Stewart Cink has no objective of letting Zach Johnson determine his technique to the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. The safeguarding season-long champ understands his good friend is closing in after an amazing novice project on PGA Tour Champions. Cink has actually made his position clear ahead of the Stifel Charity Classic.
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“Yes. In 2015 I made it an indicate yap about the objective to win the Charles Schwab Cup. This year I have not done rather as much as that, however I’ve remained in the lead the majority of the year, and after that Zach’s simply been on a tear winning whatever, and now he’s closed the space where it’s a race. That’s fantastic, I’m pleased for Zach. He’s my buddy, and it’s his very first year playing out here, so I believe he’s pleased with his choice to move over to PGA Tour Champions, definitely,” Cink stated ahead of the Stifel Charity Classic
He then went on to acknowledge that Johnson’s development launching season on the senior circuit would benefit the video game. That does not suggest Johnson can take the cup without any competitors.
“But I believe it’s likewise great for the Tour and helpful for golf to have an excellent race at the top. I’m completely anticipating Zach to play well and most likely a minimum of win a number of these things, possibly one, however he’s going to need to beat me to do it, and it would be remarkable if we boiled down to the wire,” Cink included.
The remarks set the tone for the opening occasion of the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, which starts Friday at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis. Cink gets in the postseason atop the standings, with a reported 484,332-point benefit over Johnson, whose 6 success have actually turned the season-long competitors into an authentic fight.
Cink’s technique to the playoffs is simple. Instead of letting the standings determine his choices, the five-time winner this season wishes to deal with each occasion as an independent chance to win a prize.
“I wish to deal with these like competitions, not like a Schwab Cup standings race that ends in Phoenix,” the American expert discussed. “I wish to treat this Stifel Charity Classic like it’s its own occasion and attempt to win this.”
Cink acknowledged that although he is 53, he is just playing his 2nd complete season on PGA Tour Champions. Hence, leading the standings into the playoffs still provides a brand-new difficulty.
In 2015, he needed to comprise ground throughout the postseason before eventually winning both the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship competition and the season-long Charles Schwab Cup. His Phoenix experience provides him self-confidence, however he understands safeguarding his total title will need a various technique this time.
Cink likewise made it clear he will not let other gamers’ ratings sidetrack him from his own efficiency.
“I do not prevent the scoreboards,” he stated, discussing that he sees little advantage in house on outcomes he can not manage. “I’m quite disciplined about managing what I can manage and letting whatever else go.”
Zach Johnson has actually offered Cink a lot of factors to take the difficulty seriously. In his very first season on PGA Tour Champions, the previous Masters and Open Championship winner has actually gathered 6 success. This consists of a senior significant at the Kaulig Companies Championship.
He won his newest title at the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach in September. He carded a final-round 65 to protect his 2nd successive success. Johnson had actually likewise won the Sanford International the previous week.
Cink, on the other hand, has 5 wins, consisting of 2 senior majors. His strong regular-season outcomes have actually kept him ahead in the Charles Schwab Cup standings regardless of Johnson’s greater win overall.
The distinction highlights what makes this contest engaging. Johnson has actually won regularly, however Cink’s 2 senior significant success and strong outcomes throughout more starts have actually kept him atop the standings going into the postseason.
Their relationship, nevertheless, will do little to soften the competitors over the next 3 occasions.
Cink’s caution includes a suggestion that Johnson has actually currently shown he can overcome him when the 2 are contending for the exact same prize.
At the Portugal Invitational in August, Johnson ended up at 19 under par to win by 2 strokes over Cink. The success brought both gamers to 4 wins at that phase of the season.
Their courses have actually continued to cross throughout the year. Cink ended up second when Johnson won his PGA Tour Champions launching at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in March.
The competitors has actually not decreased their relationship. Johnson formerly explained Cink as a confidant and terrific buddy. He likewise included that their competitors assists both gamers enhance.
The Stifel Charity Classic, arranged for October 23 to 25, 2026, brings a $2.3 million handbag and marks the very first of 3 occasions that will figure out the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup champ.
The playoff format raises the stakes for both competitors. Revenues from all 3 postseason occasions count for double Charles Schwab Cup points. This offers gamers a possibility to make considerable gains in the closing weeks of the season.
After Stifel, the leading 54 gamers in the standings will advance to the Simmons Bank Championship. After that occasion, the leading 36 will proceed to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix from November 12-15, 2026.
Cink is gotten ready for the obstacle and has no intent of making it simple. With 3 occasions staying and double points available, the safeguarding champ states Johnson can chase him all the method to Phoenix, however he will need to make every action of the method.
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