DELOFTED golfers, listen up! Stewart Cink has struck again, claiming victory at the Hoag Classic. The 52-year-old triumphed on Sunday at Newport Beach Country Club, securing his sixth title on the PGA Tour Champions and his third in just five starts this season. With a stellar round and a total of 19-under par, he distanced Zach Johnson and two-time champion Ernie Els by a full four strokes. What a statement!
Cink's Dominance on the Green
Cink already held the lead after 36 holes, following his albatross on the 18th hole on Saturday. That gave him a two-shot lead heading into the final round. On Sunday, he shot a 66 and never relinquished the lead – he was really dialed in on the greens! His 54-hole score of 194, by the way, is the second-lowest in the 30-year history of the Hoag Classic; only Jay Haas (2007) and David Frost (2013) posted similar scores. Other golfers also had strong starts: Charlie Wi, Brian Gay, and Freddie Jacobson tied for fifth place at 14-under. Charlie Wi, in particular, stepped up his game on the final day but narrowly missed an eagle attempt on the par-5 15th hole – the ball unfortunately lipped out.
Form Check: There's More to Come!
For Cink, this victory is already his second of the 2026 season in only four starts! In January, he already claimed the title at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. This makes him the first player to win multiple times on the PGA Tour Champions this season. His current form is simply incredible: In his last six starts, including last season, it looked like this: Fourth, Winner, Winner, T-2nd, T-6th, and now Winner again! No wonder he also leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings – he is, after all, the reigning Charles Schwab Cup champion from last year. What makes Cink particularly strong? His driving! He averaged 298 yards (273 meters) off the tee – the second-best mark in the field. And that on a course that, according to Cink himself, rewards length more than most others on the Champions Tour.
