The Champions Tour got a goose of energy in this Covidially challenged season when Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson grew into their old-man pants.
Els rolled in a 40-footer on 18 to win the SAS Championship in North Carolina this past Sunday for his second victory in 10 Champions starts in 2020, his first season since he turned 50 on Oct. 17, 2019.
I reserve a spot for Ernie in my Dream Foursome, even though he’s never acknowledged he patterns his golf swing after mine. He’s done all right with it: 74 victories worldwide, including four majors, and nearly $50 million in earnings.
Mickelson turned 50 on June 16, and on Aug. 26 he won the Charles Schwab event at Ozarks National in his Champions Tour debut. I call him Lefty. He calls me … well, he never calls. He’s been busy: 44 PGA Tour wins, five majors, more than $92 million in career cash.
Both men are in the field this weekend for the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia, where defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, like Els, is looking for his third win of 2020.
I could do some really tedious research, but when I say there have never been two Champions Tour rookies as accomplished as Els and Mickelson ascend to the tour in the same season, I don’t believe I’m too far out on a limb.
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