Trevor Ng
The PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour) is a men's professional senior golf tour for golfers aged 50 and over. The tour was formally established in 1980 and was originally known as the Senior PGA Tour until 2002. The Senior PGA Championship, founded in 1937, was the only high-profile tournament for golfers over 50 for many years. The idea for a senior tour emerged from a highly successful event in 1978, the Legends of Golf, which featured competition between two-member teams of some of the greatest older golfers at the time. Most tournaments are played over three rounds (54 holes), with smaller fields of 81 golfers, meaning there are generally no cuts between rounds. The tour includes five senior majors played over a full 72 holes (four rounds) with a 36-hole cut. The season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship, with a limited field of 36, was played over 72 holes with no cut until 2015, and since 2016 has been played over 54 holes with no cut.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | PGA Tour Champions |
| Formerly known as | Senior PGA Tour and Champions Tour |
| Eligibility | Golfers aged 50 and above |
| Number of tournaments | 26 (as of 2010) |
| Location | The US, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Scotland |
| Format | Most tournaments are played over 54 holes (three rounds) with no cuts; senior majors are played over 72 holes (four rounds) with a 36-hole cut |
| Playoffs | Based on money earned during the PGA Tour Champions season; the top 72 players qualify for the PowerShares QQQ Championship |
| Playoff events | QQQ Championship, Dominion Charity Classic, Charles Schwab Cup Championship |
| Charles Schwab Cup format | Playoff-style, similar to the FedEx Cup |
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What You'll Learn
PGA Tour Champions History
PGA Tour Champions, formerly known as the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, is a professional senior golf tour for men aged 50 and above. The tour is administered as a branch of the PGA Tour.
The history of the PGA Tour Champions dates back to the founding of the Senior PGA Championship in 1937, which, for many years, was the only significant tournament for golfers over 50. However, the concept of a senior tour gained momentum from a highly successful event in 1978, the Legends of Golf, held at Onion Creek Club in Austin, Texas. This event featured teams of two comprising some of the greatest older golfers at the time and showcaseed the potential for competitive golf among seniors.
Building on this enthusiasm, the senior tour was officially established in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour. This inaugural season set the tone for what has become a longstanding and prestigious competition. The tour provided a platform for veteran golfers to extend their careers and continue showcasing their skills against their peers.
Over the years, the tour underwent several name changes to reflect the evolving nature of the competition. In October 2002, the name was changed to the Champions Tour, recognising the elite status of the participating golfers. This name resonated well with fans and players alike, celebrating the enduring talent and achievements of these veteran athletes.
In 2016, the tour underwent another significant transition, adopting its current name, PGA Tour Champions. This rebranding emphasised its connection to the broader PGA Tour while underscoring the championship calibre of the competition. Today, the PGA Tour Champions continues to thrive, attracting top senior golfers worldwide and offering them the opportunity to compete at the highest level, challenging the notion that golf is solely a young person's game.
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Tournament Format
The PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour) is a golf tour open to male professional golfers aged 50 and over. Most tournaments are played over three rounds (54 holes), with smaller fields of 81 golfers, meaning there are generally no "cuts" between rounds. The five senior majors, however, are played over a full 72 holes (four rounds) with a 36-hole cut.
The season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship is played over 54 holes with no cut. Prior to 2016, it was played over 72 holes with no cut. The format was changed in 2016 to a playoff-style format, similar to that of the FedEx Cup on the main PGA Tour. Qualification for the playoffs is based on money earned during the PGA Tour Champions season. The top 72 players on the money list automatically qualify for the first playoff event, the PowerShares QQQ Championship. If any golfers finish in the top 10 of the final non-playoff event (the SAS Championship) and are not in the top 72 on the money list, they will also receive a playoff place. The playoffs operate on a points system, with points during the first two playoff events based on money earned. The winner of each of these events receives double points.
The Tour Championship is another golf tournament that is part of the PGA Tour. It is usually one of the final events of the PGA Tour season. Since 2019, it has been held in late August and is the final event of the three-event FedEx Cup Playoffs. The top 30 players at the conclusion of the BMW Championship advance to the Tour Championship. The tournament has a purse of $40 million, with $10 million going to the winner.
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Player Eligibility
PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour) is a men's professional senior golf tour for golfers aged 50 and above. The eligibility criteria for players are as follows:
- Members of the World Golf Hall of Fame eligible by age.
- Winners of PGA Tour Champions events in the previous 12 months.
- Five players from the previous year's PGA Tour Champions Qualifying Tournament, based on their order of finish.
- In July, non-exempt players based on the season's money list are included.
- Previously exempt players coming off medical exemptions.
- Top four players in their first two years of age eligibility with multiple PGA Tour wins.
- One spot for the highest finisher, not already exempt, within the top 10 of the previous week's tournament. However, a top-10 finish in a regular tournament does not guarantee a player's spot in a major tournament.
- Up to 30 players who are in the top 70 of the all-time combined PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions money list.
- Up to five spots for sponsor's exemptions, which may be reduced or eliminated if the field is filled by other categories.
The criteria for player eligibility in the Champions Tour events are quite intricate, with various factors and exemptions coming into play. The process for determining the field in tour events has been described as complex by some, including PGA Tour Champions competitor Bobby Clampett.
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The Charles Schwab Cup
The idea for a senior tour emerged from a highly successful event in 1978—the Legends of Golf at Onion Creek Club in Austin, Texas, which featured competition between two-member teams of some of the greatest older golfers of the day. The tour was formally established in 1980 and was originally known as the Senior PGA Tour until October 2002.
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Prize Money
The PGA Tour Champions (formerly known as the Champions Tour and the Senior PGA Tour) is a golf tour for players aged 50 and above. The tour offers substantial prize money, with the total prize money and number of events varying from year to year. For example, the 2007 tour featured a total prize purse of $55.2 million across 29 events, while in 2010, the tour offered a guaranteed minimum official prize purse of $51.5 million across 26 tournaments, with an average of $1.98 million per event.
The 2025 Tour Championship, with a record-breaking purse of $40 million, offered the largest prize money payout in the history of any individual PGA Tour event. The winner, Tommy Fleetwood, received $10 million, the highest individual prize money payout ever recorded.
The format of the Charles Schwab Cup, a significant event within the PGA Tour Champions, was changed in 2016 to a playoff-style format. Qualification for the playoffs is based on money earned during the PGA Tour Champions season, with the top 72 players on the money list automatically advancing to the playoffs. The playoffs operate on a points system, with points earned during the first two playoff events, except that winners of these events receive double points.
The PGA Tour also recognises the career earnings of players on its three main tours. Following the 2024 season, Phil Mickelson topped the list with combined career earnings of $98,201,178.
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Frequently asked questions
The Champions Tour Golf, now known as the PGA Tour Champions, is a men's professional senior golf tour for golfers aged 50 and above.
The tour was formally established in 1980 and was originally known as the Senior PGA Tour until October 2002.
Most tournaments are played over three rounds (54 holes), which is one round fewer than regular professional stroke play tournaments. The five senior majors, however, have a full 72 holes (four rounds) with a 36-hole cut.
