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Stewart Cink rides albatross into Hoag Classic lead

March 29, 2026

NEWPORT BEACH — Stewart Cink was 205 yards from his final hole of Saturday’s Hoag Classic when his caddy, Chris P. Jones, had a suggestion.

“One more swing,” Jones told Cink.

It was a reminder, not a prediction.

Cink turned it into a statement with an albatross to cap his 9-under par day at the Newport Beach Country Club, good for a 14-under score and a two-stroke cushion heading into today’s final round.

Closest in Cink’s rear-view mirror are Steven Alker and Freddie Jacobson. Three shots back sit Ernie Els and Tim Petrovic.

”Kind of had to work my way into the round a little bit,” Jacobson said, seeking his first Champions win. “Played pretty steady on the back 9.”

Cink was on cloud nine after his amazing shot.

”It was a heck of a walk-off,” Cink said. “To be honest, I wasn’t aiming over toward the flag. I hit a little bit of a push, but I hit it really solid. I knew when it took off, it was going to be the right distance, but is it going to go in the hole? You never know that, it’s luck from that point.”

What an ending it was for Cink, 52, as he continues his charmed sprint through the PGA Tour Champions.

His rare shot brought with it the day’s loudest cheers, and it came with two hearty handshakes from his celebrated playing partners, Padraig Harrington and Els.

”When the crowd reacted,” Cink said, ”it was pretty awesome.”

Cink smoked a 6 iron, with the ball just clearing the ridge protecting the green. Four bounces and a roll later, Cink, who couldn’t see the pin’s bottom, went into his albatross celebration mode.

He put his knuckles together near his belt buckle, and yeah, he’s not sure where that came from either.

”No, that’s not something we practice,” Cink said of his pose. ”That’s a rare thing that happens.”

It was a topsy-turvy day atop the leaderboard as Jacobson and Alker, who won last week in Arizona, were tied at 11-under at the turn, with Cink one back.

Then Cink, who had three birdies on the front 9, revved his game.

He produced four birdies and that albatross on 18, and it was such a good trek that Cink could laugh about his bogey on 16.

After his three-putt there, Cink gave away his ball, parred 17 and hit a shot that will long be remembered as the second albatross in tournament history.

Ian Woosnam did it in 2016, marking the first time Cink accomplished it on the Champions Tour after accomplishing it once on the PGA Tour.

Among the reasons Cink is in this spot is because he’s been spot-on navigating the par 5s. He played six of them in two rounds to the tune of 9-under.

”I think we’re really dialed in on just trying to stay in the moment and planning shots and executing shots,” Cink said.

Cink’s campaign is resembling his successful 2025.

He won three events last year, won the Schwab Cup for the most points in the season, was named the player of the year, led in prize money ($3.2 million), and was second in stroke average (68.77).

This year, the irons and everything else stayed hot. He won the Champions’ first event in Hawaii, his fifth overall on the circuit.

His resume was worthy before competing with the 50-and-older crowd. Cink, once ranked as high as No. 5 in the world, won eight times on the PGA Tour, highlighted by his thrilling playoff victory over Tom Watson at the 2009 Open Championship.

Cink, we presume, will rest easy on his two-shot edge. It’s the eighth time leading or co-leading going into the final round on the Champions, winning twice.

“I would rather sleep on a lead than sleep on the not-lead,” Cink said. “I’ve done it lots of times, and I’ve lost in dramatic fashion, and I’ve won in dramatic fashion. I’m not going to let it faze me. I like what I’m doing.”

It’s easy to see why after his eagle landed.

Orange County Register

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Stewart Cink rides albatross into Hoag Classic lead

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