The eighth edition of the Sanford International is officially underway, and once again, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has transformed into a popular hub for golf fans. Played at the picturesque Minnehaha Country Club, this three-day PGA Tour Champions event brings together some of the sport’s most recognizable names, all battling it out with plenty at stake.

The event, which began on Friday, September 12th, boasts a strong field of 78 players, including fan favorites like Stewart Cink and Steve Alker. The players will battle it out on the Par-70 layout through Sunday, and while there’s no cut, the competition is still intense, with every swing counting toward both the winner’s check and critical Charles Schwab Cup points. With several prominent names teeing it up, there’s no room for complacency—even without the pressure of a mid-tournament cut. The course layout may look serene, but it demands precision, creativity, and a cool head, especially with so much on the line.

With the opening round completed on Friday, it was an indication that the field came prepared to fire up the course. Angel Cabrera lit up the leaderboard with a sizzling 6-under 64 to grab the early lead, setting the pace heading into the weekend. He holds a one-shot advantage, but with experienced contenders like Ernie Els and Miguel Ángel Jiménez, just a few strokes behind, the leaderboard is tightly packed—and anything but predictable.

Jimenez, who fired a 3-under opening round at Minnehaha, is sitting tied for sixth at the Sanford International and is well within striking distance of Cabrera. Jimenez brings stellar form into the week, with four wins and 12 top-10 finishes already this season—numbers that have vaulted him to the top of the Charles Schwab Cup standings. With just five events remaining before the season-ending championship, the Spanish veteran is in prime position to make a serious push for the Cup, and another strong finish in Sioux Falls would only tighten his grip on the lead.

Speaking of the Charles Schwab Cup, only the top 36 players on the points list will advance to the season finale, which will take place from November 10th to 16th at Phoenix Country Club in Arizona. At the end of the season, the top five players in the standings will split a $2.1 million bonus pool (paid as annuities). So it means that every dollar earned this week counts as a point toward that crucial leaderboard, making each shot and every position on the leaderboard this week highly significant.

Apart from so much at stake, the 2025 Sanford International boasts a $2.2 million purse, with $330,000 set aside for the winner, following the PGA Tour Champions’ standard 15% payout model.

Let’s take a look at the prize money breakdown in detail:

With the leaderboard heating up and a huge sum on the line, the 2025 Sanford International also draws one of the largest gatherings of golf fans in the region, turning Sioux Falls into a vibrant hub of excitement and community spirit each fall.

The 2025 Sanford International is a special place for fans

Over the years, the Sanford International has become something more than just a golf tournament. The tournament has become a full-fledged community event, and fans don’t just come from Sioux Falls or nearby —they roll in from North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and all corners of the Midwest. With few major sporting events in the region, this tournament has quickly earned its place as the marquee attraction of the season.

Tournament host Andy North credits that success to both the familiarity of the players and the passion of the people. “It’s not just Sioux Falls. It’s the whole region,” North said. “We have a lot of people that come in from North Dakota, the middle of Minnesota, which is neat. It’s just been a lot of fun to get a world-class event here, and see how it’s grown and how the community has supported it so well,” he added.

And it’s easy to see why the tournament has so much support, as North puts it, “So many of the folks out there that do watch golf, these are guys that they know. So when they show up at 50 years old, everyone knows who they are.” Andy North implied that fans being familiar with the competitors makes the job easier for hosts and sponsors to market the event, hence garnering a huge fan base.

And that local support shows up in more ways than just ticket sales. The tournament fuels a weekend-long buzz around the city—hotels book up, restaurants stay packed, and the golf course transforms into a festival-like atmosphere with food vendors, fan zones, interactive displays, and family-friendly entertainment. For many, it’s not just about watching golf; it’s about being part of something that feels bigger than sport.