Zach Johnson ended his PGA TOUR Champions debut in style, closing with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory in the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational.
Johnson made an early bogey and that was his only blemish on the scorecard, adding four birdies to pull away from Stewart Cink and George McNeill on the Old Course at Broken Sound.
The two-time major winner who turned 50 three weeks ago, became the 22nd player to win on his Champions Tour debut and the first first time winner on the tour since Tommy Gainey last year.
“Staying in modest shape to play with these guys … because it’s still really good golf, highly competitive on a phenomenal track, I am humbled,” Johnson said. “I am extremely excited, and I have been excited. The first moment I stepped foot on these premises, I was like, ‘Hey, this is special.’”
The 2007 Masters and 2015 Open Champion had not won since he captured The Open Championship at St. Andrews. He was U.S. Ryder Cup captain at Marco Simone in 2023, losing to Europe.
Pádraig Harrington saved his best for last as he closed with a 65 to salvage a share of 4th place on six-under-par alongside former Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson.
Harrington was bogey free as he rolled in seven birdies on Sunday.
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