The PGA Champions Tour will bring a field of 78 players to the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa, for the 2025 Principal Charity Classic. The Champions Tour first came to Des Moines in 2001, and Principal became the tournament’s official sponsor in 2007. Since then, the PCC has raised more than $62 million for Iowa children’s charities.
2024 PCC defending champion Ernie Els will return to head this year’s field. That field will include seven other previous winners: Stephen Ames (2021, 2023), Kevin Sutherland (2019), Tom Lehman (2018), Brandt Jobe (2017), Scott McCarron (2016), Tom Pernice, Jr. (2014), and Jay Haas (2007, 2008, 2012). The PGA Champions Tour event is loaded with other notable names like Fred Couples, Paddy Harrington, Jay Haas, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin, Vijay Singh, and more.
Last year, Els shot -21 and edged out Ames by two strokes. Langer, David Duval, and Rod Pampling tied for third at -17. Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who is also competing, heads the PGA Champions Tour money leaders so far this year at $1,513, 297. He is followed by Ángel Cabrera, who is also in the field, at $1,437,825.
The Prairie Meadows Pro-Am is Wednesday, May 28th, with the Coherent Pro-Am following on Thursday, May 29th. On Friday, May 30th, the Principal Charity Classic kicks off with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and a first-round tee-off at 9:50 a.m. Round Two will kick off on Saturday, May 30th, at 9:50 a.m., and the final round will begin at 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, June 1st. The gates will open at the Wakonda Club at 8:30 a.m. daily, and there will be Fan Hubs open to the public all day each day. The trophy presentation is tentatively set for 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. The tournament will be broadcast on The Golf Channel and NBC. Check local listings for air times.
My pick to win the 2025 Principal Charity Classic is Jiménez. He is having a stellar 2025 and should carry that momentum through this event. Look for Els and Fred Jacobson to finish strong this weekend as well. This is a great event that raises a ton of money for children’s charities in Iowa. This year’s event is scheduled to feature eight World Golf Hall of Fame members. Kudos to the PGA Champions Tour for committing to bringing their roster of golf legends to Des Moines annually to compete in the PCC. For more information about the charity event, click here.
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