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PGA TOUR Champions 2024 Schedule + Tournament Details

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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: Fields Ranch East, Frisco, TX Tournament Purse: $3,500,000 Dates: May 25 – May 28, 2023

Like the PGA Championship, the senior edition is hosted at a different golf course every year. However, the tournament was hosted at Dunedin Golf Club in Florida from 1945 to 1962. In addition, the PGA National Golf Club hosted the affair from 1982 to 2000.  

The 2023 edition is set down for Fields Ranch in Frisco, Texas after Steven Alker won the 2022 edition at Harbor Shores in Michigan. 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: SentryWorld, Stevens Point, WI 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.

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.

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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.

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What is Phil Mickelson's senior tour future? It's complicated

The most revealing and pivotal moment for Phil Mickelson on the way to shooting the lowest debut round in PGA Tour Champions history on Monday unfolded on the 13th green at Ozarks National Golf Course. The 18-footer he converted ignited a streak of five straight birdies to propel him to a 10-under 61 and the lead, so there was that. But then there was the fist pump that followed. He set his jaw. He dropped his left hand emphatically. It mattered. Him being there. Competing. Vying for a slice of a $3 million purse when he’s used to bellying up to buffets of $9 million or more.

Why it mattered is left to conjecture.

Did he want to impress in his senior debut? Sure. Did he want to make up for the earliest departure of his career in the FedEx Cup Playoffs the week prior? Presumably. Did he have something to prove to himself? Maybe. That he could still shoot some low scores? Yes, yes, and yes. Did he have a burning desire to become the 20th man in PGA Tour Champions history to win in his first start, or does he have bigger things in mind?

Seriously, what do you think?

Phil Mickelson invaded the senior tour this week and left little doubt about the damage he could do if he were to become a regular among the 50-and-older set. A rather perfunctory five-under 66 on Wednesday was enough to secure not only a four-stroke conquest in the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National , but also some accompanying psychological reinforcement that he had hoped would be a residue of the experience.

“Who was going to be good enough this week with that rat here?” Rocco Mediate asked after Mickelson finished at 22-under 191, tying the tour’s 54-hole scoring record . “The proof’s in the punishing.”

And that’s what Mickelson was hoping to find, more or less.

After missing the cut Friday at The Northern Trust, the PGA Tour’s opening playoff event, Mickelson, who turned 50 in June , promptly opted for a detour to Ridgedale, Mo., with the expressed purpose of working on some shots in a competitive atmosphere and “building a little momentum.” Reuniting with old friends was fine and all, and Mickelson spoke repeatedly of enjoying the experience, which included the enjoyable addition of $450,000 to his bank account. But the U.S. Open at Winged Foot is three weeks away and the Masters is in November, and the old left-hander wasn’t warming up in the bullpen this week just to go out and win the Charles Schwab Cup.

“I had a lot of fun here, I really did,” Mickelson said. “I’m hopeful to play in some more, too, but I also want to use this as a way to get sharp for the regular tour and for the majors.”

Momentum found.

And now? He’ll tee it up in two weeks in the PGA Tour season opener, the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif., before heading for New York. “I’ll be working on my game the next week and a half, see if I can be really sharp for the U.S. Open,” he said, revealing more of where his head and heart really are. “Obviously, I have a lot of work to do [for] some redemption at Winged Foot, but it’s a great golf course and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

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Does Phil move a needle? The unequivocal needle-moving champ, Tiger Woods, was asked about the enigmatic left-hander Wednesday morning at the BMW Championship, near Chicago, the event for which Mickelson failed to qualify, thus inducing his decision for less greener but more pluckable pastures these last three days. The BMW is a FedEx Cup Playoff event with a $9.5 million purse, and senior golf is among the menu topics? Only because of Phil.

“Playing unbelievable golf,” said Woods, apparently taking some passing interest in his rival’s pursuits . “He said he’s been close to playing well. I think that he was already one of the longer hitters out here, and now he goes to where he’s going to pick up a huge advantage off the tee, but you have to take advantage of that opportunity off the tee. His wedge game is off the charts, as we all know. … There’s no reason why he can’t win every event he plays out there.”

Not surprisingly, there were a lot of interested parties. Other than TV ratings, Twitter is perhaps the best barometer for gauging interest in a golf tournament, and Mickelson postings multiplied across the social-media platform starting with his Monday salvo. One veteran golf journalist wrote, “Damn you, Phil,” for making him care about senior scores. Well, he wasn’t alone.

Oh, and about those TV ratings. Golf Channel saw ratings increases of 150 percent on Monday and nearly 300 percent on Tuesday for its coverage of the PGA Tour Champions compared to programming in the same time period (6-8 p.m. EDT) the prior four weeks. Tuesday’s coverage was the most-watched Tuesday telecast since Golf Central Live during the 2019 Masters. (Wednesday’s figures weren’t yet available.)

Mickelson shot the tour's lowest score in his senior debut round (61) and matched the tour's 54-hole scoring record.

Brett Carlsen

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No wonder his peers have been eager to see him join the ranks. They recognize that Ernie Els and Jim Furyk and Mike Weir and Rich Beem, major champions all, are terrific additions to the elder statesmen herd this year, but no one ever conjured up an ad campaign entitled, “What will Ernie do next?”

“I’m glad it was sooner rather than later,” said two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen about Mickelson’s appearance. “Obviously his career … stellar. He brings a lot of attention to our tour. He’s also a great presence for pro-ams, in the locker room, talking trash. He’s fun to have around.”

“I think all of us out here would wish he would play out here a lot, because he brings such a presence, but I don’t think any of us would expect him to,” Steve Flesch said. “He gives our tour great exposure, as do a lot of other new guys like a Jim Furyk, Ernie, Retief. But Phil is just another notch higher as far as popularity. That’s just who fans like. And, you saw he just dismantled the golf course here. The rest of us mere mortals have to play it one way. He’s playing on another universe out there.

“He just kind of came in and blew through us. I wish we’d have had a few big names pushing him,” Flesch added. “My worry is he might not find it challenging enough. Not to demean anyone on our tour, but the guy is [ranked] 50-something in the world. We all kind of know where he should be playing.”

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It didn’t even look like a fair fight. The coffee-swilling five-time major winner has no gray hair, stands without slouching, has remained fit and retained his flexibility, and he doesn’t appear particularly interested in giving his driver a respite of appreciable duration. He attacked Ozark National, which, fortuitously, happens to be generous off the tee, with a tournament-leading driving average of 323.7 yards. And he provided one of several highlight-reel shots by using the same club in the second round to escape from under a tree, with the ball perched on pine straw and bark .

Per usual, Phil can thrill.

Not that this necessarily always thrills Phil. Earlier this year he sounded like a man who fancied a little more scoring efficiency.

“I believe I can play at an extremely high level,” he said. “I just need to show it. I need to show what I believe.”

The chance to renew friendships with former competitors might give playing the PGA Tour Champions more appeal for Mickelson.

There have been plenty of accomplished players to join the senior tour in the years since Jack Nicklaus dipped his toe in sporadically in 1990, started collecting senior majors with relative ease and then remained somewhat fixated on winning the only four majors that matter. Since then, it can be argued, no 50-year-old has been more focused on, better prepared for, and seemingly capable of winning a major championship than Mickelson.

At 54th in the World Rankings, he could still be a threat at any major even if he is not a threat in every major.

Only last month Mickelson finished T-2 at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude, where he became the first player age 50 or older to finish in the top five in a WGC event. Last year, he won a record-tying fifth title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for his 44th PGA Tour victory, and the year before he broke a winless streak of almost five years by defeating reigning FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas in a playoff at the WGC-Mexico Championship.

A month before that Pebble triumph, Mickelson opened the American Express with a 60. He can still bring some heat. And he can still flame out, as witnessed from time to time, which only adds to his aura and intensifies the fascination with which fans, both casual and golf-rabid, hold him. Is there another player in the world who advances a golf ball with more abandon and has more fun doing it?

There was once, but Arnold Palmer has left the building.

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Mickelson is the first player since Tom Watson to stick a peg in the forward tees whom we might think of as an authentic “legendary-type” figure. The two guys who maybe came closest in between were Fred Couples and John Daly, for different—and very separate—reasons. And Mickelson, frankly, might be the last, unless Woods decides, five-plus years from now, that he wants to spread a last layer of whoop-ass on his peers.

While still competitive on the PGA Tour, Mickelson has said his starts with the seniors will be sparing.

How much will Mickelson hang around his fellow seniors? That is the real question, and the answer would seem to be not much. At least for the foreseeable future.

In February, before he nearly defended his title at Pebble Beach, Mickelson said he didn’t want to, “hurt the Champions Tour in any way, and if not playing the Champions Tour is going to hurt it, I’ll play a couple of events. I’ll probably play one, two or three events a year because I want to support it; I want it to be successful.”

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Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Mickelson was quite enamored with the direction his game was headed, and he was highly motivated about the possibilities ahead. He put down this marker: “This motivates me to compete against the best players in the world. That drives me to get in the gym, it drives me to work hard on the range, it drives me to spend time on the putting green. And I’m not sure I would have the same passion and drive to be my best on the Champions Tour, but I have it out here, and so right now it’s starting to bring out the best in me and I want to play out here.”

The previous three days in Missouri already had been set to give the PGA Tour Champions a spotlight to enjoy, given that there were no other competitive golf events up against it. Then Phil Mickelson swooped in and changed the entire complexion of the thing. It is for that reason that the rest of the senior contingent wishes for his increased attendance, even if it means he is going to throttle them with bombs.

A World Golf Hall-of-Famer, Mickelson could add his name to a long line of fine players who ardently attempted to compete on both tours. But, seriously, what’s the point?

Mediate summed it up best. “Hopefully he’ll play some more, but he’s still fine on the regular tour. He still has big game, as you can see.”

Still has big aspirations, too.

Peter Senior The PGA Professional

In this month's episode of the PGA Professional Podcast, Glenn interviews Peter Senior who shares his remarkable journey from his early years in Singapore to becoming one of Australia's most successful tour players. Peter speaks on the significance of his early coaching, particularly his transformative encounter with Gary Edwin, which reignited his passion for the game. Throughout the conversation, Peter reflects on memorable career moments, including wins and challenges faced on the course, while also touching on his family life.  

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