Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez Among Latest Cologuard Classic Commitments
Tucson, Ariz. (February 9, 2021) – With the Cologuard Classic PGA TOUR Champions tournament just two weeks away, the field continues to take shape as former University of Arizona star Jim Furyk, 2018 Cologuard Classic Champion Steve Stricker, Ernie Els, and Miguel Angel Jiménez are among the latest commitments. And, with golfers such as Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson still yet to commit, the field is expected to improve prior to the Friday, February 19 commitment deadline. The 2021 Cologuard Classic will be played February 22 – February 28 at Omni Tucson National’s Catalina Course. A field of 81 players will vie for the $1.7 million purse with a first-place prize of $255,000.
Furyk makes his Cologuard Classic debut after turning 50 in May of 2020. In his rookie season on the PGA TOUR Champions in 2020, Furyk had two victories, including the PURE Insurance Championship in Monterey, Calif. and The Ally Challenge in Michigan. A two-time All-American while at the U of A, Furyk led the Wildcats to their first NCAA title in 1992. That same year, Furyk turned professional and joined the PGA TOUR in 1994. While on the PGA TOUR, Furyk had 17 victories, including the 2003 U.S. Open.
Fresh off his fourth-place finish at last week’s WM Phoenix Open, 2018 Cologuard Classic Champion Steve Stricker recently committed. A five-time winner on the PGA TOUR Champions, Stricker will lead the U.S. Ryder Cup team in September at Whistling Straits in his home state of Wisconsin. In his four previous appearances at the Cologuard Classic, Stricker has tied for fifth place in 2020, tied for sixth in 2019, won in 2018 and placed second in 2017.
Els returns to Tucson after tying for 34th at the 2020 Cologuard Classic, his rookie year on the PGA TOUR Champions. Els claimed two victories in 2020, including the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, Calif. and the SAS Championship in Cary, North Carolina, and had 10 Top 10 finishes. A 2011 inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Els has four major championships, including the U.S. Open (1994 and 1997) and the Open Championship (2002 and 2012).
Angel Jiménez will be making his third appearance at the Cologuard Classic after finishing T5 in 2020 and T20 in 2019. He has 10 PGA TOUR Champions victories, including two in 2020 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on Hawaii in January, and the Sanford International in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in September.
The 2021 Cologuard Classic field currently includes five former tournament champions including defending champion Bernhard Langer (2020), Mark O’Meara (2019), Steve Stricker (2018), Woody Austin (2016) and Marco Dawson (2015).
Alpha Field List
2021 Cologuard Classic
As of 2/9/2021
Allen, Michael
Ames, Stephen
Armour III, Tommy
Austin, Woody
Barron, Doug
Bertsch, Shane
Broadhurst, Paul
Brooks, Mark
Browne, Olin
Byrd, Robin
Byrum, Tom
Clarke, Darren
Cochran, Russ
Daly, John
Dawson, Marco
Day, Glen
DiMarco, Chris
Duke, Ken
Durant, Joe
Els, Ernie
Estes, Bob
Flesch, Steve
Funk, Fred
Furyk, Jim
Garwood, Doug
Gillis, Tom
Goosen, Retief
Goydos, Paul
Hart, Dudley
Herron, Tim
Hoch, Scott
Huston, John
Janzen, Lee
Jiménez, Miguel Angel
Jobe, Brandt
Jones, Kent
Jones, Steve
Karlsson, Robert
Kelly, Jerry
Langer, Bernhard
Lyle, Sandy
Maggert, Jeff
Mayfair, Billy
McCallister, Blaine
McCarron, Scott
Mediate, Rocco
Mize, Larry
Montgomerie, Colin
O'Meara, Mark
Pampling, Rod
Parel, Scott
Parnevik, Jesper
Pate, Steve
Pavin, Corey
Pernice Jr., Tom
Perry, Kenny
Petrovic, Tim
Quigley, Brett
Roberts, Loren
Sauers, Gene
Short, Jr., Wes
Singh, Vijay
Sluman, Jeff
Stricker, Steve
Sutherland, Kevin
Tanigawa, Ken
Tolles, Tommy
Toms, David
Triplett, Kirk
Verplank, Scott
Waldorf, Duffy
Weir, Mike
The Cologuard Classic, named after Wisconsin-based Exact Sciences’ noninvasive at-home colon cancer screening test for average-risk individuals 45 years or older, is now in its fourth year and 2021 marks the seventh year the Conquistadores have partnered with the PGA TOUR Champions. Bernhard Langer is the tournament’s defending champion. The 2021 tournament activities are scheduled to take place February 21-28 at Omni Tucson National Resort and will feature an 81-player field competing for a $1.7 million purse with $255,000 and 255 Charles Schwab Cup points for the winner. The no-cut format includes three days of competition (Friday-Sunday) with players participating in pro-am events on Wednesday and Thursday. Tournament proceeds benefit youth athletic programs in Southern Arizona and colorectal cancer research and advocacy. For information on the Cologuard Classic, please visit CologuardClassic.com.
ABOUT COLOGUARD
Cologuard was approved by the FDA in August 2014, and results from Exact Sciences' prospective 90-site, point-in-time, 10,000-patient pivotal trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2014. Cologuard is included in the American Cancer Society's (2018) colorectal cancer screening guidelines and the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2016) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2016). Cologuard is indicated to screen adults 45 years of age and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer by detecting certain DNA markers and blood in the stool. Do not use Cologuard if you have had precancer, have inflammatory bowel disease and certain hereditary syndromes, or have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer. Cologuard is not a replacement for colonoscopy in high risk patients. Cologuard performance in adults ages 45-49 is estimated based on a large clinical study of patients 50 and older. Cologuard performance in repeat testing has not been evaluated.
The Cologuard test result should be interpreted with caution. A positive test result does not confirm the presence of cancer. Patients with a positive test result should be referred for diagnostic colonoscopy. A negative test result does not confirm the absence of cancer. Patients with a negative test result should discuss with their doctor when they need to be tested again.
Medicare and most major insurers cover Cologuard. For more information about Cologuard, visit www.cologuardtest.com. Rx Only.
ABOUT PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS PGA TOUR
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, telecasts air in excess of 170 countries and territories, reaching more than 340 million potential households, and distributed in 15+ markets via GOLFTV. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions.
ABOUT THE TUCSON CONQUISTADORES
The Tucson Conquistadores are the tournament management team that oversees the operations and the sales arm of the PGA TOUR Champions’ Cologuard Classic. Since their inception in 1962, the Conquistadores have contributed more than $36 million to local and national charities. The Conquistadores comprise of up to 60 active business and professional members, and a total membership of 220 who represent a cross-section of the Tucson community. In addition to their involvement with professional golf, the group has established the Tucson Conquistadores Foundation. Key beneficiaries of the Conquistadores' fundraising efforts include southern Arizona youth athletic programs, The First Tee Tucson and colon cancer advocacy organizations. Follow the Tucson Conquistadores online at www.tucsonconquistadores.com and www.Facebook.com/TucsonConquistadores.
Tournament Media Contact: Rob Myers, rob@rmprgroup.com, 602-317-6131
