Ernie Els, Jerry Kelly say they are playing in PGA’s Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The roster is building for Little Rock’s first PGA Tour championship event taking place in October.

An announcement from the inaugural Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens said Ernie Els and Jerry Kelly have declared their intention to compete. Els is No. 1 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, and Kelly is No. 10.

The 54-year-old Els is a World Golf Hall of Fame member and six-time tour Champion. Three of those victories came in 2024, including a July win at the Kaulig Companies Championship circuit major in Akron, Ohio.

Els won 19 tournaments from 1994 to 2012 and made seven Presidents Cup appearances. He was also a three-time major championship winner, including the 1994 U.S. Open, the 2002 Open Championship, and the 2012 Open Championship.

Kelly has 11 titles on the tour, including the Kaulig Companies Championship, and has six top-10 finishes in 2024. The 57-year-old won three tours from 1991 to 2016 and played on one President’s Cup team for the U.S.

The Simmons Bank Championship, presented by Stephens, is being held at Little Rock’s Pleasant Valley Country Club from Oct. 25 to 27, with events taking place from Oct. 21 to 27. It will be the second round of the tour, with 54 players competing for $2.3 million in prize money and a chance to earn a spot in the top 36 for the season’s final event.

This will be Little Rock’s first tour event and the first event in the state since 2010. Additional information, including ticketing, is available at SimmonsBankChampionship.com .

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