PHOENIX — Padraig Harrington had a great day. He backed up his Saturday 65 with a Sunday 65 to win 2022 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. He also broke the 10-year-old Tom Lehman mark and tied the 32-year-old Jack Nicklaus record.
Harrington won the tournament seven shots ahead of Alex Cejka, and eight over Cup series champion Steven Alker.
Harrington’s total of 27 points was equal to Nicklaus’ 1990 Bridgestone Senior Players Championship record. His 257 total is more than Tom Lehman’s 258, which was recorded at the 2012 Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain Club (Cochise), Scottsdale, Arizona.
Harrington led by five shots in the final round, but the margin of victory was not a factor. Because he had to win the final round and have Steven Alker finish outside of the top five, he only had a chance at the season-long title.
Alker finished third solo, with scores of 65-64,68-68 and 68 throughout the week. This was more than enough for him to win his first championship.
Harrington’s Sunday was highlighted by a long putt off the green of the par-3 15th Hole.
DAINED FROM 65 FEET @padraig_h birds 15 and gets to 26 under @SchwabCupFinale. pic.twitter.com/TpfV6umIPi
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour November 13, 2022
After his ball found the cup, Alker gave him a huge smile and took it out for him. That brought him to 26 under. He then got to 27 under with a birdie on the par-3 16th. The final hole was then completed by him.
Harrington was the only player to make all three eagles in the week (the first hole on Saturday), and only two bogeys during 72 holes. Harrington’s first season on the Champions circuit included a major at U.S. Senior Open, and more than $3,000,000 in earnings.
Alker has now won a second and third place in the finale. Alker has won five times and placed in the top 10 of 27 other events during his 33 first starts on this tour.
Cejka rode an “eagle-birdie birdie” start to slide into second. Cejka’s par-5 opening hole eagle was only the third from the field. Thongchai Jaidee had the 18th. Cejka shot 63 to 65 over the weekend.
At 16 under, Stephen Ames, Lee Janzen, and Miguel Angel Jimenez tied for fourth. Retief Goosen was the sole seventh at 15 under.
Bernhard Langer tied for 17th place at 7 under seven days after he won his 44th PGA Tour Champions title. His 45th win won’t be announced until January 2023, when the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai will take place in Hawaii.
Take a look at the money
Harrington won the tournament and was awarded the $440,000 first-place prize. This brings his total season to $3,293,255
Alker’s third place finish in 2022 is worth $210,000. This brings his total for 2022 to $3,564,425. Alker’s career earnings from the senior circuit are now $4,710 and632.
Wait, there’s more. Alker will also receive a $1million bonus for winning the Schwab Cup Series title. This will be paid as a lump sum into a Schwab brokerage accounts.
- First Place: $1,000,000
- Second: $500,000
- Third: $300,000
- Fourth: $200,000
- Fifth: $100,000
