In 1978, the first Legends of Golf was held at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas.
Two years later, the Senior PGA Tour had its first two official tournaments. Don January and Arnold Palmer won those first events.
From there, the circuit grew and in 1990, Lee Trevino became the first golfer to win $1 million in a season. In 2002, the tour was rebranded as the Champions Tour. In 2015, it took on its current name, the PGA Tour Champions.
Bernhard Langer became the winningest golfer in Champions history in 2023 when he got to No. 46, breaking a mark long held by Hale Irwin. Langer is also the top money-winner all-time on the tour.
He’s one of three players to reach the $20 million mark. Six players on this list have surpassed the $15 million mark. There are 31 at $10 million.
As you make your way through this list, keep in mind:
Gary Player is 90th all-time with $6,049,029
Jack Nicklaus ranks 147th with $3,372,207
Arnold Palmer is 211th with $1,765,795
There are 649 names listed in all, with Mike Balliet bringing up the rear with $736 in career tour earnings.
Check out this list of the all-time money winners on the PGA Tour Champions. Updated through the 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Source: PGATour.com.
21. Colin Montgomerie – $12,522,518
Team Europe’s Colin Montgomerie tees off at The Concession Golf Club. (Photo: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)
20. Jeff Sluman – $12,816,211
Jeff Sluman tees off the second hole during the first round of the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf Club. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
19. Fred Funk – $12,875,987
Fred Funk plays his shot on the second hole on the first hole during the first round of the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf. (Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
18. Steve Stricker – $13,068,608
Steve Stricker poses after winning the 2024 Sanford International at Minnehaha Country Club. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
17. Fred Couples – $13,347,611
Fred Couples at the 2024 Galleri Classic pro-am in Rancho Mirage, California, at Mission Hills Country Club. (Andy Abeyta/Desert Sun)
16. Allen Doyle – $13,401,250
Allen Doyle watches a tee shot during the first round of the 2008 Principal Charity Classic at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)
15. Tom Lehman – $13,521,733
Tom Lehman and his son Thomas at the 2020 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. (Photo: Elise Tallent/PGA Tour Champions)
14. Loren Roberts – $13,642,664
Loren Roberts hits a tee shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the 2016 Chubb Classic. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
13. Jerry Kelly – $13,809,629
Jerry Kelly plays his shot from the sixth tee during the third round of the 2024 Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
12. Tom Jenkins – $13,821,866
Tom Jenkins at the 2012 Insperity Championship at The Woodlands Country Club. (Photo: Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
11. Jim Thorpe – $13,936,083
Jim Thorpe hits a shot during the first round of the 2013 SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club. (Photo: Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
10. Larry Nelson – $14,637,172
Larry Nelson hits a tee shot on the second hole during the first round of the 2019 Mastercard Japan Championship at Narita Golf Club. (Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
9. Miguel Angel Jimenez – $14,757,020
Miguel Angel Jimenez poses with the conquistador helmet after winning the 2022 Cologuard Classic at Omni Tucson National. (Photo: Todd Kelly/Golfweek)
8. Bruce Fleisher – $14,878,986
Bruce Fleisher hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during the second round of the 2018 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge. (Photo: Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
7. Dana Quigley – $14,898,463
Dana Quigley hits a tee shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2010 Ensure Classic at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, North Carolina. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
6. Tom Watson – $15,074,227
Tom Watson during the final round of the Senior Open played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. (Photo: Phil Inglis/Getty Images)
5. Tom Kite – $16,303,747
Tom Kite has 19 PGA Tour victories and 10 PGA Tour Champions wins. (Photo: USA TODAY)
4. Jay Haas – $19,993,558
Jay Haas watches his shot down the fairway on the 13th hole during second round of the Bridgestone Senior Players at Firestone Country Club. (Photo: Akron Beacon Journal)
3. Gil Morgan – $20,631,930
Gil Morgan tees off on the seventh hole during the first round of the Champions tour in 2012 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo: Getty Images)
2. Hale Irwin – $27,158,515
Hale Irwin hits his tee ball at No. 1 during the first round of the Father/Son Challenge at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. (Photo: Getty Images)
1. Bernhard Langer – $37,383,505
Bernhard Langer poses with the Charles Schwab Cup Championship trophy at Phoenix Country Club. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
