By Anita Weier
Northside News
Excitement is building for the first American Family Champions Professional Golf Tournament on Madison’s Northside. The tournament will take place June 6–8 at TPC Wisconsin, formerly known as the Cherokee Golf Course.
The tournament is part of the PGA Tour Champions, a men’s professional senior golf tour. The event will bring together 76 of the top PGA Tour players. Proceeds will benefit the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation, which supports the American Family Children’s Hospital and other organizations. Almost $20 million has been raised since the tournament was launched in 2016 at its previous location, University Ridge.
Past winners have included Fred Couples, Madisonian Jerry Kelly and Stricker, also of Madison. Ernie Els won the 2024 event in a sudden death playoff with Stricker.
A new team format will be featured this year. The field of 76 players will be organized into 38 teams of two. The top 38 players, based on PGA Tour Champions eligibility standards, will choose their partners. Competing for a $3 million purse, the winning team will share $600,000.
“With this tournament moving to a new course, it’s an ideal time to try a new format as well,” Stricker explained. “I was honored to play in and serve as captain at both the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, which showed the excitement that team golf brings.”
Preliminary announcements of teams include Bernard Langer and Steven Alker, Fred Couples and Jay Haas, and Stricker and Mario Tiziani.
TPC Wisconsin was designed by Stricker and PGA head of design Steve Wenzloff.
Play will start at 9 am on June 6, 7 and 8. The entrance opens at 8 am. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend.
Tickets are available on a per-day basis only, online, in person or over the phone. General admission tickets cost $20 per day. Youth ages 17 and under will receive a free grounds ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. First responders, military members, retirees and veterans may request up to two free tickets per day. Unique hospitality experiences at various skyboxes and cabanas may be available at various price points.
Military ticketholders are encouraged to visit the Hero’s Outpost on the 15th green, which has a covered viewing deck with seating.
Spectators may park at Madison College and travel to the tournament by shuttle. Parking will be restricted at Cherokee, which is a residential area. Drivers will have to display passes to enter. Homeowners will have two passes per unit. Checkpoints will be located at the intersections of Wheeler Road and Sherman Avenue and at Wheeler Road and Comanche Way.
“We believe the new format, in addition to the new course location, will create an exciting atmosphere,” said Bill Westrate, American Family chair and CEO. “We look forward to building on our historic success while continuing to make tournament enhancements.”
