Tucson's Cologuard Classic 'is about so much more than golf'

The Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences is teeing off for the third straight season — and the tournament's purpose could make it the most attended one to date. 

Tucson's PGA Tour Champions event, now entering its 12th season since forming in 2015, will be at La Paloma Country Club from March 20-22. The 78-player field will compete for a share of the tournament's $2.2 million purse.

Ever since Cologuard and Exact Sciences — an at-home colorectal cancer screening service — became the title sponsor of the tournament, the event's purpose, in addition to hosting a high-level golf tournament, is to bring awareness to colorectal cancer screening.

In recent years, colorectal survivors and others who have been affected by the disease have trekked to Tucson to be recognized by the tournament and to be honored by a player in the field. For the sixth year in a row, each player in the Cologuard Classic will wear a blue ribbon in honor of someone or a patient or survivor of colorectal cancer. 

Wendi Hawkins will be in Tucson for the Cologuard Classic on behalf of her late husband, Todd, who died three years ago from colorectal cancer. Todd Hawkins will be honored by defending Cologuard Classic champion Steven Alker, who will wear a blue ribbon with Hawkins' name.

"For him to be chosen, it was overwhelming," said Wendi Hawkins. "I don't have the words for it. I know this will mean a lot to my husband's family. It's really cool."

Added Hawkins: "This tournament really brings all levels of the advocacy community together — patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates and organizations that dedicate themselves to improving outcomes and funding research. There's nothing else like it." 

The number of attendees who are impacted by colorectal cancer has grown from "roughly a dozen" in the first year, to more than 400 this upcoming season. The survivors, caregivers or family members affected by colorectal cancer are coming from 38 states, Washington D.C., Canada and England. 

Among the attendees: Simone Boseman, the wife of the late actor Chadwick Boseman. The "Black Panther" and "42" actor died from colorectal cancer at 43 years old in 2020. Simone Boseman will sing the national anthem to kick off the tournament on the 15th green, which will be capped by a military flyover. 

Actor James Van Der Beek died this month following his battle with colorectal cancer. Van Der Beek, who was 48, was an outspoken advocate for getting screened for colorectal cancer. 

"James is certainly a celebrity, and it's a horrible outcome, but we're grateful that he was willing to tell his story, because so many people are not," said Bryan Goettel, the director of advocacy at Exact Sciences. "It opened up a lot of eyes. Here's a guy who was relatively healthy and was active.

"How does someone like James Van Der Beek get colon cancer? It's an eye-opener, especially now that we've learned that colon cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer-related death of people under 50 years old. It's a wake-up call, but it's a reminder for the general public that if you're over 45 years old, there's no reason you shouldn't be screened for colon cancer."

Award-winning actress Catherine O'Hara died from a coronary embolism, but the underlying condition was rectal cancer, said Goettel. 

"It's been a hard year for this community, to hear big names that have been impacted by it," said Goettel. "It's a motivator to get the word out for the importance of screening." 

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Bringing awareness to colorectal cancer screening "is a passion that we share" and "it's something to be proud of," said Cologuard Classic chairman Dan Nentl, who's in his ninth year as a Tucson Conquistador.

Since the first Cologuard Classic, more than 20 million people have been screened for colorectal cancer through Cologuard. The tournament "is about so much more than golf. There really isn't an event like this, that just celebrates this community," Goettel said.  

"This isn't hyperbole, it has become one of the largest gathering places in the world for the colon cancer community," he added. "To think of the role we played to help create that environment for people to be together, to celebrate survivorship, to mourn together, to learn about clinical trial from somebody, it means a lot.

"When you realize what this event means to the people who are a part of it, it motivates the heck out of you every day to make this the best event possible."

Tiger to Tucson?

There's a non-zero chance golf legend Tiger Woods will be one of the players at the Cologuard Classic this year. 

Woods, who hasn't made a start since 2024 after undergoing a seventh back surgery, recently turned 50 years old — the eligible age to join PGA Tour Champions — and wants to play at the Masters in April. 

“It's challenging,” Woods told reporters last week. “And now I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart. That's something that, as I said, I won't do out here on this (PGA) Tour because I don't believe in it. But on the Champions Tour, there's certainly that opportunity.” 

The Cologuard Classic was the first PGA Tour Champions tournament to offer every player a cart during tournament play to navigate the hilly La Paloma Country Club course. Nentl said "the chances are slim" to get Woods for this year. 

"Believe me, we've asked the leadership committee of (PGA Tour Champions)," added the Cologuard Classic chairman. "Be careful what you ask for, because if Tiger were to show up, we would go from 8,000 or 9,000 in a day, to having 25,000 in a day. Do we have the infrastructure to make it work? The answer is yes.

"Who would benefit? Tucson, Arizona. We would make it work. We would have to triple up on our security, but we would make it work. He can ride in a cart and this is one of the first ones you can do that. ... It would be fantastic, but I don't see it happening." 

Chip shots

– La Paloma Country Club will have spectator tents and viewing areas for patrons from Holes 15-18. The 15th green will be the Cactus Club, where every birdie rewards patrons with $2 beers. Active military or veterans will get free admission to the Military Outpost on the 16th green "and we provide food and beverage for those who make our country great," Nentl said. The 17th green will be known as Club 62 (the Tucson Conquistadores were founded in 1962). 

– The Cologuard Classic will be adding two new events this year: a youth clinic on March 17 and Folds of Honor Friday (March 20). More than $60,000 will be distributed to local military families in need.

– Spectators can make a minimum $5 donation before the tournament or bring a non-perishable food item on Saturday in exchange for a complimentary general admission ticket. Exact Sciences will match every dollar donated to the Community Food Bank up to $10,000.

– PGA Tour Champions begins its season on March 6 at the James Hardie Pro Football HOF Invitational.