Jim Furyk, Boo Weekley And Stephen Ames Join Early Commitments
Tournament officials announced today that The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has accepted the commitment of major champion Vijay Singh to defend his title the week of August 19-25 at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich.
Joining Singh in this year’s field is Jim Furyk, the 2020 champion of The Ally Challenge, second-year PGA TOUR Champions player Boo Weekley and eight-time PGA TOUR Champions winner Stephen Ames for the seventh edition of the official PGA TOUR Champions stop.
Tickets for The Ally Challenge can be purchased at theallychallenge.com/tickets. Several ticket options are available. The tournament is open to spectators from Thursday (August 22) to Sunday (August 25) and ticket prices start at $15—children 17 and under receive free grounds access with a ticketed adult. For a complete listing of ticket options please visit the tournament website at theallychallenge.com.
Singh, 61, recorded his fifth PGA TOUR Champions title at last year’s The Ally Challenge, his first win since the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in 2018. With the victory he joins Furyk as the only players to win at Warwick Hills on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions. The Fiji native has recorded 34 PGA TOUR victories during his more than 40 years as a professional, including the 2000 Masters and PGA Championship in 1998 and 2004. Singh will make his sixth start at The Ally Challenge next month where he owns a scoring average of 69.6 and tournament earnings of $432,320.
Furyk, 54, burst onto the senior scene in 2020 after becoming the 19th player in PGA TOUR Champions history to win his debut with his victory at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren. He went on to join Bruce Fleisher in September as the only players to win their first two PGA TOUR Champions starts after his win at the PURE Insurance Championship. The Pennsylvania native completed his 26-tournament rookie campaign ranked No. 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and received the Rookie of the Year award after finishing inside the top 20 in every event, including a third victory and his first senior major title at the U.S. Senior Open Championship. Furyk counts the 2003 U.S. Open Championship among his 17 PGA TOUR wins. Furyk will make his fifth consecutive start at this year’s The Ally Challenge where he holds a scoring average of 69.42 and earnings of $388,175.
Weekley, who turned 50 last July, will make his second appearance at The Ally Challenge next month after finishing tied for 48th in 2023 in his third-career PGA TOUR Champions start. The Florida native now has two top-25 PGA TOUR Champions finishes on his resume to go with three wins on the PGA TOUR, with back-to-back victories at the Verizon Heritage in 2007 and 2008 as well as the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in 2013. Additionally, Weekley has 31 PGA TOUR top-10 finishes, $15,167,517 in career earnings since turning pro in 2002 and was a member of the winning U.S. Ryder Cup Team in 2008.
Ames, 60, is coming off a career PGA TOUR Champions season in 2023, with four wins, a fifth-place finish in the Schwab Cup standings and $2,130,194 in earnings. The Canadian has continued his inspired play this season with 10 top-10 finishes, which currently ranks No. 1 on PGA TOUR Champions, including two victories, bringing his career win total to eight. Ames has recorded back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two appearances at The Ally Challenge, T6 in 2022 and T3 last year. He will be making his sixth start at this year’s tournament at Warwick Hills where his scoring average is 69.53 and he has claimed $240,950 in tournament earnings.
In 2024, The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren will not only feature world-class competition, but fans will also be treated to a full slate of events and activities taking place at the tournament through Sunday’s final round.
The tournament’s special events begin on Monday, August 19, with the third annual McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic in cooperation with the U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA). The three-hour clinic will take place at Warwick Hills and feature 12 certified adaptive golf coaches providing instruction to a group of 40 adaptive golfers using a wide array of adaptive golf equipment and techniques. Attendees have ranged in age from 10 to 80 and are recruited from McLaren Health Care’s patient base as well as through USAGA, organizations such as the Disability Network, and word-of-mouth. The Clinic features an atmosphere of camaraderie and support in underscoring this growing movement in adaptive sports. For more information, or to register a participant, contact laurie.prochazka@mclaren.org.
For the second straight year on Monday at Warwick Hills, the tournament will welcome the PGA Jr. League Championship to The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren. This group of youth players form seven teams across Genesee County and have played competitively all summer. The event will serve as the league’s season-ending Championship round, offering a special opportunity to play a tournament-ready PGA TOUR Champions course. The PGA Jr. League Championship is sponsored by Security Credit Union.
The Women of Influence Luncheon returns to tournament week this year and will once again celebrate the power and accomplishments of local, regional and national female leaders on Thursday, August 22 at 12 p.m. in the Miller Lite Beer Garden on Hole No. 17 at Warwick Hills. For more information, including supporting sponsor details and how to purchase tickets to the luncheon, the public can contact the tournament sales office at rpabreza@theallychallenge.com or visit the tournament website.
Also on Thursday, Family Fun Night presented by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation takes place from 5 – 7 p.m. on Hole No. 17 and in the tournament’s Fan Zone. Admission and parking are free for this fun-for-the-whole-family event. Parking is located at Grand Blanc High School with complimentary shuttle service provided. Family Fun Night includes free pizza and drinks—courtesy of Cottage Inn and Faygo—for youths 18 years and under, a DJ dance party, golf stations run by First Tee – Eastern Michigan, the McLaren Gong Challenge, plus Ally Foot Golf.
The tournament welcomes back two events to its Friday schedule, both for a third straight year, beginning with the Chamber Happy Hour from 4 – 6 p.m. on Hole No. 18. This special function brings the community together at The Ally Challenge through four of the regions Chamber of Commerce organizations. Guests from the Flint & Genesee Chamber, Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce, Clarkston Chamber of Commerce, and the Fenton & Linden Regional Chamber of Commerce will gather and network in this unique and inspiring setting. Participating Chamber members may contact their local chamber leadership for details.
The Concert @17 presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort featuring multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated pop-rock icons Smash Mouth will also be held Friday evening, August 23, and take place following the first round of tournament competition at the famed 17th hole at Warwick Hills.
New to the tournament’s first day of competition, The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren is proud to introduce Folds of Honor Friday. The new program recognizes the commitment and sacrifice of military service members and first responders who guard our freedoms and protect our communities. All are encouraged to wear red, white and blue on Friday, enjoy an enhanced Opening Ceremony with a performance of the National Anthem, cheer on birdie donations at Hole No. 17, and display official Folds of Honor ribbon pins that will be distributed throughout the inspirational day.
The fun continues Saturday evening, August 24, with the tournament’s seventh annual Ally Community Concert, headlined by country music superstar Thomas Rhett. This special event will take place on the driving range at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Access to The Concert @17, and the Ally Community Concert, require the purchase of a valid tournament ticket for the day each concert is hosted, or a weekly ticket option.
The Ally Challenge complimentary Zehnder’s Chicken & Waffles Breakfast sponsored by the Frankenmuth CVB will team up for a second year in a row with legendary Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth to enhance the tournament’s annual complimentary breakfast for all fans onsite from 9:30 – 11 a.m. on August 25th. Come out with family and friends to enjoy Zehnder’s Chicken & Waffles, located between Hole Nos. 9 and 18 green near the Clubhouse to start Championship Sunday off right.
There’s something for everyone at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren thanks to the tournament’s many fan destinations, all open to the public, ranging from live music to enjoyable ways to view the competition to fun for the kids to Birdie Time is3 Miller Time. See below for the full list.
2024 Fan Destinations at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren
- Birdie Time is Miller Time (located on Hole No. 17)
- Fan Zone (located adjacent to Hole No. 17)
Featuring…
- Ally Foot Golf
- McLaren Gong Challenge
- New Fan Zone bar featuring White Claw “Birdie” specials
- Food Truck Concessions (located on Hole No. 17)
- Miller Lite Beer Garden (located on Hole No. 17)
- New 17th Hole Bridge located over the pond offers public views of the iconic 17th hole at Warwick Hills
- Mulligan’s Deck (located on Hole No. 17) featuring public seating
- Kids Activities by Sloan Museum of Discovery (located in the Fan Zone)
- Milagro 3 Par Bar (located at the 17th green) featuring public access, drink specials and great views
- DTE Energy Lawn
- McLaren Public Viewing Deck (located on Hole No. 18)
- Dow VET Den (located on Hole No. 18)
- The Ally Challenge complimentary Zehnder’s Chicken & Waffles Breakfast sponsored by the Frankenmuth CVB, offers complimentary breakfast for all fans from 9:30 – 11 a.m. (located between Hole Nos. 9 and 18 greens near the Clubhouse)
Visit theallychallenge.com for additional information about the tournament’s fan destinations, including daily hours of operation.
The Ally Challenge will be one of the premier Regular Season events on the PGA TOUR Champions in 2024, featuring a $2,200,000 purse and leading to the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs¾a season-ending, three-tournament series used to determine the TOUR’s season-long champion.
All three rounds of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren will be broadcast on Golf Channel.
Since its inception in 2018, The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has donated more than $7.3 million to support charity.
For more information about The Ally Challenge, please visit www.theallychallenge.com. For the latest Ally Challenge news and updates on social media follow the tournament on Twitter and Instagram at @AllyChallenge and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllyChallenge.