Welcome to CaddyBytes' coverage of the PGA Tour Champions, the premier professional golf tour for players aged 50 and over. Formerly known as the Senior PGA Tour and Champions Tour, this tour was formally established in 1980 and has grown into a highly competitive circuit featuring golf legends and major champions .
The 2025 season marks the 45th season of PGA Tour Champions, with 28 official events scheduled from January through November . The tour provides fans with the unique opportunity to watch their favorite golfers from previous decades continue to compete at a high level, with many players maintaining exceptional form well into their 50s, 60s, and beyond.
Unlike regular PGA Tour events, most Champions Tour tournaments are played over three rounds (54 holes) rather than four, with no cuts between rounds. However, the five senior major championships maintain the traditional 72-hole format with a 36-hole cut . The season culminates in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the final event of the playoffs that determines the season-long champion.
PGA Champions Tour
2025 Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Season Finale
Date: November 6-9, 2025
Location: Phoenix Country Club, Arizona
Field: Top 36 players in Charles Schwab Cup standings qualify
The championship culminates the season-long points race, crowning the Charles Schwab Cup champion.
Season DetailsPGA Champions Tour History (1980 - Present)
Tournament Format
Unique Structure
Age 50+ Competition
Most events: 54 holes, no cut
Majors: 72 holes with cut
Season-long Charles Schwab Cup points race
2025 PGA Tour Champions
45th Season
28 Official Events
Season began at Mitsubishi Electric Championship
Early winners include Ernie Els, Miguel Ángel Jiménez
Concludes with Charles Schwab Cup Championship
2025 Major Championships
Senior Majors Schedule
Five Premier Events
Regions Tradition: May 19
Senior PGA Championship: May 25
U.S. Senior Open: Jun 29
2020s Champions Tour Era
Current Champions
Langer's Dominance Continues
Bernhard Langer sets all-time wins record (47)
Steve Stricker, Steven Alker emerge as top players
Miguel Ángel Jiménez continues success with 17 wins :
2010s Champions Tour Era
Langer's Peak Years
European Dominance
Bernhard Langer won 7 money titles this decade
Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Colin Montgomerie emerge
Fred Couples, Kenny Perry among American stars
2000s Champions Tour Era
Name Change & Growth
Rebranding as Champions Tour
Tour renamed Champions Tour in 2003
Hale Irwin, Jay Haas dominated early 2000s
Bernhard Langer joined tour in 2007, began record run
1990s Senior Tour Era
Rise in Popularity
Star-Studded Fields
Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus joined tour
Hale Irwin dominated with 45 career wins
Gil Morgan, Larry Nelson among top players
All-Time Records
Career Achievements
Legendary Performances
Most wins: Bernhard Langer (47)
Career earnings: Langer ($37.9M)
Oldest winner: Langer (65)
All-Time Win Leaders
Career Victories
10+ Win Club
1. Bernhard Langer: 47 wins
2. Hale Irwin: 45 wins
3. Lee Trevino: 29 wins
The PGA Champions Tour Legacy
The PGA Tour Champions has created an incredible legacy of extending golf careers and connecting generations of fans since its inception in 1980. What began as the Senior PGA Tour has evolved into a highly competitive circuit that maintains fan interest in legendary players while introducing new stars who have reached the age of eligibility.
The tour has been defined by several dominant players throughout its history. Bernhard Langer stands alone as the most successful player in tour history with 47 victories, including 12 senior major championships . His remarkable consistency has seen him win at least one tournament for 17 consecutive seasons from 2007-2024 . Close behind is Hale Irwin with 45 wins, whose dominance in the 1990s and early 2000s set the standard for excellence on the tour .
The tour's unique format—with most events played over 54 holes without a cut—creates exciting, aggressive golf while accommodating the physical considerations of older players. However, the five senior major championships maintain the traditional 72-hole format with a cut, preserving the challenge that defines major championship golf . The season-long Charles Schwab Cup competition, with its playoff format introduced in 2016, adds drama to the conclusion of each season as players compete for the $3,000,000 purse at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship .
As the tour continues to evolve, it maintains its core mission: showcasing the enduring skills of golf's greatest players and providing fans with the opportunity to reconnect with the champions of yesterday while celebrating the stars of today's senior game.