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Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Steve Allan posts wire-to-wire win at Dick's Open
Steve Allan's second victory of the Champions season was of the wire-to-wire fashion. Allan shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to finish in style as he recorded a four-stroke victory over Jason Caron in the Dick's Open at Endicott, N.Y. Allan, 51, shot 18-under 198 in his three trips around En-Joie Golf Club. He opened with a scorching 63 on Friday and followed with a 69 before protecting his lead on Sunday. 'It's weird, not one of those things I ever thought that I would do,' Allan said of leading after each round. 'Over the years I would get ahead of myself but I guess I'm improving at it. It was tough, it was tough even (Saturday) hanging in there.' Allan's first career Champions title was in March at the Galleri Classic by one shot over Tag Ridings. This time, Allan won comfortably over Caron (68 on Sunday). Notah Begay III (67) and Boo Weekley (70) tied for third place, finishing five shots back at 13 under. Allan recorded seven birdies, including a stretch of five in six holes between Nos. 8-13. His lone bogey came on No. 6. 'I think my putting really was great today,' Allan said. 'That was the real difference maker because I hit the ball OK but the putts I holed are good solid putts on 11, 12 and 13. I mean, you could have easily missed all of those and you're three shots worse and I'm tied for the lead and it's a real battle, so that was huge.' Caron had five birdies but his lone bogey of the round was costly. It came on the par-3, 17th and ended any chance of being the benefactor if Allan had stumbled late. But Caron was pleased with a tourney in which he shot 68 or lower in each round. 'I played really solid today,' Caron said. 'I putted the ball awesome all week, speed was like very, very good, and made some good putts. I didn't drive it exceptionally well but my irons were pretty decent, too, so I can't complain there. I think mentally I played solid all week.' Begay made five birdies on the front nine. But he was unable to make a move on the back side as he posted nine straight pars. Weekley was one shot back entering the day and birdied two of the first three holes. He bogeyed No. 7, but recovered by recording birdies on each of the next two holes. But after a birdie on No. 12, he bogeyed 13 and 15 to fall out of contention. Jeff Sluman (68), Australia's Michael Wright (67) and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (64) tied for fifth at 12-under. Three-time defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland wasn't on the grounds this week. He instead played at the Scottish Open. Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Allan goes wire-to-wire for second Champions Tour win
Australia's Steve Allan has claimed his second PGA Tour Champions title as he became the first wire-to-wire winner of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. The 51-year-old Victorian closed with a six-under 66 for a four-stroke victory. Allan finished at 18-under 198 at En-Joie Golf Course at Enditcott, New York for his second win on the 50-and-over tour this season following his breakthrough at the Galleri Classic in California in March. He opened the tournament with a blistering 63 on Friday for a two-shot edge and had a 69 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Boo Weekley into the final round. After playing the first seven holes Sunday in one under with two birdies and a bogey, Allan birdied five of the next six and parred the last five. "It was tough. It was tough, even yesterday, hanging in there, and today early on it was a bit rough with the driver," Allan said. "In the rough a lot and just managed to hang in there. Then on the back nine, made a few putts." Jason Caron was second after a 68. Weekley (70) and Notah Begay III (67) tied for third at 13 under. Australia's Michael Wright shot a closing 67 to tie for fifth with Soren Kjeldsen (64) and Jeff Sluman (68). Padraig Harrington wasn't back to try to win for a fourth straight time, skipping the event to play in the Scottish Open. He also has the British Open at Royal Portrush and the Senior British Open at Royal Porthcawl. Ernie Els, in the British Open field, shot 69 to tie for 16th at 8 under.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Aussie Allan makes white-hot start in Champs Tour event
Steve Allan rode a red-hot start to fire a nine-under-par 63 to set the early pace at the PGA Tour Champions event in Endicott. The Australian was seven under through seven holes at En-Joie Golf Club on Friday. He holed five birdies along with an eagle from a bunker at the par-5 third on his way to a seven-under 30 on the front nine. Allan added birdies at Nos.12 and 18 to finish strong. "On the third I hit it in the front bunker and the bunker shot went in," Allan said. "Then I sort of kept hitting it close for a few holes. Then after that it was just hanging in there. Had a few rough holes but managed to escape and get out of trouble." Allan will take a two-shot advantage over Doug Barron into the weekend as he seeks his second win of the season, following the Galleri Classic in March. The Melburnian said having a win under his belt freed him up, "but it brings its own set of challenges" as well. "You're sort of looking to get up there again and get into contention instead of just playing," Allan said. "You've got to try and temper your expectations and just try to play. The old cliche of one shot at a time, one hole at a time kind of thing." Compatriots Michael Wright and David Bransdon both made four-under 68 to sit tied 10th, while Greg Chalmers is a further shot behind. Gordon Burns, meanwhile, had to engage his wife to caddie after a freak accident and she helped him to a tie for 10th with a four-under 68. Barron opened his tournament with a hole-out for eagle at the par-4 first, and he was three under through two. Four birdies on his back nine helped him continue his climb up the leaderboard. "The course was a little softer than I'm used to seeing," said Barron, who won the tournament in 2019 and also played the course in the PGA Tour's now- defunct B.C. Open. "I never looked at the scoreboard really, but I know if I shoot 6, 7 every day, it's tough to beat you out there." Tied for third at six-under 66 are Jerry Kelly, Jason Caron, Tim O'Neal, Shane Bertsch and Germany's Alex Cejka. Irishman Padraig Harrington, who won each of the past three editions of this event, is not competing two weeks after he claimed the US Senior Open. Instead, he is playing the Scottish Open and next week's Open Championship. Steve Allan rode a red-hot start to fire a nine-under-par 63 to set the early pace at the PGA Tour Champions event in Endicott. The Australian was seven under through seven holes at En-Joie Golf Club on Friday. He holed five birdies along with an eagle from a bunker at the par-5 third on his way to a seven-under 30 on the front nine. Allan added birdies at Nos.12 and 18 to finish strong. "On the third I hit it in the front bunker and the bunker shot went in," Allan said. "Then I sort of kept hitting it close for a few holes. Then after that it was just hanging in there. Had a few rough holes but managed to escape and get out of trouble." Allan will take a two-shot advantage over Doug Barron into the weekend as he seeks his second win of the season, following the Galleri Classic in March. The Melburnian said having a win under his belt freed him up, "but it brings its own set of challenges" as well. "You're sort of looking to get up there again and get into contention instead of just playing," Allan said. "You've got to try and temper your expectations and just try to play. The old cliche of one shot at a time, one hole at a time kind of thing." Compatriots Michael Wright and David Bransdon both made four-under 68 to sit tied 10th, while Greg Chalmers is a further shot behind. Gordon Burns, meanwhile, had to engage his wife to caddie after a freak accident and she helped him to a tie for 10th with a four-under 68. Barron opened his tournament with a hole-out for eagle at the par-4 first, and he was three under through two. Four birdies on his back nine helped him continue his climb up the leaderboard. "The course was a little softer than I'm used to seeing," said Barron, who won the tournament in 2019 and also played the course in the PGA Tour's now- defunct B.C. Open. "I never looked at the scoreboard really, but I know if I shoot 6, 7 every day, it's tough to beat you out there." Tied for third at six-under 66 are Jerry Kelly, Jason Caron, Tim O'Neal, Shane Bertsch and Germany's Alex Cejka. Irishman Padraig Harrington, who won each of the past three editions of this event, is not competing two weeks after he claimed the US Senior Open. Instead, he is playing the Scottish Open and next week's Open Championship. Steve Allan rode a red-hot start to fire a nine-under-par 63 to set the early pace at the PGA Tour Champions event in Endicott. The Australian was seven under through seven holes at En-Joie Golf Club on Friday. He holed five birdies along with an eagle from a bunker at the par-5 third on his way to a seven-under 30 on the front nine. Allan added birdies at Nos.12 and 18 to finish strong. "On the third I hit it in the front bunker and the bunker shot went in," Allan said. "Then I sort of kept hitting it close for a few holes. Then after that it was just hanging in there. Had a few rough holes but managed to escape and get out of trouble." Allan will take a two-shot advantage over Doug Barron into the weekend as he seeks his second win of the season, following the Galleri Classic in March. The Melburnian said having a win under his belt freed him up, "but it brings its own set of challenges" as well. "You're sort of looking to get up there again and get into contention instead of just playing," Allan said. "You've got to try and temper your expectations and just try to play. The old cliche of one shot at a time, one hole at a time kind of thing." Compatriots Michael Wright and David Bransdon both made four-under 68 to sit tied 10th, while Greg Chalmers is a further shot behind. Gordon Burns, meanwhile, had to engage his wife to caddie after a freak accident and she helped him to a tie for 10th with a four-under 68. Barron opened his tournament with a hole-out for eagle at the par-4 first, and he was three under through two. Four birdies on his back nine helped him continue his climb up the leaderboard. "The course was a little softer than I'm used to seeing," said Barron, who won the tournament in 2019 and also played the course in the PGA Tour's now- defunct B.C. Open. "I never looked at the scoreboard really, but I know if I shoot 6, 7 every day, it's tough to beat you out there." Tied for third at six-under 66 are Jerry Kelly, Jason Caron, Tim O'Neal, Shane Bertsch and Germany's Alex Cejka. Irishman Padraig Harrington, who won each of the past three editions of this event, is not competing two weeks after he claimed the US Senior Open. Instead, he is playing the Scottish Open and next week's Open Championship. Steve Allan rode a red-hot start to fire a nine-under-par 63 to set the early pace at the PGA Tour Champions event in Endicott. The Australian was seven under through seven holes at En-Joie Golf Club on Friday. He holed five birdies along with an eagle from a bunker at the par-5 third on his way to a seven-under 30 on the front nine. Allan added birdies at Nos.12 and 18 to finish strong. "On the third I hit it in the front bunker and the bunker shot went in," Allan said. "Then I sort of kept hitting it close for a few holes. Then after that it was just hanging in there. Had a few rough holes but managed to escape and get out of trouble." Allan will take a two-shot advantage over Doug Barron into the weekend as he seeks his second win of the season, following the Galleri Classic in March. The Melburnian said having a win under his belt freed him up, "but it brings its own set of challenges" as well. "You're sort of looking to get up there again and get into contention instead of just playing," Allan said. "You've got to try and temper your expectations and just try to play. The old cliche of one shot at a time, one hole at a time kind of thing." Compatriots Michael Wright and David Bransdon both made four-under 68 to sit tied 10th, while Greg Chalmers is a further shot behind. Gordon Burns, meanwhile, had to engage his wife to caddie after a freak accident and she helped him to a tie for 10th with a four-under 68. Barron opened his tournament with a hole-out for eagle at the par-4 first, and he was three under through two. Four birdies on his back nine helped him continue his climb up the leaderboard. "The course was a little softer than I'm used to seeing," said Barron, who won the tournament in 2019 and also played the course in the PGA Tour's now- defunct B.C. Open. "I never looked at the scoreboard really, but I know if I shoot 6, 7 every day, it's tough to beat you out there." Tied for third at six-under 66 are Jerry Kelly, Jason Caron, Tim O'Neal, Shane Bertsch and Germany's Alex Cejka. Irishman Padraig Harrington, who won each of the past three editions of this event, is not competing two weeks after he claimed the US Senior Open. Instead, he is playing the Scottish Open and next week's Open Championship.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Aussie Allan makes white-hot start in Champs Tour event
Steve Allan rode a red-hot start to fire a nine-under-par 63 to set the early pace at the PGA Tour Champions event in Endicott. The Australian was seven under through seven holes at En-Joie Golf Club on Friday. He holed five birdies along with an eagle from a bunker at the par-5 third on his way to a seven-under 30 on the front nine. Allan added birdies at Nos.12 and 18 to finish strong. "On the third I hit it in the front bunker and the bunker shot went in," Allan said. "Then I sort of kept hitting it close for a few holes. Then after that it was just hanging in there. Had a few rough holes but managed to escape and get out of trouble." Allan will take a two-shot advantage over Doug Barron into the weekend as he seeks his second win of the season, following the Galleri Classic in March. The Melburnian said having a win under his belt freed him up, "but it brings its own set of challenges" as well. "You're sort of looking to get up there again and get into contention instead of just playing," Allan said. "You've got to try and temper your expectations and just try to play. The old cliche of one shot at a time, one hole at a time kind of thing." Compatriots Michael Wright and David Bransdon both made four-under 68 to sit tied 10th, while Greg Chalmers is a further shot behind. Gordon Burns, meanwhile, had to engage his wife to caddie after a freak accident and she helped him to a tie for 10th with a four-under 68. Barron opened his tournament with a hole-out for eagle at the par-4 first, and he was three under through two. Four birdies on his back nine helped him continue his climb up the leaderboard. "The course was a little softer than I'm used to seeing," said Barron, who won the tournament in 2019 and also played the course in the PGA Tour's now- defunct B.C. Open. "I never looked at the scoreboard really, but I know if I shoot 6, 7 every day, it's tough to beat you out there." Tied for third at six-under 66 are Jerry Kelly, Jason Caron, Tim O'Neal, Shane Bertsch and Germany's Alex Cejka. Irishman Padraig Harrington, who won each of the past three editions of this event, is not competing two weeks after he claimed the US Senior Open. Instead, he is playing the Scottish Open and next week's Open Championship.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Behind the scenes of the sponsorship of a PGA Tour Champions event
Behind the scenes of the sponsorship of a PGA Tour Champions event Show Caption Hide Caption Strong winds hit the first day of the Galleri Classic golf tournament Strong winds hit Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage on the first day of the Galleri Classic golf tournament The Galleri Classic PGA Tour Champions event in Rancho Mirage has lost its title sponsor, Grail. Tournament organizers are seeking a new multi-million dollar sponsor, highlighting the importance of corporate funding for golf tournaments. Potential sponsors are looking for advertising and marketing opportunities, often aligning with local charities and high-profile events. The ideal sponsor would utilize the tournament for corporate events and entertainment, similar to past sponsors like Nabisco. Way back in the 1960s, a powerful California politician named Jess Unruh uttered a phrase that has echoed through time: Money is the mother's milk of politics. With one slight alteration, the phrase could just as easily apply to the Coachella Valley today: Money is the mother's milk of golf tournaments. The recent news that Grail was leaving as title sponsor of the PGA Tour Champions' Galleri Classic in Rancho Mirage couldn't be that surprising to anyone paying close attention. Grail has been the title sponsor for all three years of the senior tour event, and its message about its Galleri blood test for multiple kinds of cancer detection certainly rang true with many senior players and the older demographic of fans. But as the company went public last summer and as other changes within the company took place, Grail holding on to the Galleri Classic seemed less and less likely. And so the PGA Tour Champions and tournament organizers find themselves in a position that many tournaments face. How do you replace a big corporation with another big corporation to keep a golf tournament alive? The Coachella Valley seems like a natural fit for any golf sponsor, but history has shown us that isn't always true. Ask Humana, CareerBuilder, ANA and Chevron. More: Desert's PGA Tour Champions event seeks new sponsor as Grail opts out of Galleri Classic What kind of money are we talking about? Make no mistake, title sponsorships run into the millions of dollars, no matter what the tournament. Each event is different, with different purse demands, production demands and infrastructure demands, but it's millions of dollars whether it's the PGA Tour, the LPGA, PGA Tour Champions or DP World Tour. That might seem like a lot of money to spend on golf, but it isn't as much money as you think when you chalk the dollars up to advertising and marketing. Looked at that way, the money starts to make more sense. Consider that American Express, the title sponsor of the PGA Tour event in La Quinta each January, reported a net income for fiscal year 2024 of $10.1 billion, or $14.01 per share of stock. The money American Express spends on The American Express golf tournament begins to look more and more like pocket change. But American Express wants more than just the television exposure for its money. It wants to connect with local charities, and it wants its brand to be associated with top-level events, like the PGA Tour and concerts that week. The sponsorship of a golf tournament can provide a company with many opportunities, and what a title sponsor wants drives the decision to spend the money. One goal of golf sponsorship is brand recognition. All-Nippon Airways, or ANA, had almost no presence in the United States before it took over as sponsor of the LPGA tournament in Rancho Mirage, renamed the ANA Inspiration. Before that, if you typed ANA into a search engine, you would get the American Nurses Association. Now, ANA has signage on the outfield walls of Dodger Stadium. If you've been in the desert long enough, you might remember the amazing amount of money RJR Nabisco spent on the LPGA event, known then as the Nabisco Dinah Shore. The company would fly in top sales people, top customers and its corporate executives for a week of sunshine, pro-am play, a celebrity tennis tournament and party after party, including an entertainment show featuring Shore herself. The money spent that week went a long way to making customers, vendors and employees happy. In some ways the LPGA tournament that started Thursday was secondary to the corporate focus. There is also the sponsor who is part of the community. Think about FedEx, which sponsors the tournament in Memphis, where its corporate headquarters are. The desert's LPGA event is now the Chevron Championship and moved to Houston, close to Chevron's oil business. The Royal Bank of Canada, or RBC, sponsors the PGA Tour's Canadian Open. What kind of sponsor would be best for the desert's PGA Tour Champions event? The tournament and the tour are looking for a five-year commitment from a company that perhaps will use the two one-day pro-ams in the event much as Nabisco did with the LPGA event in the 1980s and 1990s. Certainly not to the same extent that Nabisco did, but it would be nice to have a company that could utilize the week for some recreation and entertainment for the company as well as perhaps some business being conducted. Sponsorship of the desert's PGA Tour Champions event will cost far less than sponsorship of a PGA Tour event. But the money is only part of the issue as the event seeks the right sponsor. It's a lot like a jigsaw puzzle, finding the right pieces – money, sponsorship needs, golf course, calendar dates and television times – to fit together for the perfect picture. Desert golf fans can hope the pieces fall together in the coming weeks. At this point, any sponsor is better than no sponsor at all. Larry Bohannan is the golf writer for The Desert Sun. You can contact him at (760) 778-4633 or at Follow him on Facebook or on X at @larry_bohannan.
