Defending tournament champion Steven Alker takes home the Schwab Cup.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 10: Bernhard Langer of Germany holds the Charles Schwab Cup trophy on … [+] the putting green during the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club on November 10, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
PGA TOUR
Age is just a number, a good one for Langer
Granted, it wasn’t the “shot heard round the world,” but Bernhard Langer’s walk off birdie on the 72nd hole of the 2024 Charles Schwab Cup Championship produced raucous cheers that carried throughout the stately Phoenix Country Club (PCC) grounds. Langer’s unlikely 30-foot putt for birdie capped a thrilling, down to the wire season-ending tournament. His 18-under total was a stroke better than Richard Green and local resident Steven Alker, who won the final Schwab Cup points race for the second time in three years.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 10: Steven Alker of New Zealand poses with 2024 Charles Schwab Cup … [+] following the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club on November 10, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The field began with 72 players in the first playoff event, was narrowed to 54 for the second, and then to the final top 36 golfers who competed for the Championship and the Cup in Phoenix (Steve Stricker’s withdrawal resulted in a 35-player final field).
The record-setting numbers keep piling up for the 67-year old Langer, who earned his 47th victory on PGA TOUR Champions, continued an unbroken streak of at least one victory each season for the past 18 years, and extended his record as the oldest winner in PGA TOUR Champions history. The World Golf Hall of Famer even shot his age or better three of the four tournament rounds.
An unusually emotional Langer threw his visor and arms in the air in celebration after watching his lengthy putt go in. Winless in 2024, he was well aware that this tournament was his last chance to keep his yearly victory streak going.
“I’m speechless,” he said afterwards. “Terry, my caddy, after we hit the wedge back here says, ‘well, it’s just one more putt.’”
And what a putt it was.
The competition for the PGA TOUR Champions Charles Schwab Cup was intense all season. While not in contention for his seventh Schwab Cup and the million dollar check that comes with it, Langer nevertheless notched a very satisfying first victory at PCC, and a seventh place finish in the final Cup points standings.
His passion and dedication remain remarkable, considering his recovery from serious Achilles surgery earlier in the year.
“Winning never gets old,” said the ultimate competitor. “People say why am I still playing. Well, this is why, because I enjoy the adrenaline, I enjoy being in the hunt and I still feel like I can win and be there on the leaderboard. It’s great to compete against these guys.”
Ernie Els, who finished second in final Cup standings, spoke for the entire field when he expressed awe at Langer’s success.
“He just defies everything, he’s an absolute incredible golfer. He’s just a wonderful player and wonderful asset to our game,” said his fellow Hall of Fame member.
New faces in the field
Phoenix Country Club is celebrating its 125th anniversit,
Candace Oehler
Among the competitors in the field were several Schwab Cup Championship rookies. Making their debut were first-time winners Ricardo González (Trophy Hassan II) and Tim O’Neal (Dominion Energy Charity Classic), who actually beat González to win the first of the three Schwab Cup playoff tournaments.
Also in the field was Jason Caron, a 52-year old PGA pro whose day job is Head Golf Professional at Mill River Club on Long Island. He tied for fourth in the Senior PGA Championship in late May, played well in several other tournaments, earned his 2025 TOUR card and a spot in the season-ending final where he finished 34th.
O’Neal makes impressive debut
Savannah, Georgia native Tim O’Neal’s journey has been an improbable international adventure. The 52-year old, in his second year on PGA TOUR Champions, enjoyed a successful college career at Jackson State University (MS), winning 16 tournaments and the 1997 Georgia Amateur. A PGA TOUR career seemed inevitable.
But, he narrowly missed earning his PGA TOUR card in heartbreaking fashion twice and spent decades chasing his golf dream in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and on numerous mini and minor tours, including 154 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Although he would have certainly preferred playing the PGA TOUR, O’Neal thoroughly enjoyed his international adventures, especially Latin America where he perfected his rudimentary high school Spanish and won three times.
“That was fun,” insisted the golf gypsy. “I enjoy the travel, going to different places and learning.”
He remained resilient and battled through PGA TOUR Champions Qualifying School (Q-School) finishing T3 and gaining one of just five coveted cards for the 2023 season.
It led to a rookie year of adjustments for the well-traveled pro, who finished with three top 10 finishes in 24 events.
His breakthrough 2024 Dominion Energy Charity Classic victory, in his 50th start on PGA TOUR Champions, was life-changing, and earned him a spot in the season-ending tournament, as well as the exclusive, limited field 2025 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, and all the PGA TOUR Champions majors.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 20: Tim O’Neal poses with the tournament trophy after winning the … [+] Dominion Energy Charity Classic 2024 at The Country Club of Virginia on October 20, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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“It’s just been unbelievable,” said O’Neal, one of the most popular players on tour who is also considered on of the most fit. “I’ve been going at this for a while and you know, I’ve had my ups and downs and I’ve played every tour possible it seems like. And for me to finally win out here, you know, among these great players and Hall of Fame players, just makes it even sweeter.”
So what finally clicked to land him into the winner’s circle?
“It was a process,” he explained. “I had to make some changes and I had to be a little bit more patient. And you know, it takes time. And I tell you what, I want to continue to have these feelings that winning brings.”
He added, “A lot of these guys have played the PGA TOUR forever and I’ve never played the PGA TOUR. So I had to play catch up on a lot of things. And I’m still learning.”
Diversity and inclusion in professional golf remains an issue. While PGA TOUR Champions is diverse geographically, with players from around the world, O’Neal is the sole African American currently exempt for 2025. There is simply not much of a pipeline to PGA TOUR Champions from the PGA TOUR where golfers of color, especially African Americans, are scarce.
The PGATOUR is making attempts to support racial equity and inclusion in golf, with efforts that include a $100 million commitment over 10 years to strengthen relationships with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs),
The TOUR has also made $10,000 grants to 51 men’s and women’s HBCU golf programs in the country to help cover tournament travel costs.
According to O’Neal, an HBCU alum, finances are the biggest obstacle to pursuing a career as a professional golfer.
“When Tiger came out, people were predicting there would there be more African Americans playing golf, and it did that. But not at this level,” he said.
He was quick to stress that financial issues affect everyone trying to make it as a professional, not just golfers of color. Junior golfers whose parents have the means to hire coaches and join private courses have a definite advantage.
“So if you don’t have those things, it makes it a challenge. A lot of the guys that I grew up with were good, but they didn’t have that extra financial backing to go to a swing coach or to play all the tournaments.”
He added, “If you don’t have that this day and age, you’re fighting an uphill battle.”
He was fortunate to have the backing of actor Will Smith for the first couple of years after turning pro. It enabled him to hire noted instructor Butch Harmon, who has coached the top golfers in the world.
But it wasn’t always easy.
“There were some lean times where I didn’t have sponsorship,” he recalled. “But, you know, I continued to press on and things continued to happen. And then there was a belief that I had in myself, too.”
Throughout his journey, O’Neal has bet on himself.
“And then now, now I’m here,” he said with an infectious grin that never left his face all week. “It was awesome. You know, being out here in Phoenix in November, it’s almost like playing indoors. The weather’s perfect. The course is great. So, you know, I’m definitely going to be working hard this offseason to try to be back here next year.”
