Turning 50 as a PGA Tour player comes with its own perks. It makes you eligible for the Senior Tour: the PGA Tour of Champions. The older golfers compete in a season-long series of 54-hole events that includes five major championships. The fourth event of this season is currently underway in Arizona. The Cologuard Classic began on Thursday this week, and with its competitive field, huge purse, pay-outs, and other perks, it is bound to bring some excitement to the fans.
Field and format of the 2023 Cologuard Classic
The senior tour’s fourth event will see 78 players take the course at the Omni Tucson National in Tucson, Arizona. Similar to the majority of the events on the Champions Tour, this Cologuard Classic too will see no cut and be played from Thursday to Saturday across 54 holes.
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USA Today via Reuters
Nov 11, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Bernhard Langer reacts after hitting to the green of the 17th during the first round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship golf tournament at Phoenix Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports| Courtesy: Reuters
On the field are some of the biggest names in the Tour: Miguel Angel Jimenez and Steve Stricker. Joining them is also the two-time Masters Tournament winner, Bernhard Langer. The German golf great is coming in hot after winning the last event of the Tour in mid-February.
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The German star tasted victory at the Cologuard Classic in 2020 and has since been unable to get his hands on it. Last year too, Langer narrowly missed a win, losing out to Jimenez by 4 strokes and tied for second. He will undoubtedly be looking for redemption this year and also grabbing back-to-back wins on the Tour.
Purse and winner’s cut at the event
The total purse of the event has increased by $400,000 since last year and now stands at a whopping $2.2 million. Of that, the winner will take home 15%, which is the standard cut as per the PGA Tour Champions’ prize money distribution chart. But that’s not all that’s on the line. The money earned at the event will count towards the Charles Schwab Cup points (each dollar converts to one point).
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 14, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Bernhard Langer celebrates after winning the season long Charles Schwab Cup after the final round of the Charles Schwab Cub Championship golf tournament at Phoenix Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
At the end of the season, the top five players on the Charles Schwab Cup points list will stand to receive an additional bonus of $2.1 million, split among them as per their standings. Certainly, this serves as an additional motivation for players to try and maximize their winnings. Fortunately, since there are no cuts, everyone who finishes on Saturday in Arizona will see a piece of the purse.
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Prize money breakdown
The total breakdown of the complete purse based on position is as follows:
| Position | Money |
| 1 | $330,000 |
| 2 | $193,600 |
| 3 | $158,400 |
| 4 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $105,600 |
| 6 | $88,000 |
| 7 | $79,200 |
| 8 | $70,400 |
| 9 | $61,600 |
| 10 | $57,200 |
| 11 | $52,800 |
| 12 | $48,400 |
| 13 | $44,000 |
| 14 | $41,800 |
| 15 | $39,600 |
| 16 | $37,400 |
| 17 | $35,200 |
| 18 | $33,000 |
| 19 | $31,020 |
| 20 | $29,040 |
| 21 | $27,280 |
| 22 | $25,520 |
| 23 | $24,200 |
| 24 | $23,100 |
| 25 | $22,000 |
| 26 | $20,900 |
| 27 | $20,020 |
| 28 | $19,140 |
| 29 | $18,260 |
| 30 | $17,380 |
| 31 | $16,500 |
| 32 | $15,840 |
| 33 | $15,180 |
| 34 | $14,520 |
| 35 | $13,860 |
| 36 | $13,200 |
| 37 | $12,540 |
| 38 | $12,100 |
| 39 | $11,660 |
| 40 | $11,220 |
| 41 | $10,780 |
| 42 | $10,340 |
| 43 | $9,900 |
| 44 | $9,460 |
| 45 | $9,020 |
| 46 | $8,580 |
| 47 | $8,140 |
| 48 | $7,700 |
| 49 | $7,260 |
| 50 | $6,820 |
| 51 | $6,380 |
| 52 | $5,940 |
| 53 | $5,500 |
| 54 | $5,280 |
| 55 | $5,060 |
| 56 | $4,840 |
| 57 | $4,620 |
| 58 | $4,400 |
| 59 | $4,180 |
| 60 | $3,960 |
| 61 | $3,740 |
| 62 | $3,520 |
| 63 | $3,300 |
| 64 | $3,080 |
| 65 | $2,860 |
| 66 | $2,640 |
| 67 | $2,420 |
| 68 | $2,200 |
| 69 | $2,068 |
| 70 | $1,936 |
| 71 | $1,804 |
| 72 | $1,672 |
| 73 | $1,540 |
| 74 | $1,452 |
| 75 | $1,364 |
| 76 | $1,276 |
| 77 | $1,188 |
| 78 | $1,100 |
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Which of these old-timers do you think will take home the win this week? Let us know in the comments below.
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