Insperity Championship changes name, eligibility format

THE WOODLANDS, Texas —After celebrating its 10th anniversary this past year, Houston’s only Champions Tour event will begin another chapter in 2014 with a new name and a new player eligibility format, making the tournament a unique week on the Champions Tour schedule.

The Insperity Championship will now be the Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare. The 81 players who will compete for the title will be invited based on eight new categories of eligibility.

“Our title sponsor and corporate partners have always encouraged us to provide a unique and positive atmosphere in an effort to attract the best players on the Champions Tour for the fans of the Houston area and for our international television audience,” said Executive Tournament Director Bryan Naugle. “The players already love playing The Woodlands Tournament Course each spring. With this new format, we believe we will be able to attract one of the best fields for years to come.”

The tournament is scheduled to be held the first weekend in May through 2017. This year’s tournament dates are April 28-May 4.

Here is a breakdown of the new eligibility requirements for a Champions Tour player to be invited to compete:

1. Those players eligible for Champions Tour events who are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
2. Winners of major championships on the Champions Tour (Senior PGA Championship, the Senior Open Championship, U.S. Senior Open, Constellation Senior Players Championship, Regions Tradition) in the preceding five calendar years and the current year.
3. Top 20 available players from the final Previous Year’s Money List provided such players are 50th or better on such money list.
4. Top 20 players available from the All-Time Money List as of commitment deadline, not otherwise exempt above, provided such players are 70th or higher on such money list.
5. The top player from the prior year’s European Senior Tour, PGA Australia Legends Tour and Asian Senior Tour Orders of Merit.
6. Winners of cosponsored or approved Champions Tour tournaments since the prior year’s Insperity Invitational.
7. The top player from the most recent Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament.
8. In order to fill the field of 81 players, at the invitation of the host organization, players not otherwise exempt for the Insperity Invitational, provide all of such players shall be winners of a PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, European Tour or European Senior Tour tournament. Or, players who have a minimum of five wins on their respective home Tour.

About the Insperity Invitational
A Champions Tour event, the Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare features the world’s premier golfers age 50 and older. Last year’s tournament winner Esteban Toledo, will be returning to the Insperity Invitational to defend his title and play for a purse of $2 million on April 28-May 4. The Insperity Invitational is managed and operated by ProLinks Sports. In 2008, the tournament received the prestigious Presidents Award as the best event on the Champions Tour and in 2011 received the President’s Award for Excellence in Achievement. In 2012, the tournament received The Players Award for having the “best of everything” for the players, sponsors and spectators. Past champions include Larry Nelson, Jay Haas, Mark McNulty, two-time winner Bernhard Langer, John Cook, Fred Couples, Brad Faxon, Fred Funk and Esteban Toledo. For more information about the Insperity Invitational, visit www.insperityinvitational.com.