Pro Golf Tourney in Boca Announces Final Field

By Marci Shatzman

With a $2.2 million purse at stake, PGA Champions’ annual pro golf tournament in Boca Raton starting with pro-ams Monday March 31 through play April 6 just announced the final field of 78 golfers coming to the Old Course at Broken Sound for the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational.

Here’s the list and alternates: file:///C:/Users/Pinnacle1/Downloads/James%20Hardie%20Pro%20Football%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Invitational_2025_fieldByAlpha.pdf

“PGA TOUR Champions players include John Daly, who came out of nowhere to win the 1991 PGA Championship as the ninth alternate, added a British Open title and continues to be one of the most popular players in the game. The 58-year-old Daly will be playing competitively in South Florida for the first time since 2020. Daly is one of nine former major champions in the James Hardie field; the others are Darren Clarke, David Duval, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin, Vijay Singh and Y.E. Yang,” according to the announcement. “Having John Daly playing in South Florida for the first time in five years will be a treat for the fans,” executive director Ken Kennerly said in a statement.

Boca Raton’s own PGA Champion Bernhard Langer, who won this tournament in 2022, is not playing in the James Hardie. “As a two-time Masters champion, he needs to be in Augusta the next weekend because of his corporate responsibilities, and some of his family is coming from Germany to help celebrate. Last year would have been his final Masters, but he tore his Achilles’ tendon and couldn’t play,” a James Hardie spokesman told The Boca Raton Tribune. “We wish Bernhard continued success as he makes his mark on history, and we look forward to welcoming him back in future editions of the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational!” Kennerly said in a statement.

The James Hardie Invitational will include 26 Pro Football Hall of Famers competing alongside the PGA TOUR Champions in teams Friday and Saturday April 4 and 5. The pros will play alone on the last day of the tournament, April 6, it was announced earlier. The three-day tournament will be televised on the Golf Channel.

Among the NFL players are former linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Rickey Jackson, and South Florida local Cris Carter, described one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, an eight-time Pro Bowler, and a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year recipient. Also playing with the pros in pairs on April 5 will be James Lofton, Orlando Pace, Andre Reed, Tim Brown, Marshall Faulk, Derrick Brooks, Steve Hutchinson, Roger Wehrli, John Randle, Mike Haynes, Anthony Muñoz, Demarcus Ware, Morten Andersen, Warren Sapp, Rondé Barber, Dwight Freeney, and Calvin Johnson.

A new feature on the Rees Jones redesigned Old Course Broken Sound is The Legends Club on the 18^th green that includes premium food and beverages and air-conditioned restrooms. Packages include VIP parking. Duffy’s MVP public bleachers on the ninth hole will be open to all spectators, according to the invitational.

Here’s the link for spectator tickets, packages, parking and other information such as complimentary tickets for active duty military, veterans and first responders from Thursday, April 3, to Sunday, April 6, 2025. Eligible guests with valid identification will receive free Gridiron Grounds Passes for themselves and one guest. https://jameshardieinvitational.com/tickets/