American Family Insurance Championship

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courtesy American Family Insurance Championship

Thongchai Jaidee with the trophy as the 2022 winner of the American Family Insurance Championship winner.

Thongchai Jaidee was the 2022 winner of the American Family Insurance Championship.

A summer highlight for golf fans lands this weekend when the PGA TOUR Champions (professional golfers 50 and older) makes its annual stop in Madison for the American Family Insurance Championship. The current defending champion is Steve Stricker — also the tournament host — and the field also includes two-time winner Jerry Kelly, Vijay Singh, and many others. Opening night also includes a concert by Train and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (6 p.m., June 7, Breese Stevens Field). It’s all a fundraiser for American Family Children’s Hospital and other nonprofits. Find details and tickets at amfamchampionship.com.

media release: Tournament host and defending champion Steve Stricker, and two-time defending champion Jerry Kelly, as well as a star-studded field of other U.S. and international golf legends, highlight the 78-player field for next week’s 2024 American Family Insurance Championship. The tournament field was announced today, subject to a final player to be determined following this weekend’s Principal Charity Classic and any player withdrawals prior to official play.  

The annual PGA TOUR Champions stop at University Ridge golf course begins with first-round play next Friday, June 7. The second 18-hole round will be played on Saturday, with the final round on Sunday. Tickets are available at www.amfamchampionship.com. Including Stricker and Kelly, this year’s tournament will see returning players such as David Duval, John Daly, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Steven Alker, Stephen Ames, Colin Montgomerie and Vijay Singh. 

“We continue to have one of the most impressive fields for any PGA TOUR Champions event,” said Nate Pokrass, tournament director. “From hometown favorites to international stars, fans who attend the AmFam Champ have the opportunity to get up close and see many legendary players compete at a high level on the challenging and picturesque University Ridge course.”

Who’s playing in the 2024 American Family Insurance Championship

Five of six past winners of the AmFam Champ are back: 2023 defending champion Steve Stricker, Thonghai Jaidee (2022), two-time winner Kelly (2021, 2019), Scott McCarron (2018) and Kirk Triplett, the inaugural champion (2016). 

Other noteworthy players in the field:  

Nine of the top 10 players on the current Charles Schwab Cup money list: Steven Alker (1), Stephen Ames (2), Paul Broadhurst (3), Joe Durant (4), Richard Green (5), Steve Stricker (6), Doug Barron (7), Ricardo Gonzalez (8), Jerry Kelly (10).  

Four players with multiple PGA TOUR Champions wins in 2023 and 2024: Stephen Ames (6), Steve Stricker (6), Steven Alker (3), David Toms (2). 

Miguel Angel Jimenez, with 13 PGA TOUR Champions titles and 58 top five finishes since joining the tour 10 years ago; Justin Leonard, former major winner (The Open Championship in 1997 and PLAYERS champion in 1998); Corey Pavin (15 PGA Tour wins); David Duval (13 PGA Tour wins).  

Four members of the World Golf Hall of Fame: Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh.  

Three former No.1 players in the world: David Duval, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh.

Eleven winners of the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship or PGA Championship: Angel Cabrera, Darren Clarke, John Daly, David Duval, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Lee Janzen, Justin Leonard, Shaun Micheel, Vijay Singh, Jeff Sluman.  

Four winners of the former Greater Milwaukee Open/U.S. Bank Championship: Jay Haas, Billy Mayfair, Corey Pavin, Jeff Sluman.  

First-time players at the 2024 AmFam Champ: Steve Allan, Thomas Bjorn, David Bransdon, Angel Cabrera, Chad Campbell, Greg Chalmers, Michael Crowley, Robert Damron, Ricardo Gonzalez, Richard Green, Cameron Percy, Heath Slocum, Boo Weekley, Michael Wright.  

Three Wisconsin natives among those receiving invitational sponsor’s exemptions: Skip Kendall, Mario Tiziani and Michael Crowley. Matt Gogel and University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small will also play under a sponsor’s exemption. (The University of Illinois men’s golf team was the No. 1 seed at NCAA Championships after stroke play this week, eventually losing in match play.)

Six recipients of the Payne Stewart Award, an honor presented annually by the PGA TOUR to a player who best exemplifies Stewart's steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship: Billy Andrade (2022), Jim Furyk (2016), Ernie Els (2015), Steve Stricker (2012), David Toms (2011), Jay Haas (2004).

The entire player field is listed below and posted on the American Family Insurance Championship website: amfamchampionship.com.

Phelps and Ryan join North for celebrity foursome event; fourth player to be announced

The second round of the tournament on Saturday, June 8, will feature The AmFam Champ Celebrity Foursome Hosted by Andy North. Joining North, a Wisconsin native and two-time U.S. Open champion, will be Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history who returns for a second year, four-time Pro Bowler and former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, and Pat Connaughton, NBA Champion with Milwaukee Bucks. The group will play a 9-hole exhibition for charity starting on the 10th hole following the final grouping of tournament play. The expected tee time is 2 p.m.

Tickets for the American Family Insurance Championship are available for purchase at amfamchampionship.com. Tickets, which can be used for any one day of the tournament, and prices include:

Adult general admission ticket: $25

Champions ticket (age 50 years or older): $20

Youth general admission ticket (with paid adult): Free

Active duty, reserve and retired military personnel ticket: Free

First responder ticket: Free

Schedule of Events

Saturday June 1 Race for Research 5k

June 7-9 AmFam Championship. Gates 8 am daily.

June 7 6:00 p.m. - Train with opener Kingfish performs at the 2024 AmFam Champ Concert at Breese Stevens Field on June 7, 2024. Tickets.

June 8: 1 p.m - Celebrity Foursome tees off. Tickets.