his parents. In April, Els’ facility will have a groundbreaking for an adult services building and has invited them to attend.
“Exactly what Carter has done himself we’re going to try to facilitate for our kids who have autism,” Els said. “At the age of 21, the buck stops. You have to get back to normal society whether you’re comfortable or not.
“Carter has now shown what can be done in the autistic world. We’re going to create jobs, help kids get more comfortable with our way of life.”
Two years ago, Carter Bonas had thoughts of taking his life. Now, at 10, he’s inspiring others to do what he’s already doing.
Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at ghardwig@naplesnews.com. Support local journalism with this special subscription offer at https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/
Couples, a former World No. 1 who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2013, won in Naples in 2010 and 2017.
NAPLES, Fla. — The Chubb Classic added a couple of booms to its field Monday.
Two-time champion Fred Couples (whose nickname is Boom Boom) was announced along with four other World Golf Hall-of-Famers, bringing the total to nine playing in the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO next week.
Davis Love III, Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal and Ian Woosnam were the others, joining previously announced Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer, and Colin Montgomerie. Langer has won the event, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, a record three times.
They will join a 78-player field competing in the first full-field event of the 2022 PGA Tour Champions season, Feb. 18-20, for a share of a $1.6 million purse. Players have until 5 p.m. ET this Friday to commit. Golf Channel will televise all three rounds of play.
“We are excited about the strong field of World Golf Hall-of-Fame members and major champions who will be joining us to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO,” said Sandy Diamond, executive director of the Chubb Classic, in a release. “This world-class field will give our great fans the opportunity to watch up close so many legends of the game competing on one of the best destination golf courses in the country in Tiburón Golf Club.”
Couples, a former World No. 1 who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2013, won in Naples in 2010 and 2017. He has 13 Champions victories, including two major championships. Couples is a three-time winning captain for U.S. Presidents Cup teams and a two-time U.S. Ryder Cup team vice-captain. He accumulated 15 PGA Tour victories, including the 1992 Masters and two Players Championships.
Love, a 21-time winner on the PGA Tour including the 1997 PGA Championship and 1992 and 2003 Players Championships, will be making his 2022 PGA Tour Champions season debut. A two-time U.S Ryder Cup captain, Love was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017.
Lyle, a 2012 Hall-of-Fame inductee, is a two-time major champion – 1985 Open and 1998 Masters – as well as the 1987 Players Champion. He has 30 professional wins worldwide and topped the European Tour’s Order of Merit in 1979, 1980 and 1985.
Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion (1994 and 1999) has recorded 30 professional wins worldwide and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. A seven-time European Ryder Cup team member, Olazábal captained the European Ryder Cup team’s comeback in 2012, eventually defeating the U.S. 14½ to 13½.
Woosnam, a former World No. 1, has accumulated over 50 worldwide victories during his Hall-of-Fame career, including 29 on the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) and the 1991 Masters. He joined Love III as a 2017 Hall-of-Fame inductee.
The 2021 Chubb Classic was played last April at The Black Course at Tiburón Golf Club, where Steve Stricker captured his sixth PGA Tour Champions victory by one stroke over Robert Karlsson and Alex Cejka. Tiburón is the only club to host a PGA Tour, LPGA and PGA Tour Champions event in the same calendar year.
Chubb Classic 2022 ticket options
There are four ticket options for fans:
Good-Any-One Day Grounds — $25. General admission daily grounds, valid Thursday, Feb. 17 (Pro-Am), and Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20 (tournament rounds).
Legends Lounge 17th Green Suite — $125 per day. Private luxury suite offering exclusive views of the 17th green. Includes hot appetizers, afternoon snacks, soft drinks and cash bar.
ULTRA Club 18th Green Suite — $400 per day. Private luxury suite overlooking the 18th green. Includes premium full lunch buffet, open bar and valet parking.
Els sits at 8 under with Vijay Singh a stroke behind.
Call it the feast before the purge.
Insisting he needs to shed a few pounds in the near future, Ernie Els found Hualalai Country Club pretty tasty during Thursday’s opening round of the PGA Tour Champions’ season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii.
Els played bogey-free golf in the opening round and made an eagle on No. 15 and a birdie on the closing hole to jump to the top of a star-studded leaderboard.
How did Els handle his holiday break?
“You know what, I just took a rest,” he said. “I need to lose about 10 pounds, but I’m sure we can do that in the next couple weeks. I played with the guys, kept myself sharp, played a lot of golf, social golf at Turtle Creek and places around town (in South Florida), Bear Lakes.
“It’s just a great feeling coming out here. Just want to let it go out here, so it’s a good feeling to be out here.”
Els sits at 8 under while Vijay Singh is a stroke behind. The quintet of Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer, Darren Clarke, Stephen Ames and Steven Alker was lurking at 6 under.
For Els, who already has a pair of Champions Tour titles in his trophy case, any chance to play in Hawaii is special.
“I love it out here. We were close to living out here or buying another home out here many, many times. Might still happen, but it’s a great feeling to come here,” he said. “The people are just so unbelievable. This resort, Four Seasons here, it’s just unbelievable. It’s something you can get used to very quickly.”
The three-day event plays its final round Saturday.
“I think he’s going to be a tough guy to beat this weekend, but it’s not impossible.”
Overnight leader Cameron Smith remained atop the first page of the leaderboard through two rounds of the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
He has plenty of company.
In ideal scoring conditions – gentle breezes, soft greens, huge fairways, and preferred lies – players took apart the Plantation Course at Kapalua and set up a weekend ripe for a stampede full of birdies and eagles to Sunday’s finish line.
Smith, who overcame a slow start for the second consecutive day – he began bogey-bogey – stormed back with an eagle and nine birdies in his last 14 holes to sign for a 9-under-par 64 Friday to reach 17 under. That tied the 36-hole tournament scoring record first set by Ernie Els in 2003.
The field averaged a shade under 68 – the lowest mark since 1999.
“A few bad shots there the first couple of holes. I didn’t really feel that comfortable on the range this morning and it kind of showed those first couple,” Smith said. “Figured it out by the fourth or fifth and was able to get on a bit of a roll with the putter as well.
“I’ve been playing golf basically my whole life, I could figure it out pretty quickly, and like I said, I figured it out within a few holes, started to feel really comfortable there, especially with the driver. Then the putter felt good the whole day.”
Cameron Smith hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Closing with four consecutive birdies, Smith gave himself some breathing room on the stacked leaderboard. World No. 1 Jon Rahm (66-66) and Daniel Berger (66-66) are three shots back at 14 under.
“I think the wind being down obviously was a big factor,” Berger said of the scoring binge. “But it’s tough when you’re one of the last guys out and you see a bunch of low scores early. So it’s to be expected out here and you just kind of have to stay patient and know that the opportunities are going to come, and you have to take advantage when they do.”
Reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Patrick Cantlay (66-67) is at 13 under.
Hideki Matsuyama (69-65) and Sungjai Im (67-67) are at 12 under.
Kevin Na, who will defend his 2021 title next week in the Sony Open (67-68) is at 11 under. Seven players finished at 10 under, including Brooks Koepka (68-68), 2019 Sentry champion Xander Schauffele (69-67), and Sam Burns (72-64).
Seven players are 9 under, including Bryson DeChambeau (69-68).
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Rahm was often heard muttering to himself about leaving many of his putts short. His pace improved on the back nine as he birdied three of his last five holes.
“It was really good tee to green. If there’s anything to put an asterisk on, it’s maybe putting,” Rahm said. “More than anything the speed, right? I feel like the greens were a little bit slower today. Me and Patrick (Cantlay) talked about it a little bit. It could have just been us, but it felt like they were a little bit slower and I just felt like I left a lot of putts out there on line that with the right speed might have had a chance of going in.
“But either way, still a solid round of golf.”
Cantlay had his woes with the putter, as well.
“I played great today and got absolutely nothing out of it,” he said. “I don’t think I made a putt outside maybe 4 or 5 feet. That just means my game’s in a good spot and I’m well-positioned for a good weekend.”
As is Matsuyama. The reigning Masters champion has had a major champion in his gallery through the first two days – 2021 U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso. Matsuyama made seven birdies and an eagle.
“I haven’t been practicing much so I didn’t really have high expectations but hopefully I can play well on the weekend. If I can hit some good drives and make some putts I think I’ll be OK.
“I don’t know if (Saso) learned much from me, but I’m definitely happy that she would want to follow me and watch me play.”
Berger was paired with Smith in the second round, which paid dividends.
Daniel Berger hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
“Cameron had a tough start and then he pulled it together on the kind of the end of the back nine,” Berger said. “And it’s always easy to play with someone when they’re making a ton of birdies and you’re seeing balls go in the hole and he made every putt he looked at today.
“I think he’s going to be a tough guy to beat this weekend, but it’s not impossible.”
What is possible is one player equaling or breaking Els’ tournament mark of 31 under set in 2003. But Smith isn’t thinking about that.
“I’m just trying to do the best I can, to be honest,” he said. “I’m worried about one shot at a time. Those records are cool and stuff, but I’m just trying to do my best I can every shot.
“There’s going to be low scores. There always is around here. And I’ve just got to prepare for that the best I can and hopefully have a good weekend.”
Ernie Els designed the course at Albany, which opened in 2010
Albany in New Providence, the Bahamas – site of this week’s Hero World Challenge – was designed by Ernie Els and opened in 2010. It is part of a 600-acre luxury resort community owned by a Tavistock group that includes Els, Tiger Woods, and Justin Timberlake.
Albany ties for No. 20 on the 2021 list of Golfweek’s Best Courses in Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic islands, and Central America. It will play at 7,302 yards with a par of 72 for the Hero World Challenge.
Thanks to yardage books provided by Puttview – the maker of detailed yardage books for more than 30,000 courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges the pros face this week. Check out the maps of each hole below.
The biggest name in the field can win the tournament this week but not the season-long championship.
PHOENIX — It all comes down to this.
After a wrap-around 2020-21 “super season”, the PGA Tour Champions has reached its final destination at Phoenix Country Club for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
It’s the third leg of the senior circuit playoffs and the 72-hole event features the top 35 golfers in the standings (the top 36 qualified, but Steve Stricker withdrew earlier this week).
Phil Mickelson is the biggest name in the field but he’s not among the four players who have a chance to win the Schwab Cup and its $440,000 first-place prize.
Lefty has three wins on the circuit in five outings and enters the finale 24th in the standings. He also had, by far, the biggest gallery on Wednesday during the pro-am.
“This is my last tournament of the year, I’m going to shut it down after this,” he said after the pro-am. “I kept playing and working on my game on some areas to make some equipment adjustments for next year. I can’t use them right now because they’re not on the approved list, but I wanted to be sharp. I didn’t want to be trying new stuff when I hadn’t been playing.
“I’ll start working on my fitness again to get speed back up. It seems as though as the year goes on, slowly, slowly the speed starts to decline. So I have to really work hard now at 51 to keep my speed up and be competitive on the regular tour. It’s not easy. … But when I get a moment like I had in May, it makes it all worthwhile, so I’m going to keep striving to having a few more of those moments.”
That moment in May was a big one, with Mickelson capturing his sixth major at the PGA Championship.
Similar to the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Champions’ postseason has three events. Unlike the FedEx Cup, where the winner of the Tour Championship is the FedEx Cup champ, there could be one golfer who wins the tournament this week but another who claims the top season-ending prize.
Who made the final four? Let’s take a look at who has a shot.
Bernhard Langer
Ageless wonder Bernhard Langer, who last month became the oldest player to win on the tour at age 64, is aiming for his sixth Schwab Cup.
“As you get older, there’s more and more young guys coming up that hit it further and they’re really good players and it’ll be tough for me to be in contention year after year so this could be my last chance to ever win the Schwab Cup and it’d be pretty unique to get six of them.”
Bernhard Langer of Germany at the 2021 PGA Tour Champions Dominion Energy Charity Classic at The Country Club of Virginia on October 24, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. Photo by Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images
He leads the standings thanks to his two victories and 24 top-10s during this super season. Langer wins the Schwab Cup with a win or even a solo second as long as Jim Furyk doesn’t win. Beyond that, there are several other scenarios where Langer is the champ but those are the most clear-cut.
Jim Furyk
He joined the tour in 2020 but is still considered a rookie during this super season. He finished T-2 last week at the TimberTech Championship. He won three times overall, including his first two times out last summer. He also won the U.S. Senior Open in July.
“You kinda jockey all year to try to get yourself in a good position,” he said after the pro-am. “I do like the position but I do have a lot of work to do.”
He then added that there’s no let up on this tour week in and week out.
Jim Furyk of the United States putts on the 7th green during the first round of the Sanford International Presented by Cambria at Minnehaha Country Club on September 17, 2021 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
“Every week it’s Bernhard, Ernie [Els], Retief [Goosen], Miguel [Angel Jimenez], Darren [Clarke]. … you just keep going down the list, it’s a bunch of Hall-of-Famers, a bunch of great players, and so I enjoy the competition and enjoy the camaraderie and love being out here.”
Furyk can claim the Cup with a win this week but can also win with a finish as low as T-3. There are a few other scenarios where he can win the big prize but like Langer, a win this week means he wins it all.
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Jimenez is one of two golfers who will need help. He enters third in the standings after he was runner-up last week but does have two wins this season as well as 16 top-10s in 31 starts. For Jimenez to claim the crown, he needs to win and have Langer finish in a three-way tie for sixth or worse.
Ernie Els
Els is fourth in the standings after a season in which he won twice and posted 18 top-10s in 35 starts. He finished T-4 in each of the two playoff events. He needs to win this week and hope that Langer finishes T-7 or worse.
“He’s just dedicated,” Els said of Langer. “Ironman. Loves what he does, obviously, and does it very well and he just sticks with what he does.
“Hats off to Bernhard, he’s been an inspiration to a lot of players.”
In addition to the prize money, there is $2.1 million in annuity bonus money up for grabs for the top-five finishers in the standings. The annuity will be distributed over 10 years. The winner of the Schwab Cup gets $1 million, with second place worth $500,000; third place getting $300,000; fourth place $200,000 and fifth place $100,000.
Phoenix Country Club is a par-71 course that will play 6,853 yards this week.
