The Simmons Bank Championship on the PGA Tour Champions is the penultimate event of the 2024 season, taking place at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas. After starting with 72 golfers, the field has been narrowed down to 54 for the 54-hole tournament that begins on Friday. At the top of the points race are familiar names like Ernie Els, Steven Alker, Stephen Ames, Richard Green, and K.J. Choi. Els and Ames lead in the wins category for the season with three victories each, while Paul Broadhurst and Padraig Harrington are tied at two wins apiece.
The final round on Sunday will see the field reduced to just the top 36 golfers, who will then have a week off before heading to Phoenix Country Club for the season finale. While winning the tournament is the ultimate goal for all participants, many golfers are also competing in a separate tournament within the event to secure a spot in the field for the season finale in Phoenix.
Padraig Harrington is one of the competitors looking to solidify his place in the top 36 after jumping into contention with a strong performance during the previous week’s event. Other notable golfers on the edge of the top 36 include Miguel Angel Jimenez, Rod Pampling, Vijay Singh, David Bransdon, and Scott Dunlap. On the other side, golfers like Charlie Wi, Steve Allan, David Toms, Cameron Percy, and Paul Stankowski are close to breaking into the top 36 but need a strong showing in the Simmons Bank Championship.
Several notable golfers are still outside the top 36, including Kenny Perry, Billy Andrade, and Justin Leonard, who will need to make a significant leap in the standings to secure their spot in the season finale. Unfortunately, some golfers saw their season come to an end after last week’s event, including Chris DiMarco, Angel Cabrera, and David Duval, who will now have to wait until next season to resume competing on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.