Photo Credit: Insperity InvitationalSports
Six World Golf Hall of Famers commit first to 2026 Insperity Invitational
The 2026 Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare is already shaping up to be one of the most star-studded editions in tournament history, as six members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, including Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen, have officially committed to compete.
The Insperity returns to The Woodlands, TX May 4–10, bringing together legends of the game for one of the premier stops on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule.
Ernie Els – affectionately known as “The Big Easy” – will make his sixth consecutive appearance at the event. A global golf great, Els brings a résumé that includes 79 professional victories and triumphs across six continents, including four major championships (2012, 2002 British Open and 1997, 1994 U.S. Open).
“The Woodlands is unbelievable. They have hosted this event on the PGA TOUR Champions for so long, so I’m always excited to be back,” said Els. “It’s a mature golf course – tree-lined, with water hazards that demand precision. You have to manage your ball carefully and read the winds. It’s a great test, and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”
Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2024, Padraig Harrington returns to The Woodlands for the fifth time in his PGA TOUR Champions career. The first player from Ireland to win the Claret Jug in 60 years (2007), Harrington was also the first European to successfully defend his British Open title in nearly a century the following summer (2008). A six-time Ryder Cup European Team Member, Harrington added a third major title to his resume when he also won the 2008 PGA Championship which brought him to third in the Official World Golf Rankings. Harrington is an 11-time winner on the PGA TOUR Champions who brings 41 professional victories worldwide with him to The Insperity where his best finish was T11 last year.
Meanwhile, the most decorated player in PGA TOUR Champions history, Bernhard Langer, is also set to make a highly anticipated return. A four-time champion of The Insperity, Langer continues to redefine longevity in professional golf, amassing 46 victories on the senior circuit and more than 130 worldwide.
“This tournament has a special place in my heart,” said Langer. “It was my first PGA TOUR Champions victory back in 2007, and it’s a fantastic event all around. I also look forward to getting back to The Woodlands.”
Colin Montgomerie will be returning to the Houston area where he played college golf, making his 12th appearance at what he has often called one of his favorite stops on Tour. The Scotsman is arguably the greatest Ryder Cup player ever, and a winner of 53 professional tournaments. Montgomerie’s first three of six PGA TOUR Champions victories were major wins including the 2014 U.S. Senior Open. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013, Montgomerie finished No. 1 eight times on the European Order of Merit.
Vijah Singh, a three-time major champion, will also tee it up once again deep in the heart of Texas. The powerful Fijian has won more than 60 times worldwide including 34 wins on the PGA TOUR, 13 European Tour victories and five wins on both the PGA TOUR Champions and the Asian Tour. Capturing more wins than anyone after the age of 40 was the World Number 1 for 32 weeks between 2004 and 2005. He racked up 13 of his PGA TOUR victories during that two-year period.
Rounding out the group is Retief Goosen. The two-time U.S. Open champion known for his smooth swing and clutch performances on golf’s biggest stages was welcomed into the World Golf Hall of Fame during the 2019 U.S. Open. Goosen is a seven-time winner on the PGA TOUR including his U.S. Open triumphs in 2001 and 2004 and was awarded the European Tour Player of the Year in 2001.
“This legendary lineup represents the very best of professional golf, and these players continue to compete at an elite level while serving as outstanding ambassadors for the game and for our fans,” said Bryan Naugle, Executive Director, The Insperity. “Bringing players of this caliber to The Woodlands speaks directly to our mission — to showcase the very best the game has to offer. We’re proud to continue that tradition by delivering a field that reflects the history, excellence and global appeal of professional golf.”
The Insperity will transition to a fully ticketed event in 2026. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here. The move reflects The Insperity’s continued commitment to making a charitable impact in the local community, with proceeds from ticket sales benefitting Folds of Honor.
“As a tournament built on community and giving back, this transition allows us to turn a wonderful tradition into an even greater force for good,” added Naugle. “By introducing ticketing in 2026, we can provide additional support to Folds of Honor, and the families of those who have sacrificed so much for all of us.”
A PGA TOUR Champions event, The Insperity features the world’s premier golfers age 50 and older. With the support of its Official Sponsors: Woodforest National Bank, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Folds of Honor, MD Anderson, BMW of The Woodlands, Breitling, Workday, Audacy, National Car Rental and Pepsi. The Insperity is managed and operated by Pro Links Sports. The tournament has received the prestigious Presidents Award as the best event on the Champions Tour, the President’s Award for Excellence in Achievement and twice The Players Award for having the “best of everything” for the players, sponsors and spectators. Interfaith of The Woodlands, one of the local charities benefitting from the tournament, was named a PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year. Yes to Youth received the prestigious award in 2025. Past champions include Larry Nelson, Jay Haas, Mark McNulty, four-time winner Bernhard Langer, John Cook, Fred Couples, Brad Faxon, Fred Funk, Esteban Toledo, Ian Woosnam, John Daly, Scott McCarron, Mike Weir, back-to-back winner, Steven Alker, Scott Dunlap and Stewart Cink. For more information about the Tradition of Excellence at The Insperity visit www.insperityinvitational.com, on Instagram @insperityinvitational, Twitter @InsperityInvtnl, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InsperityInvitational.
