Twenty-one years after a forgettable World Cup, Johnson and close friend Stewart Cink return to the Algarve to finish first and second at the Els Golf Course
— August 3
“Who would have thought?” Zach Johnson certainly didn’t back in 2005, when he and Stewart Cink left Vilamoura after a forgettable World Cup, well down the leaderboard. Twenty-one years later, the same two Americans returned to the Algarve and rewrote the script, finishing first and second at the inaugural Portugal Invitational at the Els Golf Course in Vilamoura.
Johnson, 50 and now initiating his senior career, finished with a brilliant 65 on Sunday to secure a victory at 19-under-par, two strokes ahead of Cink. He claimed the title as the event’s first champion and demonstrated an impressive debut season on PGA TOUR Champions: four wins in 11 starts, a senior major title and top-10 finishes in every event. He hasn’t merely entered the over-50 ranks; he’s kicked the door off its hinges.
“Who would have thought we would finish one-two, considering how poorly we played here 20-something years ago,” Johnson said afterwards, grinning at the memory Cink had evoked as they walked off the final green.
Sentimentality ended there. Sunday’s golf was ruthless. Johnson said the front nine – especially the tough seventh hole – was key to his win. “That hole is probably the hardest on the course,” he said. “I hit a great drive and then a punch hybrid from 214 yards. Having a five- or six-foot birdie putt there was huge. I felt I gained at least half a shot on the field.”
That birdie sparked a hot front nine and gave him enough cushion to hit fairways, find greens and attack only when it made sense. “That start really was a nice catapult and gave me some freedom on the back nine,” he explained. “I just kept hitting fairways and stayed aggressive whenever I had the opportunity.”
The win does more than just add another trophy. It shifts the season-long Race for the Charles Schwab Cup into a direct showdown between Johnson and Cink, who has also secured four victories this year and remains at the top of the standings – although only by a small margin.
Despite the tightening race, Johnson insists the rivalry is purely numerical. “Stewart’s one of my best friends in the world. I want him to win every week – especially if I don’t,” he said. “If I have an opportunity to win the Charles Schwab Cup, I’m going to work like heck to do it. But if I don’t and Stewart does, I’ll be the first one to take my hat off and shake his hand.”
The inaugural Portugal Invitational was also a landmark for the PGA TOUR Champions, marking its first visit to the Els Golf Course in Vilamoura – and the venue earned glowing reviews from its first winner. “It’s very special to be the inaugural champion of a tournament associated with Ernie and Liezl and the whole Els family,” Johnson said. “I consider Ernie an absolute role model on and off the golf course. To have my name associated with his is distinctly an honour.”
Far from critiquing the new stop, Johnson sounded smitten with both the course and the setting. “This week has exceeded all my expectations,” he said. “I think it’s great that PGA TOUR Champions is travelling more internationally. It’s great for the game, it’s great for us to experience places like this, and I’ve loved every minute of being here.” The Algarve’s hospitality helped. “I’ve had amazing food all week, whether here at the hotel, in the marina or at local restaurants,” he added. “The seafood has been spectacular… and I’m going to eat a lot tonight.”
The Portugal Invitational was far from a novice event behind the scenes. It featured a prestigious line-up of partners, including Arrow Global, Vilamoura, Visit Portugal, Visit Algarve, Mercedes-Benz, Kress, Reflo, Dils, Deloitte, Lusíadas Saúde, Loulé, Heritage Wines, Heineken, Nespresso, Pacheca, Vista Alegre, and InfraMoura. This helped deliver a tournament that looked professional from the start, with high-quality broadcast coverage, an exceptional layout, and a field of some of the most recognisable golf stars over 50.
Article originally by Alexandra Stilwell for Essential Algarve
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