Hoag Classic Returns to Newport Beach with Big Names and Crowds

The PGA Tour Champions event features a star-studded field and perfect spring weather.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:23am

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The Hoag Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event, opened on Friday at the Newport Beach Country Club. Defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez was among the notable players in the field, which also included World Golf Hall of Famers Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington. Paul Goydos took an early lead with a bogey-free 62, while two-time major champion Zach Johnson made his senior tour debut.

Why it matters

The Hoag Classic is a long-running and prestigious PGA Tour Champions event that attracts top senior golfers and large crowds to Newport Beach. The tournament's return after a pandemic-related hiatus is a boost for the local community and highlights the continued popularity of professional golf in the region.

The details

The Hoag Classic featured an impressive field of veteran PGA Tour players, including defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez, who played alongside World Golf Hall of Famers Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington. Paul Goydos, a Long Beach State alumnus, took the first-round lead with a 62, while two-time major winner Zach Johnson made his senior tour debut. The tournament is being played at the Newport Beach Country Club, which was described as being in 'embarrassingly good shape' by Goydos.

  • The Hoag Classic opened on Friday, March 28, 2026.
  • The tournament continues through Sunday, March 30, 2026.
  • The Folds of Honor opening ceremony is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, with the first tee times at 9:30 a.m.

The players

Miguel Angel Jiménez

The defending champion of the Hoag Classic and a veteran PGA Tour Champions player.

Retief Goosen

A World Golf Hall of Famer who is competing in the Hoag Classic.

Padraig Harrington

A World Golf Hall of Famer who is competing in the Hoag Classic.

Paul Goydos

A Long Beach State alumnus who took the first-round lead with a 62.

Zach Johnson

A two-time major champion making his senior tour debut at the Hoag Classic.

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What they’re saying

“I think that, first of all, the scores are good because the golf course is in embarrassingly good shape. I was in the first group, so that means the first nine holes — there's not a blemish. … The fairways are, I mean, again, when I start using words like immaculate, it just isn't enough of a word.”

— Paul Goydos, Golfer

“Last year, falling off a cliff would have been an improvement over what I did at the end of the year. That was into the abyss of golf, which I had never done before, so that tends to make you contemplate things a little bit.”

— Paul Goydos, Golfer

What’s next

The Hoag Classic will continue on Saturday and Sunday, with the championship presentation following the conclusion of play on the 18th green on Sunday.

The takeaway

The return of the Hoag Classic to Newport Beach Country Club is a significant event for the local community, showcasing the region's appeal to top senior golfers and drawing large crowds to enjoy the tournament's festive atmosphere and perfect spring weather.