Zach Johnson secured a two-stroke victory at the inaugural Portugal Invitational after shooting a seven-under-par final round at The Els Club in Vilamoura, according to tournament reports. Johnson finished with a 19-under-par total of 197, holding off runner-up Stewart Cink and third-place finisher Padraig Harrington in the $3 million PGA Tour Champions event.
Zach Johnson Dominates Algarve Course to Claim Inaugural Trophy
Zach Johnson utilized precise wedge play to navigate the hot and breezy conditions in the Algarve, clinching the first officially sanctioned PGA Tour Champions tournament held in Portugal. According to tournament records, Johnson opened his final round with three consecutive birdies before adding further gains at the seventh and ninth holes to post an outward-nine score of 31.
Even when a wedge shot on the 11th hole missed the green, Johnson holed the subsequent putt from off the playing surface to reach 18 under par. Six consecutive pars preceded a closing birdie that sealed his victory at 19-under 197. “I got off to the dream start and I really felt like the putt going in on seven was key,” Johnson said, according to event reports.
Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington Round Out the Top Three
Stewart Cink, who leads the Champions Tour order of merit, recovered from an early bogey on the second hole to mount a back-nine challenge. Cink carded four birdies and a two at the short 17th hole to finish at 17 under par, two strokes behind Johnson, as detailed by tournament scorecards.
Padraig Harrington, the 2026 US Senior Open champion, finished in third place at 15 under par after driving the ball effectively but struggling with his iron play and putting. Harrington opened with a birdie and added another at the fifth, but bogeys at the sixth, 13th, and 16th—the latter following a shot into the water—halted his momentum.
Final Leaderboard and Notable Finishes at The Els Club
The star-studded field competed on a course redesigned by four-time major champion Ernie Els. “Our host Ernie is all class and what he has done with this facility is so impressive,” Johnson said of the venue, according to published reports.
| Player | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Zach Johnson | United States | -19 |
| Stewart Cink | United States | -17 |
| Padraig Harrington | Ireland | -15 |
| T O’Neal | United States | -13 |
| MA Jimenez / M Lundberg | Spain / Sweden | -12 |
Further down the leaderboard, J Leonard finished at 10 under par, while D Clarke, R Goosen, and R Sabbatini finished at nine under. Ernie Els, David Duval, and YE Yang completed the tournament at eight under par.
Did You Know? The Portugal Invitational marks the first time a PGA Tour Champions event has been officially sanctioned and played in Portugal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the inaugural Portugal Invitational?
Zach Johnson won the event with a 19-under-par total of 197 after shooting a final-round seven-under-par at The Els Club in Vilamoura.
What was the prize fund for the Portugal Invitational?
The groundbreaking tournament featured a total purse of $3 million, according to event summaries.
Who designed the course used for the tournament?
The Els Club in Vilamoura was redesigned by four-time major champion Ernie Els, who also served as the tournament host.
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