By Chris Coopersmith

Kaulig Companies Championship

July 10-14, 2024 | Firestone Country Club | Akron, Ohio

Advance Week Storylines

Stricker and Kelly trading titles

Steve Stricker (2021 and 2023 champion) and Jerry Kelly (2020 and 2022 champion) enter next week having split the last four Kaulig Companies Championships at Firestone Country Club. If either of them wins the 2024 event, that player would become the second player in history to win the Kaulig Companies Championship on three occasions, joining Bernhard Langer (2014, 2015, 2016). Both Stricker and Kelly also have a runner-up finish at this event at the hands of the other, with Stricker finishing second in 2022 and Kelly placing second in 2021. In addition to the Wisconsin duo, World Golf Hall of Fame member Retief Goosen won the first instance this event was held at Firestone in 2019.

Els looks to continue form

World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els has won two of his last four starts on PGA TOUR Champions. In addition, he has posted top-10 finishes in all three senior majors contested so far in 2024. Els has led or co-led entering the final round in four of the last six tournaments on PGA TOUR Champions. In four appearances at the Kaulig Companies Championship, he has never finished outside of the top 5, and enters the 2024 event with back-to-back T3 finishes at Firestone.

Charles Schwab Cup race heats up

As PGA TOUR Champions passes the halfway point of its 2024 season, the race for the Charles Schwab Cup is coming into form. Stephen Ames leads the Schwab Cup standings after posting a pair of victories and leads the Champions Tour with 10 top-10 finishes in 2024. Steven Alker, winner of the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, sits No. 2 in the standings as he seeks his second Charles Schwab Cup title in the last three years. Els, winner of two events, is No. 3, while reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner Steve Stricker sits No. 4.

Fan experiences at Firestone

Whether you’re a first-time attendee or longtime fan, there’s something for everyone at the Kaulig Companies Championship.

The Kaulig Infinity Zone is expanding and will be the focal point of a new main entrance near the iconic Firestone water tower. It will include several local food trucks as well as The Ruff, where fans can pet and adopt dogs.

Concerts at the Course (Kaulig Infinity Zone)

• Thursday, July 11 – Local Music Spotlight LIVE featuring The Summit FM with Marc Lee Shannon, Benny Lava & The Guavas, and Anya Van Rose performing
• Friday, July 12 (Folds of Honor Friday Military Appreciation Concert) – Kameron Marlowe (with openers Tim Dugger & Jocko Deal)
• Saturday, July 13 – Rockin’ on the Green: The Vindys (with openers The Commonheart & The Pallay Boys)

The Monster Deck presented by Westfield, located at Firestone’s signature 16th hole, will feature half price beer any time a birdie is made on the 667-yard par 5. The 16^th hole will also be the focal point for Birdies Fore Trees. For every birdie made by a PGA TOUR Champions professional on the signature hole during the four competitive rounds, Davey Tree will plant a tree in Northeast Ohio.

Other notable spots to catch the golf action include: betPARX Place (near the 13th green and 18th tee), Legends Pavilion (near 9th green and 10th tee) and 7/12 Grille (near the 7th and 12th holes).

Lastly, Folds of Honor Friday promises to be a great day. A military ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m. on the first tee of the South Course prior to competition starting. The ceremony will include a playing of the National Anthem presented by Marc’s and a military member hitting a ceremonial tee shot presented by Induction Tooling. Fans are also encouraged to wear patriotic colors as part of a Red, White, & Blue Out presented by AT&F. Cap the day off with a Military Appreciation Concert featuring Kameron Marlowe in the Kaulig Infinity Zone.

To learn more about these and other fantastic offerings at this year’s Kaulig Companies Championship, visit the tournament’s fan guide.

COURTESY PGA TOUR COMMUNICATIONS