Last March, golfer Stewart Cink took first place at the 2026 Hoag Classic held at Newport Beach Country Club. As one of the most successful charitable tournaments on the PGA TOUR Champions, the Hoag Classic has generated more than $25 million in support of Hoag programs and services, as well as local military, first responder and educational organizations.
Such noted golfers as Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, John Daly, Retief Goosen, and Darren Clarke have played in the Hoag Classic.
Now, the Hoag Classic is getting a new name, and a new status.
On Tuesday, May 26, the PGA TOUR announced at a press conference at the Newport Beach Country Club that beginning in 2027, Hoag will become the title sponsor for the SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, one of five major championships contested annually on PGA TOUR Champions.
The newly named Hoag SENIOR PLAYERS Championship at Newport Beach will be played at Newport Beach Country Club, which has hosted the Tour’s Hoag Classic since 1996. The 2027 tournament will be held March 22-28, with a five-year agreement in place ensuring PGA TOUR Champions will remain at Newport Beach Country Club through 2031. The purse for the newly named Hoag SENIOR PLAYERS Championship will increase to $3.5 million.
“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.”
“Hogue has been an incredible partner since the inception of Champions Tour Golf in Newport Beach, and it’s always been one of the most premier stops on our tour,” added Brady. “And Newport Beach Country Club has a proven record and is a major worthy venue for our great players. And, of course, Newport Beach is one of the best cities that we visit annually. Not only do the players enjoy it, but I think it’s the most well-attended event year in and year out. What more can you ask for in a major championship? When you look at what it takes to host a major, we’ve got everything we need right here—great sponsors, a fantastic golf course, great community support, and tremendous crowds. It’s exactly what we need to elevate the stature of the senior players championship.”
“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.”
Newport Beach Country Club, which sits along Pacific Coast Highway in the heart of Newport Beach, was designed by famed architect William Bell in 1953. Dating back to 1996, the second year of the Hoag Classic, Newport Beach is the longest-tenured host course on PGA TOUR Champions.
“Today is an incredibly proud day for our club, our membership, and the entire Newport Beach community,” said Kevin Martin, CEO of Newport Beach Country Club and a partner in Eagle Four Partners, a private equity group specializing in strategic hospitality and golf investments. “For more than 30 years, Newport Beach Country Club has had the privilege of hosting the PGA Tour Champions Golf and welcoming some of the game’s greatest players to the golf course. To now be selected as the future home of the Hoag Senior Players Championship is both an honor and a responsibility we take seriously. We are especially proud of Newport Beach Country Club and our company, Eagle Four Partners. We will serve as both the host and presenting sponsor of the Hoag Players Championship, providing a unique opportunity to support Hope Hospital’s incredible mission while showcasing Newport Beach’s exceptional hospitality, world-class accommodations, and a vibrant local business community on a national stage.”
Martin then introduced Newport Beach Country Club General Manager Robin Shelton and World Golf Hall of Fame and Newport Beach Country Club member Fred Couples, who talked about his career as a pro golfer, his time playing on the senior tour, and his fondness for the Newport Beach Country Club.
“What do you think the vibe is going to be next year?” asked Shelton.
“Well, one of the things that’s unique is 72 holes, and I think that helps most good players, because you get one more round to maybe shoot 66 or 67 or whatever you have to do,” said Couples. “And there will be people everywhere. It’s such a small type of course in acreage that a lot of people can get from hole three to five, or from five to 11. I don’t use the word vibe a lot, but the vibe is stronger, it is a major. When we come back next year, in January, they’ll be talking about it at every golf tournament that we play. The first major will be the Hoag tournament in Newport Beach. It’s a big deal, it really is. And I’m overly excited, even at age 66, I’ll be ready to play in 2027.”
For more information about the Hoag SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, please visit www.HoagSENIORPLAYERS.com.
