The PGA Champion’s Tour heads to Grand Blanc Michigan as Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club plays host for the seventh time to the Ally Challenge. A stacked field will tee it up in Michigan with four of the top five in the Charles Schwab Cup set to contest. Padraig Harrington will be one of five World Golf Hall of Famers taking part, while Darren Clarke comes into the event off the back of a strong showing at the Rogers Charity Classic, finishing tied for third spot.
Vijay Singh is defending champion, but a late withdrawal means we will have a new winner this year, but two past champions in Joe Durant (’21) and Jim Furyk (’20) are looking to become the first multiple champion of the event in its current home.
With six events remaining in the Champions Tour’s regular season, the race for points is heating up at the top. Ernie Els tops the money standings by a narrow margin from second place Stephen Ames. Just $35k separate the two after 19 events in the ’24 season. Steven Alker, Richard Green and K.J. Choi round off the top five in the standings while Harrington sits in ninth spot, a million dollars off the South African’s lead. Els and Ames are looking to become the first four-time winner this season as the two hold the lead in wins on three-a-piece while Harrington sits one back with his two victories at the Hoag Classic and the DICK’S Open.
“Yeah, I’m excited to be back,” said Harrington ahead of the tournament. “I love when we come to some of the old-style golf courses because we’re old-style players, I suppose. Yeah, last time I played it wasn’t too far away I remember on Sunday. The course definitely is OK for me, suits me. Yeah, all the old-school ones are good.”
“Yeah, it’s been an interesting year,” he reflected about his season and what has been working well in his game. “Yeah, I’ve been putting well, which I think has really helped, and the rest of the game has been pretty similar to other years. Yeah, so I’m in nice form and just trying to get my head in the right place for the week as usual. You get the mental game going, you should be — if you’re sharp, hopefully we’ll be there or thereabouts come Sunday afternoon.”
Warwick Hills G&CC sets the challenge to the 78-strong field and the course is one of the favourites on Tour. Established in 1957 the host venue was the home of the Buick Open for 51 years. A 7,085-yard, par-72 walk awaits the field with a 36-36 split over the 54-holes. With no cut the 78 will have 87 bunkers and three water hazards to negotiate over the week.
Mercifully, the weather is expected to play ball and no rain is predicted with mild conditions and only moderate wind forecast over the weekend, players can expect to be able to attack the course. The walk begins with a 567-yard par-five tester to settle the nerves. One of a pair of par-fives on either nine culminating in a 5-3-4 finish to both. A 155-yard tempter awaits on the 17th that should see plenty of action over the three days.
The action kicks off on Friday afternoon Irish time with the opening grouping heading to the first tee for 15.10. Chris DiMarco, Gene Sauers and Y.E. Yang have the honour of getting things underway. It will be a 16.20 start for Darren Clarke from the first with Canadian duo, Stephen Ames and Mike Wier for company on his stroll. 16.50 will see Harrington begin his week. He heads out with Richard Green and last week’s winner Ken Tanigawa as they make their way around Warwick hills for round one.
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