One 2021 Ryder Cup captain is playing next week, but the other isn’t.
The field for the 35th anniversary Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO was released Friday just after 5 p.m., and European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington is playing at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.
Defending champion and victorious U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker is not, though, as he continues to recover from inflammation around his heart going back a few months that had him hospitalized.
Harrington played in two PGA Tour Champions events in October, with his best finish a tie for 18th in the SAS Championship.
Padraig Harrington of Ireland warms up on the range during the Pro-Am ahead of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club Grande Lakes on December 17, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Following up early commitments such as David Duval, Fred Couples, and three-time champion Bernhard Langer, the field does include three former Ryder Cup captains: Jim Furyk (also announced as an early commitment), Tom Lehman, and Davis Love III.
There are more former European captains. In addition to Harrington, there is Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Langer, and Ian Woosnam.
“This year’s field is one of the strongest in tournament history, and we look forward to welcoming so many legends of the game to Naples and Tiburón Golf Club to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO,” said Sandy Diamond, executive director of the Chubb Classic.
Love, 57, played in a dozen events in the combined 2020-21 PGA Tour Champions season. His best finish was a tie for 11th twice, most recently at the Constellation Furyk & Friends in October.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, a former Chubb Classic winner, has the lone PGA Tour Champions victory of 2022, the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on January 22.
Florida used to be home to a two- or three-tournament swing for the PGA Tour Champions, but that’s no longer the case. After next week, the tour will move to the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Arizona.
Despite Stricker’s absence, Jimenez is far from the only former champion playing. In addition to Langer’s three wins, Couples has won it twice, and Joe Durant, Lee Janzen, Scott Parel, and Kirk Triplett have each raised the trophy once.
Alex Cejka and Robert Karlsson, who tied for second behind Stricker last April, are back. So are Kevin Sutherland and Tim Petrovic, who tied for fourth. Couples and Langer tied for sixth last year.
Fort Myers native Tommy Tolles also is in the field.
There are five members from Naples’ Calusa Pines Golf Club: Jay Haas, Dudley Hart (sponsor exemption), Rocco Mediate, Petrovic, and Jeff Sluman, and director of golf Mike Balliet also received a sponsor exemption.
The pre-qualifier was played Friday at Stoneybrook Golf Club in Estero. No local players advanced to Monday’s qualifier at The Forest.
Stephen Mondshine won the pre-qualifier with a 5-under 67, with Derek Sanders, Geoffrey Sisk, and Grant Downey tying for second with 70s. Michael Valicenti grabbed the fifth and final spot with a 71. Fort Myers’ Tommy Stankowski tied for 12th with a 74.
The top four on Monday will complete the tournament field.