Ernie Els leads by two after Round 1 at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship

Things to Know

• World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els opened with bogey-free 63 to take a two-stroke lead over 2023 winners Thongchai Jaidee, Harrison Frazar and Stephen Ames.

Ernie Els, 32-31 – 63 (-8)

Charles Schwab Cup standings – Start: 5th / Projected: 2nd

• Matched his low 18-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions (252nd round)

- Previous instance: 2021 Dominion Energy Charity Classic (Final Round)

• This is his fourth time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions

- Is 0-for-3 converting those into victories

• The 54-year-old seeks his fourth win on PGA TOUR Champions (81st start)

• Seeks his second win of the 2023 season (23rd start)

- Previous win: Hoag Classic (March 17-19)

- Enters the week with four consecutive top-10 finishes (T4-T3-T7-T4)

• Looks to become the sixth multi-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions, joining Steve Stricker (6), Stephen Ames (4), David Toms (2), Bernhard Langer (2) and Padraig Harrington (2)

• Making his third appearance at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, his best finish is T5 (2020)

Thongchai Jaidee – 31-34 – 65 (-6)

Charles Schwab Cup standings – Start: 19th / Projected: 13th

• Matched his second-lowest 18-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions (176th round)

• Turned 54 years old on Wednesday and seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (58th start)

• Seeks his second win of the 2023 season (25th start)

- Previous win: PURE Insurance Championship (Sept. 22-24)

• Looks to become the sixth multi-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions, joining Steve Stricker (6), Stephen Ames (4), David Toms (2), Bernhard Langer (2) and Padraig Harrington (2)

• Making his second appearance at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, he finished T12 in 2022

Harrison Frazar, 34-31 – 65 (-6)

Charles Schwab Cup standings – Start: 12th / Projected: 9th

• The 52-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (43rd start)

• Seeks his second win of the 2023 season (24th start)

- Previous win: Dominion Energy Charity Classic (Oct. 20-22)

• Looks to become the sixth multi-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions, joining Steve Stricker (6), Stephen Ames (4), David Toms (2), Bernhard Langer (2) and Padraig Harrington (2)

• Is making his debut at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship

- Previous finishes in the Charles Schwab Cup standings: 52nd (2022), 97th (2020-21)

Stephen Ames, 32-33 – 65 (-6)

Charles Schwab Cup standings – Start: 7th / Projected: 4th

• The 59-year-old seeks his seventh win on PGA TOUR Champions (197th start)

• Seeks his fifth win of the 2023 season (23rd start)

- Previous wins: Trophy Hassan II (Feb. 9-11), Mitsubishi Electric Classic (May 5-7), Principal Charity Classic (June 2-4), Boeing Classic (Aug. 11-13)

• Looks to become the second five-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions, joining Steve Stricker (6)

• Making his seventh appearance at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, he has four top-10 finishes

- Best finish: T4 (2022)

Other Notes

• Miguel Angel Jimenez and World Golf Hall of Fame member Retief Goosen sit T5 after each opening with 5-under 66.

• Reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner Steven Alker (T7) birdied five of his first six holes but played his final 12 holes in 1-over en route to 4-under 67.

• Charles Schwab No. 2 Bernhard Langer, a six-time winner of the Charles Schwab Cup, sits T11 after shooting 3-under 69.

• Defending champion Padraig Harrington and 2015 champion Billy Andrade are among the players T16 after each opening with 2-under 69.

• Playing as a single in the first tee time of the day, No. 36 Rob Labritz (T16) played in 2 hours and 47 minutes.