This former PGA Tour venue has a stacked Champions field. Here are 9 players to watch at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open


BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The chase for top honors in the 16th playing of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open and the accompanying $315,000 cut of the purse begins Friday morning at En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott.

Back to defend his championship will be 51-year-old Padraig Harrington, whose Dick’s Open debut brought rounds of 66-67-67 and a three-stroke victory over Mike Weir and Thongchai Jaidee, with Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh another shot back.

One of the most-followed players across decades at En-Joie will not be in the field for the first time since his 2008 Dick’s Open debut.

Joey Sindelar, a long-time resident of nearby Horseheads and now residing in the Town of Lansing and twice a B.C. Open champion, has concluded his competitive playing career due to health reasons. He did, however, play in Dick’s Open Pro-Ams Wednesday and Thursday.

Here is a smattering of players to keep an eye on:

Paul Broadhurst hits his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of the 2020 Charles Schwab Cup Championship at the Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

  • Age: 57.
  • Five-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions − two of the majors − with four second- and three third-place finishes.
  • Played first Dick’s Open in 2017 and finished T9, hasn’t fallen short of a top-20 in four subsequent appearances.
  • Last summer was T15 on rounds of 68-69-71.
  • Last time out slipped to a Sunday 74 after a 65-64 getaway and finished T2 in the American Family Insurance Championship.
  • Was T5 in the mid-May Regions Tradition.

2022 Senior Open

Darren Clarke poses with the trophy after winning the Senior Open at PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles. Picture date: Sunday July 24, 2022. (Photo by Steve Welsh/PA Images via Getty Images)

  • Age: 54.
  • Four-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions was champion of last year’s Senior British Open.
  • 2011 British Open champion.
  • In 2023, ranks third in total driving, eighth in driving distance (293.2), second in eagles (eight).
  • T6 in last year’s Dick’s Open (65-72-69) followed a T8 in 2021.

2023 Hoag Classic

Ernie Els reacts after making his putt on the first hole during the final round of the 2023 Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, California. (Photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images)

  • Age: 53.
  • Three PGA Tour Champions wins, most recent Hoag Classic in March.
  • Eight top-10s in 11 events this season, with $925,040 to show for it − fifth on the money list.
  • Most recent outing brought a 10th place finish in America Family Insurance Championship (69-67-72).
  • Fourth on Tour in driving distance (296.3), first in par-3 scoring average (2.89).
  • Runner-up in 2021 DSGO on rounds of 68-65-72.
  • T15 last year.

2022 Charles Schwab Cup

Retief Goosen looks over his birdie putt on the 15th hole during the second round of the 2022 Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

  • Age: 54.
  • Most recent of two PGA Tour Champions victories was rung up in last year’s Haog Classic.
  • Best 2023 finish a T3 at The Galleri Classic in late March.
  • 11th on Tour in driving distance, fifth in eagles.
  • Two-time U.S. Open winner (2001, 2004).
  • Second at En-Joie in 2021 on rounds of 72-68-66, that after a T13 in 2019.

2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

Padraig Harrington watches his shot from the sixth tee during the first round of the 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

  • Age 51.
  • Defending champion debuted in DSGO last year with a 66-67-67 showing.
  • Will defend his championship this week, and again in the following week’s U.S. Senior Open at Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
  • Four-time PGA Tour Champions winner in 2022 sits No. 7 on 2023 money list ($775,110).
  • Runner-up in a playoff in late-May Senior PGA Championship, and made the cut in PGA Championship last month at Oak Hill.
  • T27 in last week’s U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
  • No. 1 on senior tour in driving distance (302.6).

2022 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

Miguel Angel Jimenez tees off on the 17th hole during the final round the 2022 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf Club in Hawaii. (Photo: Chris Condon/PGA Tiour)

  • Age: 59.
  • 13-time PGA Tour Champions winner to go with 14 runner-up finishes (56 top-5s).
  • Three-time winner in 2022.
  • Leads Tour in putting average, No. 3 in final-round scoring average (68.4).
  • Sixth on money list ($908,923).
  • Top finish among five DSGO starts a T3 in 2021, one of three consecutive top-10s.

2023 Regions Tradition

Bernhard Langer during the third round of the 2023 Regions Tradition at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

  • Age: 65.
  • 45-time PGA Tour Champions winner has 40 runner-up finishes.
  • Won first senior tour title in 2007 and most recent in this year’s Chubb Classic.
  • The 2014 Dick’s Open champion has finished T8 and T6, respectively, the last two years at En-Joie.
  • In 10 DSGO start’s he’s got seven top-10s.
  • Twenty-five rounds under par in the DSGO.
  • 11th on money list ($615,225).

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Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his shot from the 17th tee during the second round of the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS at Timuquana Country Club on October 08, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

  • Age: 60.
  • Most recent of four PGA Tour Champions victories was secured in 2018.
  • Four-time runner-up with 17 top-five finishes.
  • Best finish this season was a T5 in the Galleri Classic in March, and last month was T8 in the Senior PGA Championship.
  • Shared fourth place last summer at En-Joie on rounds of 65-70-69, his third Dick’s Open appearance.

USATSI 12774548

Ken Tanigawa celebrates after scrambling for a par on the 18th hole to help him win the PGA Senior Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.

  • Age: 55
  • Twice a PGA Tour Champions winner
  • This season, T2 in January’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (68-65-66) and third in early-May Mitsubishi Electric Classic
  • First on Tour in total driving − a bonus anywhere, but even more around En-Joie
  • In four Dick’s Sporting Goods Open appearance, is 12-for-12 in sub-par rounds
  • Last summer went 69-69-68 for a share of sixth.

 



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