Tim O’Neal, a 52-year-old golfer with three wins on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica circuit, secured the biggest victory of his career by winning the 2024 Dominion Energy Charity Classic on the PGA Tour Champions. Despite not achieving success on the Korn Ferry Tour or the PGA Tour, O’Neal delivered a remarkable performance in his 50th start on the circuit to capture the win.
The Dominion Energy Charity Classic is the first leg of the three-event Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, and O’Neal’s victory came at a crucial time. Sitting at 55th in the points standings, O’Neal needed to perform well to advance to Round 2, as only the top 54 players would move on. His win propelled him comfortably within the cut line after dominating the field at The Country Club of Virginia.
Starting the week with a 1-under 71, O’Neal followed up with a solid 5-under 67 and closed out the tournament with a remarkable 7-under 65 on Sunday. His final round included a front-nine 32 and key birdies on the 16th and 18th holes to secure a two-shot lead over his closest competitor, who needed an eagle on the last hole to force a playoff but ultimately fell short.
Following his historic victory, O’Neal expressed his belief that everything unfolded as it was meant to, highlighting his recent strong play and solid performance over the two days of the tournament. David Bransdon claimed solo third place with a 5-under 67 to propel him from 56th to 35th in the points race, while Tim Petrovic finished solo fourth at 8 under. Ernie Els, the points leader, ended tied for 20th in the tournament.
As a result of his win, O’Neal has secured a spot in the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas, scheduled for October 25-27. His victory not only solidifies his place in the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs but also marks a significant milestone in his golf career, showcasing his skill and determination at the highest level of competition on the PGA Tour Champions.
