With the second major behind us, the PGA Tour’s senior circuit gets back to its regular schedule with the 19th-annual Principal Charity Classic.
The long-running event will be contested at Wakonda Club for the seventh time, with Tom Lehman returning to defend his 2017 title. Lehman will be joined by a half dozen other past champions, including three-time winner Jay Haas.
The 78-player field also includes Charles Schwab Cup race leader Scott McCarron – a winner here in 2016, along with Bernhard Langer, who is currently No. 3 in the points race.
The Skinny
Tournament: Principal Charity Classic
Title Sponsor: Principal Insurance
Dates: May 31-June 2, 2019
Course: Wakonda Club
Where: Des Moines, Iowa
Distance: Par-72, 6959 yards
Architect: William Langford (1922)
Format: 54-hole competition, no cut
Purse: $1,850,000
Winning Share: $277,500
Defending: Tom Lehman
Top-10 Betting Favorites: Bernhard Langer, Scott McCarron, Jerry Kelly, David Toms, Scott Parel, Brandt Jobe, Retief Goosen, Kevin Sutherland, Vijay Singh, Lehman
TV & Online
Rd 1: Th 11:30 am-2:00 pm
Rd 2: Fr 03:00 pm-6:30 pm
Rd 3: Sa 02:30 pm-5:00 pm
Broadcast via Golf Channel
Follow Online: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Wikipedia
Tournament History
The Principal Charity Classic is an annual Champions Tour event played in Iowa. Then called the Allianz Championship, it was first contested in 2001 at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. Jim Thorpe was the tournament’s inaugural champion, posting a three-round score of 14-under par.
Jay Haas is the Prinicpal’s most successful champion, claiming three trophies (2007, 2008, 2012).
The tournament has been held at the William Langford-designed Wakonda Club since 2013. In September 2017, Principal announced the renewal of its title sponsorship through 2023.
History: Titles
2007-19 Principal Charity Classic
2001-06 Allianz Championship
History: Recent Winners
2018 Tom Lehman (-13)
2017 Brandt Jobe (−14)
2016 Scott McCarron (−15)
2015 Mark Calcavecchia (−12)
2014 Tom Pernice, Jr. (−12)
2013 Russ Cochran (−11)
2012 Jay Haas (−16)
2011 Bob Gilder (−14)
2010 Nick Price (−14)
History: Records
WINS:
(3) Jay Haas – 2007, 2008, 2012
(2) Bob Gilder – 2002, 2011
SCORE:
(−16, 197) Jay Haas – 2012
(−16, 197) Gil Morgan – 2006
Defending Champion
Tom Lehman was crowned champion of the 2018 Principal Charity Classic after the final round was cancelled due to thunderstorms in the Iowa region.
“So I’ve been charting the weather all day long and just looked to me like things weren’t getting any better, so I figure once that phone call came, it probably was just a matter of a few minutes when they called back, which is what happened,” said Lehman, describing the delay process.
Lehman reached 13-under par after opening rounds of 66 and 65. His 131 total was two shots clear of Scott Parel, Bernhard Langer, Glen Day, and Woody Austin, who finished T2 at 11-under par 133. Jerry Kelly and Corey Pavin were one further back at 10 under.
For his 11th career win, Lehman earned $262,500, and moved to No. 10 in the Charles Schwab Cup race. Langer, with his fourth runner up position this season, moved back into the No. 1 slot after earning $117,250.
Final Top 5
1 Tom Lehman -13
2 Scott Parel -11
2 Glen Day -11
2 Bernhard Langer -11
2 Woody Austin -11
Full Field & Odds
The Principal Charity Classic is one of just nine Champions Tour events where Bernhard Langer has not been able claim victory during his record-setting senior career, and despite being on the wrong side of 60, the odds-makers still favor the German legend this week.
Langer is favored at 7-1 to win for the first time in Iowa, just ahead of Charles Schwab Cup race leader Scott McCarron, who checks in with 8-1 odds.
Jerry Kelly, who finished T6 in his debut last year, is next at 12-1 with David Toms and Scott Parel rounding out the top-5 favorites at 14-1.
Top-5 Betting Favorites
1. Bernhard Langer (7-1)
2. Scott McCarron (8-1)
3. Jerry Kelly (12-1)
4. David Toms (14-1)
4. Scott Parel (14-1)
