Tim Brown claims first place at inaugural golf tournament with Pro Football Hall of Famers, PGA pros

Legendary PGA TOUR Champions golfers and Pro Football Hall of Famers teamed up at the Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Florida, for the inaugural James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational last week.

In addition to the 54-hole PGA stroke-play tournament, the event included a team competition featuring legends from each sport.

On Friday and Saturday, 26 two-person teams — one PGA TOUR Champions player and one football legend — played two-man best-ball. The recorded score for each hole was either the PGA player’s gross score or the football legend’s net score.

TIM BROWN,(Opens in a new window) Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015, paired with Tim O’Neal, winner of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in 2024, and won the inaugural team competition at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational by four strokes.

“This has been an incredible week for the Hall of Famers,” Brown said during his post-victory remarks. “We look to play golf any place we can play golf, and to be able to play it in this atmosphere is incredible.”

Ángel Cabrera won the PGA TOUR Champions event by finishing 11 under par (68-66-71—205). 

Cabrera started the week as second alternate and got into the field when Mark Hensby withdrew. It was the second consecutive week with an alternate winning the scheduled PGA TOUR Champions event. (Steve Allan, an alternate at the outset, won at last week’s Galleri Classic).

Additional details about the event can be found here.(Opens in a new window) 

Plans already are underway for a second annual James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in early 2026 with a similar format.

Creating the connection

The concept for the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational developed from an idea from Barber, one of the Hall’s most ardent golfers. While serving as general chair of the Valspar Championship, he contemplated uniting Pro Football Hall of Famers and PGA TOUR players in an event.

By connecting Pro Links Sport, an event management company; James Hardie, a leader in North American home-building products; and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Barber’s vision became reality.

At the time of the announcement of the partnership, PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady said: “PGA TOUR Champions features the legends of golf competing each week, and this event offers the unique opportunity for them to tee it up alongside iconic football players, creating an unforgettable experience for both players and fans.”

Aaron Erter, chief executive officer of James Hardie, recognized community charity partners that will benefit from the cooperative effort.

“We’re most excited about the possibilities this platform will offer us to activate our purpose, ‘Building A Better Future for All,’” Erter said. “As part of our commitment to help build more resilient communities, I’m proud to announce Habitat for Humanity International and First Tee will serve as the cornerstone charity partners of the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational.

“This will allow us to continue our long-standing support of Habitat’s vision to ensure everyone has a decent place to live, as well as help kids build the strength of character to weather a lifetime of new challenges through the incredible First Tee life-skills curriculum.”