Champions Tour - Complete Guide for Golf Fans

The Champions Tour is professional golf's premier circuit for players aged 50 and over. Far from being a retirement home for ageing stars, the Champions Tour features highly competitive golf from players who were once, and in many cases still are, among the finest the game has ever seen. With a relaxed but passionate atmosphere and some of the most recognisable names in golf, the Champions Tour offers fans a unique and deeply enjoyable experience.

History of the Champions Tour

The Champions Tour (originally known as the Senior PGA Tour) was founded in 1980, making it one of the older professional golf circuits in the world. The concept was simple: give players over 50 a competitive platform to continue playing at a high level.

The early years were driven by the enormous popularity of players like Arnold Palmer, who brought his legion of fans, "Arnie's Army," to the senior circuit. Lee Trevino, Gary Player and Chi-Chi Rodriguez followed, and the tour quickly established itself as a major draw.

The tour was rebranded as the Champions Tour in 2002, and since 2016 its official name has been PGA TOUR Champions. It has continued to thrive, attracting former PGA Tour stars, major champions and international players who are eager to compete well into their fifties and sixties.

How the Champions Tour Works

Eligibility

The primary eligibility requirement is simple: players must be 50 years of age or older. However, getting into the field requires meeting additional criteria. Under the 2026 tour regulations, a standard field is filled in priority order:

• Last season's leaders: the top 36 from the previous year's Charles Schwab Cup points list
• PGA Tour career record: players ranked on a PGA Tour points list, where a regular win counts one point and a major or Players Championship win counts three
• Champions Tour career wins and the all-time money list: further spots go to proven winners and the game's biggest career earners
• Monday qualifying: the top three from an event qualifier held in tournament week, open to professionals aged 50 and over
• Sponsor exemptions: five invitations per event
• Tournament winners: a Champions Tour win brings an exemption for the rest of that season and the full season after

The annual national Qualifying Tournament (Q-School) was discontinued ahead of the 2026 season, and its five spots were reallocated to the career categories.

Tournament Format

Champions Tour events typically follow a streamlined format:

• 54 holes over three rounds (Friday to Sunday)
• No cut - every player in the field plays all three rounds
• Smaller fields - a standard starting field of 78 players, far smaller than a full PGA Tour field
• Standard stroke play - lowest cumulative score wins

The majors are the exception. All five are played over 72 holes. The Regions Tradition and the Kaulig Companies Championship have no cut; the Senior PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open and Senior Open use a 36-hole cut.

The three-round, no-cut format means that every player who tees it up on Friday is guaranteed to play the weekend. This is a significant difference from the PGA Tour, where roughly half the field is eliminated after 36 holes.

The Charles Schwab Cup

The Charles Schwab Cup is the Champions Tour's season-long race, equivalent to the PGA Tour's FedExCup. Official money earned during the regular season converts into points, and the leaders qualify for the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, a three-event series that determines the overall champion. The playoffs pay double points.

The field shrinks at every stop. In 2026 the top 72 go to the Stifel Charity Classic in St. Louis (23 to 25 October), the top 54 to the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock (30 October to 1 November), and the top 36 to the 72-hole Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix (12 to 15 November).

As of 7 October 2026, Stewart Cink leads the Schwab Cup standings, ahead of Zach Johnson and Steven Alker.

Key Champions Tour Events

The 2026 schedule has 28 events: a 25-event regular season followed by the three playoff events. Several carry particular prestige.

Major Championships

The Champions Tour has five major championships of its own:

• Senior PGA Championship - run by the PGA of America, the oldest senior major (dating back to 1937). The 2026 edition was at The Concession in Bradenton, Florida
• Regions Tradition: played at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama
• U.S. Senior Open - run by the USGA, with course setups that mirror the rigour of the U.S. Open
• Senior Open: now the ISPS HANDA Senior Open, the only senior major played outside the United States. The 2026 edition was on the King's Course at Gleneagles, Scotland
• Kaulig Companies Championship: the event formerly known as the Senior Players. 2026 was its last year at Firestone in Akron, Ohio; from 2027 it moves to Newport Beach, California, as the Hoag Senior Players Championship

Other Marquee Events

• The Ally Challenge - a popular stop in Michigan
• Sanford International - held in South Dakota
• Stifel Charity Classic: held in St. Louis, the first of the three Schwab Cup Playoffs events

Notable Champions Tour Players

The Champions Tour's roster reads like a hall of fame of professional golf:

• Bernhard Langer - the German legend who has dominated the Champions Tour for over a decade, winning more events than anyone in the tour's history: 47 as of October 2026, including a record 12 senior majors. A two-time Masters champion who has shown that age is truly just a number
• Ernie Els - "The Big Easy," a four-time major champion who brought his smooth swing and global star power to the senior circuit
• Vijay Singh - the Fijian major champion whose work ethic is legendary in professional golf
• Jim Furyk - a U.S. Open champion and former FedExCup winner who has found renewed success on the Champions Tour
• Padraig Harrington - the Irish triple major champion who has become a force on the senior circuit

As stars from the golden era of PGA Tour golf continue to turn 50, the Champions Tour's fields only grow stronger.

Champions Tour vs PGA Tour

The comparison is not about which tour is "better." They serve different purposes. The Champions Tour gives fans the chance to watch beloved players continue to compete, while the PGA Tour and DP World Tour showcase the game's current elite.

The Appeal of Champions Tour Golf

There are several reasons why the Champions Tour has a devoted following:

Accessibility

Champions Tour events are typically more fan-friendly than PGA Tour stops. Courses are less crowded, players are more approachable and the atmosphere is relaxed. Many fans find it easier to follow their favourite players up close on the Champions Tour.

Nostalgia

For fans who grew up watching Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els, the Champions Tour offers a chance to reconnect with the players who defined their love of golf. The stories and rivalries carry over from the main tour, adding historical depth to every event.

Competitive Intensity

Do not mistake the relaxed atmosphere for a lack of competition. Champions Tour players are fiercely competitive, and the standard of play remains remarkably high. Scoring averages demonstrate that these players have lost little of their skill - they simply apply it on a slightly different stage.

How to Follow the Champions Tour Live

Live scoring for every PGA TOUR Champions event is on pgatour.com and the official PGA TOUR app.

The three-round, no-cut format means every player is competing all weekend, giving fans certainty that their favourite players will be in action from start to finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do you have to be to play on the Champions Tour?

Players must be 50 years of age or older to compete on the Champions Tour. Age alone is not enough: players also need status from past performance, a Monday qualifier or a sponsor exemption. The national Q-School was discontinued ahead of 2026.

Who has won the most Champions Tour events?

Bernhard Langer, with 47 wins as of October 2026. He passed Hale Irwin's record of 45 with his 46th at the 2023 U.S. Senior Open.

How much prize money is on the Champions Tour?

The 2026 season offers more than $69 million in total prize money across 28 events.

Can Champions Tour players still play on the PGA Tour?

Yes. Champions Tour players who maintain their PGA Tour status or receive exemptions can compete on both tours. Some players, particularly in their early fifties, split their schedule between the two circuits.

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