By Don Donohue
Kaulig Companies Championship
June 17-22, 2025 | Firestone Country Club | Akron, Ohio
Advance Week Storylines
Els returns as defending champion
World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els returns to Firestone Country Club after capturing his first major title on PGA TOUR Champions at last year’s Kaulig Companies Championship. The 55-year-old edged Y.E. Yang along with two-time Kaulig Companies Championship winners Jerry Kelly (2020, 2022) and Steve Stricker (2021, 2023) in the 2024 event. Els, a seven-time winner on PGA TOUR Champions, opened the 2025 campaign with a victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (January 16-18) and currently sits No. 4 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
Cabrera goes for history
55-year-old Ángel Cabrera enters the week looking to become the first player in PGA TOUR Champions history to win three consecutive majors contested. Cabrera captured the Regions Tradition (May 15-18) and Senior PGA Championship (May 22-25) earlier this season. He will be the ninth player (11th time) to attempt to win three consecutive majors contested. Gary Player (1987-88) and Kenny Perry (2013-14) are the only two players in Champions Tour history to win three consecutive major starts, though each of them missed a major during their streaks.
Jiménez setting the tone in the Charles Schwab Cup race
Miguel Angel Jiménez sits atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings after winning three of his first 12 starts in 2025. The 61-year-old Spaniard found the winner’s circle at the Trophy Hassan II (February 6-8), Hoag Classic (March 21-23) and Principal Charity Classic (May 30-June 1). He leads fellow three-time winner in 2025 Cabrera (No. 2), two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner Steven Alker (No. 3) Els (No. 4) and 2004 WGC-NEC Invitational champion Stewart Cink (No. 5).
Harrington to make tournament debut
World Golf Hall of Fame member Padraig Harrington is set to make his first appearance at the Kaulig Companies Championship in 2025. The nine-time PGA TOUR Champions winner owns one major title on the over-50 circuit, capturing the 2022 U.S. Senior Open. Harrington made 14 appearances at Firestone Country Club from 1999 to 2015, with his best finish a co-runner-up in 2009.
PGA TOUR Champions’ major season hits halfway point
The Kaulig Companies Championship will be the third of five majors for the 2025 season on PGA TOUR Champions. Cabrera captured the first two majors at the Regions Tradition (May 15-18) and Senior PGA Championship (May 22-25), which was contested at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. The week after the Champions Tour’s visit to Akron, Ohio, the 45th U.S. Senior Open will be staged at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The final major of the 2025 season is the ISPS HANDA Senior Open (July 24-27) at Sunningdale Golf Club’s Old Course.
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