German golf legend Bernhard Langer sank a long birdie putt at the final hole to win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship and hand the season-long Schwab Cup trophy to New Zealand’s Steven Alker on Sunday at Phoenix (Ariz.) Country Club.
Langer, 67, shot his age or better for the third day in a row with his final-round, 5-under-par 66 to get to 18-under 266 for the week at the PGA Tour Champions’ season finale. He hadn’t won a tournament this season until Sunday, meaning at the last possible minute he extended his streak to 18 straight seasons winning at least one title.
Langer also extended his record to 47 wins on the PGA Tour Champions.
“Was that exciting or what?” Langer said on the Golf Channel broadcast.
Alker, 53, won his second Schwab Cup in three seasons on the 50-and-older circuit. He entered the week No. 2 in the points race and passed leader Ernie Els of South Africa by tying for second in the 72-hole finale.
Langer hit a poor tee shot and second shot at the 17th hole, leading to a bogey and a three-way tie at 17 under with Alker and Richard Green of Australia. Green was in the clubhouse with a 6-under 65 and preparing for a possible playoff at 17-under 267. He entered the week No. 6 in points and needed to win the tournament to win the Schwab Cup.
Langer landed his approach shot at the par-5 18th much further than Alker, but his putt turned from left to right at the last second and dropped for a massive birdie. Langer dropped his putter and tossed his visor in celebration.
Langer said his caddie, Terry Holt, had told him, “It’s one more putt.”
“He’s a prophet, I guess,” Langer said.
Alker then left his birdie try short, failing to force a playoff. But with Green also coming up short, Alker had the Schwab Cup in the bag.
“It’s been a heck of a journey,” Alker said at the trophy presentation before thanking his team. “… Obviously, I would have liked to win today, but Bernhard, we’re gonna give a hand for Bernhard because he’s incredible. He really is.”
Alker shot a 66 with six birdies and one bogey, following Saturday’s hugely important round of 63. He collected the Schwab Cup despite winning just one tournament this season, the season opener in Hawaii. But he had four runners-up and 15 top-10s entering the week.
“It’s a season-long race, right, and so consistency, you want to try to get some wins in there as well,” Alker said. “I’m proud of the fact that I kept that consistency over the last few years.”
Langer arrived at the course with a one-shot lead over Alker through 54 holes. He birdied his first four in a row and six of his first nine for a 6-under 30 before bogeying Nos. 10 and 11.
“I played good and then got a little unraveled there on the back nine, and Steven Alker got going,” Langer said.
Alker birdied Nos. 14, 15 and 17 to join the late tie with Langer and Green.
Germany’s Alex Cejka (68) was a distant fourth at 13 under. Australian Rod Pampling also shot 68 and placed fifth at 10 under.
Els came in a tie for 13th at 7 under after posting a final-round 67, his best round of the week. The former World No. 1 was seeking his first Schwab Cup.
