The PGA Tour Champions' Senior Players Championship is moving from Ohio to California, starting in 2027.
The 50-plus tour has announced the tournament, one of five recognized majors on the senior schedule, is moving from Firestone Country Club to Newport Beach Country Club as Hoag takes over the title sponsorship of the event. For the last four years, Kaulig Companies has been the title sponsor, changing the event to the Kaulig Companies Championship. Moving forward, the Hoag Seniors Players Championship will reclaim its name.
Newport Beach Country Club has been host to the Hoag Classic on the PGA Tour Champions schedule since 1996. A five-year agreement effectively converts the Hoag Classic into a major championship, making it the first major championship in golf in 2027, played March 25-28.
The Senior Players Championship, which debuted in 1983, has been played at a variety of venues, including Canterbury Golf Club (Cleveland); Westchester Country Club (N.Y.); Baltimore Country Club; Fox Chapel Golf Club (Pittsburgh); The Philadelphia Cricket Club; Caves Valley Golf Club (Baltimore). Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, has been the host since 2019. The 2026 tournament, will be held July 9-12 and for the final time at Firestone.
“We are thrilled to usher in this new era of the Senior Players Championship with our longtime partners Hoag and Newport Beach Country Club,” said PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady. “The Hoag Classic has long been a best-in-class event on the Champions Tour, and it’s great to know we will be adding to that legacy with a senior major championship starting in 2027.”
Hoag, a California health-care company, became the title sponsor for the PGA Tour Champions’s longtime Newport Beach tournament in 2018. Now, they've upgraded the tournament, won this year by Stewart Cink, to another level.
“Hoag is proud to welcome the Senior Players Championship to Orange County through our longstanding partnership with PGA Tour Champions and Newport Beach Country Club,” said Andrew Guarni, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Hoag.
“As title sponsor, Hoag is honored to help elevate one of golf’s most prestigious championships while showcasing Orange County on a global stage. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to excellence, community and creating meaningful experiences that bring people together both on and off the course.
