Zach Johnson denies Harrington to win inaugural Portugal Invitational

Zach Johnson demonstrated the stellar wedge play that previously carried him to victory at the 2007 Masters and 2015 Open, shooting a seven-under-par final round to fend off Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington and claim the first officially sanctioned PGA Tour Champions event in Portugal at The Els Club in Vilamoura.

Playing on a hot and breezy afternoon in the Algarve, the 2023 US Ryder Cup captain started his round with three consecutive birdies, adding two more at the seventh and ninth holes to complete his front nine in 31 strokes and seize control of the tournament.

Even when Johnson mishit a wedge shot on the 11th hole, he holed a clutch putt from off the green to reach 18 under par and cement his grip on the inaugural trophy. Six consecutive pars followed before he closed out with a final-hole birdie to finish on a 19-under total of 197.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Stewart Cink, who led the Champions Tour order of merit entering the week, bounced back from an early bogey at the second hole with four birdies to close within two shots of the lead by the 15th. He carded a two on the short 17th, but it proved too late as the 2009 Open champion finished two strokes behind his fellow American. Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington drove the ball well but struggled with his iron shots and putter, suffering bogeys at the sixth, 13th, and 16th holes after hitting his tee shot into the water.