Taylor Wins 1st PGA Tour Champions Title in Playoff!

Vaughn Taylor claimed the title at the Constellation Furyk & Friends – and in a hard-fought playoff against Alex Cejka. The 50-year-old finally crowns his first victory on the PGA Tour Champions, a real statement after a long dry spell and health setbacks. After 54 holes, he was tied with Cejka at 17 under par (65-66-68), but Taylor sealed the deal on the second extra hole.

The playoff was intense. After both players completed the first extra hole with par, Taylor pulled out the decisive shot on the second. He placed his 7-iron about 3 meters (10 feet) from the flag and sank the birdie putt ice-cold. Cejka could no longer keep up. Particularly impressive was Taylor's journey to get there: After an initial deficit on the back nine, he unleashed a flurry of five consecutive birdies, catapulting himself back into contention.

Comeback of a Champion

This triumph is more than just a victory; it's a statement. Since his third PGA Tour win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2016, Taylor had not claimed another title. At 50 years old and with a persistent hip injury that marked his recent PGA Tour seasons, his status on the Tour in 2026 was limited. This victory now secures him a full exemption for the entire 2027 PGA Tour Champions season. On top of that, he also received a hefty $330,000 in prize money.

The Competition Was Left Behind

The competition was huge, but in the end, they had to concede. Michael Wright finished in third place, one shot back, and golf icon Angel Cabrera was among the five players who were just behind. For the Champions Tour, it's one event after another, as the next highlight, the SAS Championship, is already scheduled for next week.