Els Not Only One with Chance to Win Charles Schwab Cup
“For me to have led the money list for a long time is something, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't win the Charles Schwab Cup,” Els said in his pre-tournament interview. “If I end up not winning it, it will sting a little bit obviously because of my consistent play throughout the year.”
If Els wins the tournament, he will definitely secure the Cup. But he’s not the only one who could win it by winning the tournament. There are five others who could also take the title with a victory: Steven Alker, Stephen Ames, Padraig Harrington, Y.E. Yang, and Richard Green.
But Els has a way to win the Cup without winning this week’s event. If he finishes second, third, or fourth, and no one in the top six in the standings wins, then Els can’t be stopped.
Steven Alker, who comes into the tournament in second place in the standings, could take the Cup from Els if he wins or places second or third and Els finishes lower than 5th and the other four players in the top six don’t win. In other words, it’s convoluted, but not as messy as the Tour Championship was before they went to the staggered start.
Padraig Harrington, in 6th place in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, knows what he has to do.
“Obviously this year with so many people in contention, they've certainly got the system right with 10 guys having the ability to win this week,” he said in his press conference on Wednesday.
Harrington also knows exactly who he has to beat, and mainly, that’s Ernie Els.
“By winning last week I give myself a chance if I or any, I think six of us, if we win outright, we win it outright, nobody can interfere, which is tough for Ernie. Ernie's had a great year, he's No. 1,” Harrington added.
Harrington has three victories in 2024 and so has Els. Stephen Ames, who is currently in third place, also had three victories this season.
Els explained his strategy for the week.
“It's going to come down to probably the last nine holes of the tournament,” he said. “Don't need to lead after the first day. Don't need to lead after the second day or the third day. I've got to keep myself in contention.”
There is extra pressure involved, he noted.
“It's going to be probably the most pressure we're going to feel all year in this circumstance,” Els added. “Playing for majors is a different pressure, but this is the season-long points list pressure. I think I'm not the only one that's going to feel it.”
Harrington agreed.
“It's clearly not a major, but because it's the last one ( of the season) and it's so important to us, yeah, there is that extra stress that you want to do more,” Harrington explained about playing the event.“I've definitely been a little bit more careful about how I feel about my game, which is a sign that I'm putting a little bit too much emphasis on this week.”
Fans may want to have a calculator or wish for Golf Channel's Steve Sands and his whiteboard to show up on Sunday because there will be some adding and subtracting of points when the leaders come down the final holes. Unless Ernie Els is leading, the winner may not be clear until the very end.
To reach the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, PGA Tour Champions players had to go through their three playoff events. They had to be in the top 72 for the season to qualify for the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. At the end of Dominion, they had to be in the top 54 to play the Simmons Bank Championship. And after the Simmons Bank, they had to be in the top 36 to earn their way to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Top six players who win the Charles Schwab Cup with a victory are:
- 1. Ernie Els
- 2. Steven Alker
- 3. Stephen Ames
- 4. Padraig Harrington
- 5. Y.E. Yang
- 6. Richard Green
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