Principal Charity Classic returns with an $8 million mission

Principal Charity Classic's professional competition launches today at the Wakonda Club.

Why it matters: The annual PGA Tour Champions golf tournament is expected to raise roughly $8 million for Iowa children's charities this year, Principal Financial Group CEO Dan Houston tells Axios.

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Driving the news: Wakonda reopened just last week after a nearly year-long renovation to restore the century-old course to its original design.

Flashback: Principal, one of Des Moines' largest employers, became the event's title sponsor in 2007.

• The event has raised almost $54 million since.

State of play: Money goes primarily to the event's charity partners — Blank Children's Hospital, MercyOne Children's Hospital, United Way of Central Iowa and Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa.

• More than 130,000 kids benefit each year from the event's fundraising, per Principal .

Zoom in: This year's classic includes new spectator attractions like Sunday's " Pedal to the PCC " with participants getting free tournament admission and MidAmerican Energy Sustainability Grove , where food trucks and phone charging is available.

The intrigue: Wednesday's pro-am players were the first to use Wakonda's new course.

• That's because members were unable to golf last week due to inclement weather, Principal spokesperson Megan Grandgeorge tells Axios.

Fun fact: This year's purse is $2 million, including $300K to the champion.

The big picture: The event will provide significant resources at a time when charities are under additional strain as they help families recover from pandemic-related setbacks, per Houston.

• "This is a game changer," he says.

If you go : Gates open at 8:30am Friday through Sunday. Tickets start at $25.

• Use the downtown Park & Ride for free parking .

Attendance at last year's Principal Charity Classic topped 80,000. Spectators will find new amenities and viewing areas this year. Photo: Courtesy of Principal Charity Classic