What to watch for at this week’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor: another champ from Villa Allende, Argentina?; 5 titles in 6 months for Jimenez?; multiple big-name WDs take toll on field; will locals thrive?
By Gary Baines – 6/23/2025
COLORADO SPRINGS — It’s time to whet the appetite for this week’s U.S. Senior Open, the third to be held at The Broadmoor since 2008.
There are many storylines for the event, which is arguably the most prestigious championship in senior golf. But here are a smattering of the most notable for the tournament, which runs Thursday through Sunday at The Broadmoor’s historic East Course:
— Do We Hear 2-for-3 for Villa Allende, Argentina at The Broadmoor?: Angel Cabrera, winner of a U.S. Open and a Masters, is one of the biggest stories on PGA Tour Champions this year, having won two senior majors in 2025 after serving a 30-month prison sentence in South America earlier this decade. He was convicted of “causing minor injuries” and “intimidation in a gender-violence context” after Cabrera’s ex-wife and two former girlfriends accused him of being physically abusive and of making threats.
Cabrera is expected to be among the favorites as he makes his U.S. Senior Open debut this week as he’s won three times in 10 PGA Tour Champions starts this year. Two of the victories came at senior majors — the Regions Tradition and the Senior PGA Championship, both last month.
If Cabrera were to win this week, he’d become the second golfer from Villa Allende, Argentina to capture a U.S. Senior Open title at The Broadmoor as Eduardo Romero prevailed in 2008. In fact, Romero, who died in 2022, had been mayor of Villa Allende, which has a population of under 30,000.
The winner of the first U.S. Senior Open, in 1980, Roberto De Vicenzo, also was an Argentine, albeit not from Villa Allende.
The U.S. Senior Open, by the way, is the fourth of five senior majors in 2025. The only one left after this week is the British Senior Open July 24-27 in Berkshire, England.
— Jiménez on a Heater: Despite Cabrera’s three victories in 2025, he isn’t the winningest PGA Tour Champions player this year. Miguel Angel Jiménez, a Spaniard closely associated with smoking big cigars, has four victories to his credit in 2025.
In fact, Jiménez owns four wins since the beginning of February, and has finished in the top 10 10 times in 13 events, including a runner-up and a third place. His latest victory came on Sunday in a senior major, the Kaulig Companies Championship at historic Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. That was his second playoff victory this month.
Outside of Jiménez and Cabrera, just six players have won non-team events on PGA Tour Champions this year: Ernie Els, Justin Leonard, Steven Alker, Steven Allan, Jerry Kelly and Stewart Cink. And the last of those came in early May (Cink).
Cigar in mouth, Rocco Mediate worked on his chipping on Monday.
— Some Big-Time WDs: While the 2025 U.S. Senior Open still has a field that’s start-studded — with participants having won 26 open-age major championships, 44 senior majors and more than 260 PGA Tour events, as of Monday afternoon, at least — it’s taken a few significant hits over the last 10 days.
During that time, a significant number of the bigger names in the original field for the USSO have withdrawn after initially entering, including World Golf Hall of Famers Davis Love III, Colin Montgomerie and Fred Couples, the latter pulling out late last week.
Also among the WDs are Tom Lehman, who won the 2010 Senior PGA Championship at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Steve Stricker, Jay Haas and Robert Allenby.
Love, Couples and Lehman have won an open-age major championship, with Love having captured 21 PGA Tour titles. Couples has won 15 times on the PGA Tour and 14 on PGA Tour Champions, while Stricker 12 times and 18, respectively, to his credit.
Between Stricker (7), Montgomerie (3), Lehman (3), Haas (3) and Couples (2), the WDs account for 18 senior major victories.
Meanwhile, among those added to the field for this week are PGA Tour winners Notah Begay (four victories) and Denver native Matt Gogel (one).
— Colorado Trifecta?: David Toms may be a Louisianan, but he’s had more than his share of good fortune at courses in Colorado that sit at more than 6,000 feet elevation. Toms won the PGA Tour’s International at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock in 1999, then prevailed at the 2018 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor.
One other person in the field from outside of Colorado who has captured a couple of victories in the Centennial State is Willie Wood, who claimed titles in the prestigious Broadmoor Invitation (1983) and the Colorado Open at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen (1984).
Former Aspen resident Justin Leonard (left) chats before teeing off on Monday.
— Will the “Locals” Shine?: There are six players in the U.S. Open field with major Colorado connections — Parker resident Shane Bertsch, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe, Denver resident Chris DiMarco, former Aspen resident Justin Leonard, former Colorado State University golfer Darrin Overson, and Erie resident Matt Schalk. (Note: Matt Gogel was born in Denver, but has far greater ties to nearby states, having grown up in Tulsa, attended the University of Kansas and being a member of the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame.)
Two of those six are coming to the U.S. Senior Open after posting top-25 finishes in another major on Sunday — the Kaulig Company Championship, where Leonard placed 12th and Jobe 25.
The last time The Broadmoor hosted the U.S. Senior Open, in 2018, Jobe tied for fifth place.
— Time for Another Test at The Broadmoor: If history is an indication, don’t look for the winner of this U.S. Senior Open to go deep into red figures for the week. In the two previous USSOs held at The Broadmoor combined, one player has finished better than 3 under par overall — 2008 champion Eduardo Romero (-6).
David Toms’ winning total for the 2018 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor was 3 under par for 72 holes. That ties for the most difficult, relative to par, for any USSO since 2001. And Romero’s 6-under tally in 2008 was good for a four-stroke victory.
And, for those looking ahead, don’t forget that there’s a very good chance that The Broadmoor will host the U.S. Senior Open again in 2031. After this week, the resort will be tied for most U.S. Senior Opens hosted (along with Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.) after this week, with three. 2031 would be No. 4.
The new Colorado Golf Hall of Fame Museum is located at The Broadmoor. Among the inductees is Hale Irwin (right), a two-time winner of the U.S. Senior Open.
— Third Time a Charm for Langer?: This week will mark the third time Bernhard Langer has competed in a U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor. The senior circuit’s all-time winningest player made his USSO debut at the resort in 2008, his first full season on PGA Tour Champions, as he tied for sixth place. And he placed 16th a decade later at The Broadmoor.
At age 67, can the German pull off yet another amazing accomplishment by winning his third U.S. Senior Open, this one at age 67? He’s proven doubters wrong so many times that it probably isn’t wise to bet against him, despite the odds.
For the record, this will be Langer’s 17th U.S. Senior Open appearance, which ties for the most in this year’s field.
Langer owns a dozen titles in senior majors, which stands as the all-time record.
— No Defending Champ: And, for those wondering, there will be no defending U.S. Senior Open champion at The Broadmoor as 2024 winner Richard Bland isn’t playing this week as he’s scheduled to compete in a LIV Golf tournament in Dallas.
And, for what it’s worth, let’s not forget the wildlife on site at The Broadmoor this week:
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U.S. Senior Open: The Essentials
What: 45th U.S. Senior Open.
When: Practice rounds June 23-25. Championship rounds June 26-29.
Where: East Course at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. 7,247 yards, par-70.
Hole By Hole Set-Up:
Hole 1: 429 yards (Par 4)
Hole 2: 339 yards (Par 4)
Hole 3: 601 yards (Par 5)
Hole 4: 165 yards (Par 3)
Hole 5: 433 yards (Par 4)
Hole 6: 402 yards (Par 4)
Hole 7: 426 yards (Par 4)
Hole 8: 178 yards (Par 3)
Hole 9: 535 yards (Par 5)
OUT: 3,508 yards (Par 36)
Hole 10: 501 yards (Par 4)
Hole 11: 478 yards (Par 4)
Hole 12: 223 yards (Par 3)
Hole 13: 493 yards (Par 4)
Hole 14: 427 yards (Par 4)
Hole 15: 459 yards (Par 4)
Hole 16: 180 yards (Par 3)
Hole 17: 545 yards (Par 4)
Hole 18: 433 yards (Par 4)
IN: 3,739 yards (Par 34)
TOTAL: 7,247 yards (Par 70)
Field Size: 156 players, all age 50 as of June 26.
Cut: After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 60 scorers and ties.
Potential Playoff: Two-hole aggregate.
TV Broadcast (All times MT):
Thursday and Friday (June 26-27): Peacock, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Golf Channel, 4-7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday (June 28-29): NBC, noon-4 p.m.
Purse: $4 million, with $800,000 going to the winner.
“Locals” in the Field: Barring the unforeseen, six players with significant Colorado ties will be in the field: Parker resident Shane Bertsch, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe, Denver resident Chris DiMarco, former Aspen resident Justin Leonard, former Colorado State University golfer Darrin Overson, and Erie resident Matt Schalk.
Open-Age Major Champions in Field (Majors Won: 26): Ernie Els 4, Vijay Singh 3, Padraig Harrington 3, Bernhard Langer 2, Angel Cabrera 2, Retief Goosen 2, Lee Janzen 2, David Toms, Y.E. Yang, Michael Campbell, Darren Clarke, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard, Jeff Sluman, Mike Weir.
Senior Major Champions in Field (Senior Majors Won: 44): Bernhard Langer 12, Miguel Angel Jiménez 3, Alex Cejka 3, Fred Funk 3, Angel Cabrera 2, Jerry Kelly 2, Paul Broadhurst 2, Jeff Maggert 2, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Darren Clarke, Retief Goosen, Steven Alker, K.J. Choi, Doug Barron, Ken Tanigawa, David Toms, Scott McCarron, Rocco Mediate, Gene Sauers, Olin Browne, Brad Bryant.
PGA Tour Wins Among Players in Field (264): Vijay Singh 34, Ernie Els 19, David Toms 13, Justin Leonard 12, Stuart Appleby 9, Stewart Cink 8, Fred Funk 8, K.J. Choi 8, Lee Janzen 8, Mike Weir 8, Retief Goosen 7, Padraig Harrington 6, Rocco Mediate 6, Jeff Sluman 6, Paul Goydos 5, Scott Verplank 5, Brian Gay 5, Stephen Ames 4, Billy Andrade 4, Chad Campbell 4, Woody Austin 4, Joe Durant 4, Bob Estes 4, Duffy Waldorf 4, Steve Flesch 4, Notah Begay 4, Angel Cabrera 3, Darren Clarke 3, Jeff Maggert 3, Chris DiMarco 3, Gene Sauers 3, Rod Pampling 3, Bernhard Langer 3, J.J. Henry 3, Kirk Triplett 3, Jerry Kelly 3, Olin Browne 3, Scott McCarron 3, Boo Weekley 3, Len Mattiace 2, Paul Stankowski 2, Y.E. Yang 2, Brad Bryant, Arjun Atwal, Eric Axley, Michael Campbell, Jim Carter, Alex Cejka, Greg Chalmers, Glen Day, Ken Duke, Harrison Frazar, Jason Gore, Mark Hensby, Freddie Jacobson, Tim Petrovic, Dicky Pride, Ted Purdy, Kevin Sutherland, Bo Van Pelt, Willie Wood, Matt Gogel.
— For Players in Field, Winners of Big-Time Tournaments — That Are Open to Pros — in Colorado: Shane Bertsch (1998 Colorado Open at Saddle Rock), Stewart Cink (1996 Nike Colorado Classic at Riverdale Dunes), Ernie Els (2000 International at Castle Pines), Retief Goosen (2005 International at Castle Pines), Lee Janzen (1995 International at Castle Pines), Brandt Jobe (1992 Colorado Open at Inverness), Rod Pampling (2004 International at Castle Pines), Tom Pernice Jr. (2001 International at Castle Pines), Tag Ridings (Korn Ferry Tour’s 2021 TPC Colorado Classic at TPC Colorado), Vijay Singh (1998 International at Castle Pines), David Toms (1999 International at Castle Pines and 2018 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor), Willie Wood (1983 Broadmoor Invitation at The Broadmoor and the 1984 Colorado Open at Hiwan), Duffy Waldorf (1984 Broadmoor Invitation at The Broadmoor). Note: Jobe, Ridings, Wood and Waldorf earned spots in the USSO field through recent final-qualifying tournaments.
Ticket Info: Kids 17 and under will be admitted free to the U.S. Senior Open when accompanied by a ticketed adult. For U.S. Senior Open ticket information and packages, CLICK HERE.
More Information: For more general information about the U.S. Senior Open, CLICK HERE.
(NOTE: Some of the previously published stories in this periodic series related to the 2025 U.S. Senior Open:
— Matt Schalk of Erie a U.S. Senior Open qualifying medalist for 2nd straight year; Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe, Denver resident Chris DiMarco, former CSU golfer Darrin Overson and Utahn Steve Schneiter also headed to USSO at The Broadmoor
— As U.S. Senior Open approaches, The Broadmoor is set to once again present one of the toughest tests in senior golf
— Ranking of the previous 8 USGA championships held at The Broadmoor
— U.S. Senior Open record book brimming with Colorado-related superlatives
— Fully exempt players for 2025 U.S. Senior Open
— Highlights of the three previous times Colorado has hosted the U.S. Senior Open
— Hale Irwin named honorary chair for 2025 Senior Open
— Senior Open going to a 2-stage qualifying process in 2025)
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. The University of Colorado Evans Scholar alum was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com