The Simmons Bank Championship, the second of three Charles Schwab Cup tournaments, concluded last month and crowned a winner in Little Rock. The tournament had several legends from the Professional Golfers Association in attendance. There were 54 golfers in total competing, including World of Golf Hall of Famers Ernie Els and Padraig “Paddy” Harrington.
Their long drives, straight chips, and calculated putts reflected their dedication to the game. Tracy West, Pro Links Sports’ executive vice president of PGA Tour tournaments, spoke on the impact of these golfing pros at a press conference last September.
“The beautiful thing about the PGA Champions Tour is these guys have made their mark. They’re legends of the game,” she said. “When you literally go, and see them drive off the first tee, and see what they can do, it’s gonna thrill you, excite you, and make you feel incredibly inadequate in your golf game all at the same time.”
Ken Duke was one of the golfers competing in the Simmons Bank Championship. Duke was born in Hope, Ark., but grew up in Arkadelphia. He’s also no stranger to the Pleasant Valley Country Club; Duke won a high school tournament at PVCC in 1987.
“Got a lot of good memories of this place.” Duke said.
According to Duke, what separates the Champions Tour from the regular PGA tour is the amount of fun the champions have on the course.
“It’s a little more laid back than the PGA tour, it’s more of a job out there.” He added, “It’s a little more laid back out here. We ride carts sometimes and try to have as much fun as possible.”
The American Professional Golfer’s Association was started in 1916 for golfers of all ages. While other major sports like basketball and football see players retiring in their early to mid-30s, golf is quite the opposite.
After the successful 1978 Legends of Golf tournament in Austin, Texas, a senior branch of the PGA tour was officially announced in 1980. Originally named the Senior PGA Tour, the championship was designed for senior golfers over the age of 50 to compete in various tournaments. The PGA Champions tour is broken down into 26 events year-round, ending with the Charles Schwab Cup. Little Rock hosted the second of three Charles Schwab Cup events, titled the Simmons Bank Championship, with the final event of the season taking place in Phoenix.
Unofficial talks for a Little Rock golf tournament began in Summer 2021. After officially announcing the Simmons Bank Championship in August 2023, preparations for the event hit the ground running. Staff members from Pro Link Sports, Simmons Bank, PGA, Pleasant Valley, and a number of volunteers all came together to make sure the event was a success. According to an official press release from Simmons Bank, so many people signed up to volunteer that a wait list had to be created.
Ernest Ford, a Maumelle resident, was one of the volunteers working the tournament. His job was to be a marshal, which meant he had to keep the crowds under control. He faced away from the golfers and made sure any observers were courteous and quiet, but his excitement was palpable. When asked which golfer he was most excited to see, Ford quickly answered.
“Ernie Els for sure. O’Neil, who won last weekend, was the first minority golfer to win in a very long time… So, I’m just enjoying being here and seeing the golfers,” Ford stated.
The Simmons Bank Championship was broadcast on the Golf Channel, which reaches almost 500 million viewers in over 70 countries.
“It's been way too long since Little Rock was in the spotlight,” Freddie Black, Tournament chairman for the Simmons Bank Championship, said in a press conference in September. “This gives us an opportunity to put Central Arkansas back on the map.”
The tournament is owned by a newly formed 501(c)(3) called Arkansas Champions Trust. The Arkansas Champions Trust is a non profit organization that will not only distribute money to various charities, but also promote the charities as well.
“The real purpose of this event is to support local charities,” Simmons Bank CEO George Makris Jr. told the press.
Makris added one of the tournament’s charities for the event is First Tee of Central Arkansas. According to their website, First Tee is a children’s charity that integrates life skills into the game of golf.
Golfer Ken Duke has a charity of his own he is playing for. His charity, Ken Duke and Friends, was started about 8 years ago to help various charities in need. According to Duke, the charity raises around $50,000 every year which is divided among four charities. Previously, the foundation has partnered with organizations such as Place of Hope and Folds of Honor. His next charitable endeavor will involve the Spine Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
When everything was said and done at the Simmons Bank Championship, Paddy Harrington was crowned the tournament’s winner. He shot 17 under par, earning himself $365,000 and 730,000 points. The points earned at the Simmons Bank Championship are important for the final leg of the Charles Schwab Cup in Phoenix. In an official press conference following his win, Harrington spoke on his experience coming to Little Rock for the first time.
“It's been great here in Arkansas. My first time here in Little Rock. Didn't know what to expect, but it's been a fabulous week,” he said. “Pleasant Valley has been in great condition, a really exciting course. I don’t think I could ask for anything more, to be honest.”
In an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Freddie Black stated that the inaugural PGA event was a success. Black, along with Pleasant Valley Country Club Director of Golf Chris Mayes, added that preparations for next year’s event began this past Monday. Simmons Bank signed a five-year contract with Pleasant Valley and the PGA.
So, if you were unable to attend this year’s tournament, there’s still four more years of the PGA coming to Little Rock.
