The 2024 Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs have arrived, marking the three-event postseason on the PGA Tour Champions. Unlike the PGA Tour’s playoffs, the senior circuit’s playoffs often produce a winner in the season finale who is different from the season-long Charles Schwab Cup race. Last year, Steve Stricker dominated the regular season to the extent that he skipped all three playoff events and still claimed the season-long title. This season, Ernie Els will enter the postseason in the No. 1 spot.
Players who qualify for the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs are the top 72 in the season-long race. As of now, Ernie Els leads, with Steve Alker in second, Stephen Ames in third, Richard Green in fourth, and Steve Stricker in fifth. Jerry Kelly, who won the regular-season finale, climbed two spots into the top 10. Angel Cabrera also made a significant move up, jumping 15 spots to 54th. Lee Janzen secured the final spot at No. 72 for the playoffs.
In terms of players climbing into the playoffs and those dropping out, Woody Austin moved from 73rd to 71st after the regular-season finale, securing a spot on the good side of the line. On the other hand, Arjun Atwal dropped from 72nd to 73rd. The only players to switch positions from one side of the line to the other were Austin and Atwal.
The Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs consist of three tournaments, with the first two using the Champions Tour’s typical 54-hole format. The finale is a 72-hole event, the only non-major on the Champions circuit to have 72 holes. The tournaments include the Dominion Energy Charity Classic at The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, the Simmons Bank Championship at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix.
Past winners of the Charles Schwab Cup include Steve Stricker in 2023, Steven Alker in 2022, Bernhard Langer in a few different years, Kevin Sutherland in 2017, Kenny Perry in 2013, Tom Lehman in 2012 and 2011, Loren Roberts in 2009 and 2007, Jay Haas in 2008 and 2006, Tom Watson in 2005 and 2003, Hale Irwin in 2004 and 2002, and Allen Doyle in 2001. These champions have left their mark on the tournament’s history with their impressive performances.
