Standing beneath the cloudy sky of Henrico, Virginia, this veteran golfer fought hard to hold back tears. For Mario Tiziani, a T55 at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, with a prize money payout from the $2.3 million purse, meant that he has secured a final playoff spot for the second stage of the Charles Schwab Cup Playoff. As the rain-induced wind ruffled through, a visibly drained but finally at peace 55-year-old journeyman shared his true feelings.

“I played my heart out. Man, it’s stressful. I literally just found out, if it’s for sure, 54, so I’m excited for next week,” he said, choking on his words. When asked about his emotions, Tiziani replied with tears in his eyes, “Just a hard year. I’m proud of myself today. I haven’t been proud of myself this year, but today was – I played hard.”

For Tiziani, finishing tied for 55th at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course was not merely about a higher rank in the Championship Tour. It was more about survival. Entering the week ranked 51st in the Charles Schwab Cup, he was on the edge of the cutoff for the next stage of the PGA TOUR Champions playoffs, where only the top 54 advance. He knew that a bad performance would push him further down. And after rounds of 75 and 73, it was projected to happen. But as the final scores trickled in, Tiziani’s fate changed.

His third round saw him finish 1 under, and he ended the tournament with a 3-over par. And, for this, he had to hold onto a mindset.

When asked about the same, the Michigan native replied, “Just to trust myself for a change. I knew it was going to be hard. I was happy it was going to be hard.” He then adds, “I seem to have played well in tough conditions this year, and I knew it was to my benefit. You know, I knew I needed help from guys, that stunk, but I figured if I put up a good round, it would help as well.”

The event was eventually won by Justin Leonard (12 under par) after a dramatic eagle on the final hole. He edged out Ernie Els and Thomas Bjørn. Both shared the second place with an overall 11 under par.

And though the score might not look as attractive as the other players on the roster, for Tiziani, it is sort of like a redemption. This is a man who returned to competitive golf in 2022 after a 11-year hiatus. Once a PGA Tour pro in 2005, he had stepped away from the game to work as a sports agent, representing players like his brother-in-law, Steve Sticker. Playing again was not in his plan until Stricker offered him an exemption into his own American Family Insurance Championship.

But the journey back was not easy. As Tiziani mentions, his 2025 was particularly hard. His lone top-10 came at the Chubb Classic in February, where he was tied for 12th after a brief shared lead. He later finished T16 at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. After that, he spent most of his year hovering around the lower half of the standings: T41 at the Galleri Classic, T44 at the Senior PGA, and a T29 at the Dick’s Open.

But with this performance at the Dominion Energy, Tiziani finally permitted himself to feel proud again. “Just something to build on,” he said, composing himself. “I’ve got next week, and you never know what can happen. Feel like I got a new lease to play next week.”

Now all he needs is to brace himself for the upcoming weeks.

Mario Tiziani’s next lease

Now that Mario Tiziani is in the second stage of the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, his battle becomes a little more challenging. He will now contest at the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas, this week, from October 24 to 26. This event will feature 54 players, with Mario sitting at the edge of the list. Played over 54 holes with no cut, it will have a $2 M purse (approx) and points to elevate the players to the final showdown.

For Tiziani, the math is simple. He would need to finish high enough to jump atleast 18 spots and reach the top 36, which is the cutoff for the season-ending Championship in Phoenix. A finish inside the top 25 can give him the points he would need. Fortunately, Pleasant Valley Country Club’s windy and firm layout might suit him. He’s shown all season that he thrives when the conditions turn tough, just as he did in Virginia.

If everything goes accordingly, Tiziani could find himself teeing it up in Phoenix next month (5-9 November) for the first time in his career. The event will be a five-round reduced field, where the Charles Schwab Cup Champion will be crowned.