Portugal Invitational remaining leaderboard
-19 Z Johnson (US); -17 S Cink (US); -15 P Harrington (Ire); -13 T O’Neal (US); -12 MA Jimenez (Spa), M Lundberg (Swe).
Chosen others: -10 J Leonard (US); -9 D Clarke (NI), R Goosen (SA); R Sabbatini (Svk); -8 E Els (SA), D Duval (US), YE Yang (Kor); -7 J Donaldson (Wal); -6 B Langer (Ger).
Zach Johnson shot a seven-under-par remaining spherical to carry off Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington within the inaugural Portugal Invitational at The Els Membership in Vilamoura.
The occasion, hosted by four-time main champion Ernie Els on a course he redesigned, attracted a star-studded discipline for the primary formally sanctioned PGA Tour Champions occasion to be staged in Portugal.
Johnson confirmed the identical dexterity along with his wedge play as he did when successful the 2007 Masters and 2015 Open to cruise to a two-stroke victory within the groundbreaking $3m occasion.
On a scorching however breezy day within the Algarve, Johnson opened with three consecutive birdies and added two extra on the seventh and ninth to exit in 31 and take cost of the event.
Even when Johnson produced a modest wedge shot, as he did on the eleventh, he holed the putt from off the inexperienced to get to 18 beneath and place one hand on the inaugural trophy.
Six consecutive pars adopted earlier than the 2023 US Ryder Cup captain closed with a birdie to complete on a 19-under complete of 197.
Stewart Cink, chief of the Champions Tour’s order of advantage forward of Johnson and Harrington, bogeyed the second gap however bounced again with 4 birdies to get to inside two of the lead on the fifteenth.
He made a two on the brief seventeenth nevertheless it was too little too late because the 2009 Open champion completed two strokes behind his compatriot.
Harrington, the 2026 US Senior Open champion, drove the ball properly however was let down by detached iron play and a cool putter.
He opened with a birdie and picked up one other shot on the fifth however bogeys on the sixth, the thirteenth and the sixteenth – after discovering water off the tee – prevented him placing stress on Johnson.
“I received off to the dream begin and I actually felt just like the putt stepping into on seven was key. I had a few putts that lipped in that would have lipped out, and that was the distinction,” mentioned Johnson.
“Our host Ernie is all class and what he has executed with this facility is so spectacular. It is nice for us professionals but additionally playable for newcomers – and the Algarve typically is simple to like and laborious to depart.”
