Full Breakdown
Zach Johnson Captures First Senior Major at Firestone
7/13/2026, 4:34:12 AM
Johnson Claims First Senior Major at Firestone
Zach Johnson secured his inaugural PGA Tour Champions major by winning the 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. He posted a 15-under-par 265 total, bolstered by a third-round 63 that gave him a four-shot lead. Johnson finished six strokes ahead of Boo Weekley, who was runner-up, while Stewart Cink placed fourth. The victory marked Johnson’s third win of his rookie season on the 50-plus tour.
Event Context and Prize Structure
The Kaulig Companies Championship, the tour’s final senior major of the year, featured a $3,500,000 purse, with Johnson receiving $525,000. All earnings are converted into Charles Schwab Cup points at a one-dollar-to-one-point rate during the regular season. Unlike most Champions events, this major included a cut to the top 60 and ties after two rounds, as it is administered by the USGA. The schedule will continue in two weeks with the ISPS Handa Senior British Open Championship in Scotland.
Official Responses and Tour Implications
Johnson’s triumph makes him eligible for next year’s Players Championship and narrows his points gap with Stewart Cink in the Charles Schwab Cup race. Tour officials noted that the Kaulig Companies sponsorship will conclude after this edition, and the Champions Tour will relocate its senior major from Firestone to Newport Beach, California, for the 2027 season.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I love this place. I love it,” — Zach Johnson, player
- “It fits my eye, but it fits me in the sense that you can't fake it around here.” — Zach Johnson
- “My game's good,” — Zach Johnson
- “It's kind of bittersweet if it really truly is the last year,” — Zach Johnson
- “I didn't hit many fairways the last two days, but I made a lot of putts,” — Boo Weekley, player
Upcoming Schedule
Following the Firestone event, the Champions Tour will host the ISPS Handa Senior British Open Championship in Scotland, marking the next major competition on the senior circuit.
