Vaughn Taylor defeats Alex Cejka in playoff to capture first PGA Tour Champions victory at Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS

In his tournament debut, Vaughn Taylor defeated Alex Cejka with a birdie on the second playoff hole (No. 18) at Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K, earning his first PGA Tour Champions title.

Vaughn Taylor, 65-66-68 – 199 (-17)

• Forced a playoff with a 4-under 68, playing the back nine in 4-under 32, then defeated Cejka with a birdie at the par-5 18th on the second playoff hole. The pair tied the first playoff hole (No. 18) with pars
• En route to victory, set his longest birdie streak on PGA Tour Champions (5, Nos. 10-14)
  • Accomplished a five-hole birdie streak five times on the PGA Tour (most recent: R3/2020 American Express)
• The rookie earns first PGA Tour Champions title in his 18th start since turning 50 years old in March
• Made 459 starts on the PGA Tour from 2004 to 2023 and won three times
  • Last win: 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
• Snapped a winless streak of 3,892 days (or 10 years, 7 months and 27 days) on PGA Tour-sanctioned Tours
• Became the fifth first-time winner of the 2026 season
  • Zach Johnson (James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational)
  • Boo Weekley (The Insperity)
  • Scott Hend (Trophy Hassan II)
  • Ben Crane (American Family Insurance Championship) – team event with partner Darren Clarke
• Won the 2003 Knoxville Open on the Korn Ferry Tour (81 starts)
• Becomes the 26th player to win on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour
  • Previous instance: Ben Crane (American Family Insurance Championship)
• Entered the week at No. 37 in the Charles Schwab Cup with four top-10 finishes including a T7 at Portugal Invitational and moves No. 21 in the Charles Schwab Cup
• Joins Alex Cejka in carding the low 54-hole-score at Constellation FURYK & FRIENDShistory (199)
  • Previous low: 201 (Phil Mickelson, 2021)
  • Note: this event was played at Timuquana Country Club (Jacksonville, Florida) from 2021 to 2025
• Last playoff on PGA Tour Champions (2026 Rogers Charity Classic; Steven Alker def. Y.E. Yang)

Other notes

• Alex Cejka (2nd) closed with a 7-under 65 and lost to Taylor at the par-4 18th on the second playoff hole
  The 55-year-old was seeking his fifth PGA Tour Champions title after winning the 2025 SAS Championship; he moves to 2-1 in playoffs in his PGA Tour Champions career (def. Padraig Harrington in 2023 ISPS HANDA Senior Open; def. Steve Stricker in 2021 Regions Tradition)
• Marks the ninth runner-up finish of his PGA Tour Champions career in his 140th start
• Entered the week at No. 17 in the Charles Schwab Cup and moved to No. 11 with the runner-up finish
• Australian Michael Wright (3rd) finished with a double bogey on No. 18 to card a final-round 3-under 69 in his third appearance at the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS (T65/2024; T56/2025); was seeking his first PGA Tour Champions victory in 66 starts.
• In his Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS debut, 36-hole leader Mathew Goggin (T4) closed with a 1-over 73 to earn his first top-10 finish on PGA Tour Champions; was seeking first PGA Tour Champions victory in 14th start.
• Nine-time PGA Tour Champions winner Stewart Cink cards 4-under 68 to finish T20, which marks his lowest finish this season (previous: T11/ISPS HANDA Senior Open). He remains atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
• Eighteen-hole leader Ryan Armour (T4) closed with a 3-under 69, marking the rookie’s second-best finish on PGA Tour Champions (best: T3, 2026 Sanford International).
• Tag Ridings posted Sunday’s low round, 8-under 64, climbing 18 spots to T9.
• World Golf Hall of Fame member and 69-year-old Bernhard Langer (12th) carded a bogey-free 66 to shoot his age or better for the 50th time on the PGA Tour Champions.

Sprint to St. Louis presented by Compliance Solutions

• The Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS was the fourth of six events in the Sprint to St. Louis presented by Compliance Solutions.
• The three highest Charles Schwab Cup points earners among the final five regular-season events will be deemed finalists for the Sprint to St. Louis.
• The three finalists will head to the Stifel Charity Classic with the best finisher among them claiming the $200,000 winner-take-all prize.