Zach Johnson fends off Ben Crane by one stroke for Sanford International title, fifth win of season

Things to know

The 36-hole co-leader Zach Johnson closed birdie-birdie on Sunday to edge fellow PGA Tour Champions rookie Ben Crane by one stroke at 11 under to win the Sanford International presented by First PREMIER Bank & Mastercard.

Zach Johnson, 69-64-66 – 199 (-11)

• The 50-year-old earned his fifth win on PGA Tour Champions (14 starts).
  • 2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational (March 6-8)
  • 2026 Principal Charity Classic (June 12-14)
  • 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship (July 9-12)
  • 2026 Portugal Invitational (July 31-Aug. 2)
  • 2026 Sanford International (Sept. 11-13)
• The rookie, who turned 50 on February 24, has 13 top-10 finishes in 14 starts this season.
  • Remains No. 2 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings
• Matched Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink for the most wins this season (five)
• Johnson's five victories in 2026 are the fifth-most single-season wins by a rookie in PGA Tour Champions history.
• Becomes the third player in Sanford International history to win the event in his first appearance
  • Previous instances: Steve Stricker (2018), Miguel Angel Jiménez (2020)
• Becomes the first player to birdie the final hole to win by one stroke on PGA Tour Champions since David Toms (2026 Chubb Classic)
  • Note: Retief Goosen birdied the final hole of the 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Classic (Modified Stableford) to win by two points after starting the hole tied for the lead.
• Improved to 4-for-5 in converting a lead/co-lead entering the final round on PGA Tour Champions into a win
  • Led at the 2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational (Won)
  • Led at the 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Classic (finished third) – Modified Stableford scoring
  • Co-led at the 2026 Principal Charity Classic (Won)
  • Led at the 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship (Won) – 72-hole event
  • Co-led at the 2026 Sanford International (Won)
• Improved to 4-for-6 in finding winner's circle when playing in the last group of the final round on PGA Tour Champions
• Won 12 times on the PGA Tour, including major titles at the 2007 Masters Tournament and 2015 The Open Championship

Most single-season wins by a rookie on PGA Tour Champions

Other notes

• Rookie Ben Crane, who turned 50 years old on March 6, finished runner-up at 10 under. Crane birdied three of his last four holes but a bogey on No. 17 led to a two-shot swing with Zach Johnson, who birdied, in the same group.
  • Moves up to No. 9 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings after starting the week at No. 12
• Five players finished T3 at 8-under:
  • Defending champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Retief Goosen, who earned his third consecutive top-5 finish of the season
  • Mario Tiziani, who carded the low round of the week on Sunday (63)
  • Boo Weekley, who notches his fourth top-3 finish of the season (21 starts)
  • Rookie Ryan Armour, who earned his best finish on PGA Tour Champions (12 starts)
  • Chad Campbell, who earned his best finish on PGA Tour Champions (53 starts)
• One of two 36-hole co-leaders, Jay Jurecic, who open qualified into the Sanford International, closed with 71 to finish T8 and earned his first top-10 finish in a PGA Tour Champions event (four starts).
• The 69-year-old World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer (T15) closed with 67 to shoot his age or better for the 48th time on PGA Tour Champions.
• The 72-year-old Jay Haas (T67) posted 70 to shoot his age or better for the 49th time on PGA Tour Champions.

Sprint to St. Louis presented by Compliance Solutions

• The Sanford International is the first 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.