Golf · PGA Tour Champions · 2026

Date & time

29 Mar 2026, 18:15

Round

5

Venue

Newport Country Club

Location

Newport Beach, California, United States

The final 18 holes at the Newport Beach Country Club present a high-stakes sprint for one of the most prestigious titles on the PGA TOUR Champions. The primary challenge for the field is chasing down Stewart Cink, who entered the day with a two-stroke lead following a historic second-round albatross on the 18th hole. For the chasing pack, including the remarkably consistent Steven Alker and Sweden's Freddie Jacobson, the objective is to capitalize on the coastal layout’s early scorable holes before the Sunday pin positions and afternoon sea breezes increase the difficulty. Strategically, the final round is a test of nerves on the Newport Beach greens. The objective for Cink is to utilize his ball-striking advantage to hit middle-of-the-green targets and force the field to catch him. Conversely, the tactical priority for veterans like Ernie Els and Tim Petrovic is to stay aggressive on the par-5s to narrow the gap before the tricky closing stretch. As the legends move through the back nine, the goal for the leader is to maintain composure and avoid a late-round stumble that could open the door for a dramatic Sunday charge.