{
  "id": 19754092,
  "title": "Defending champ Stewart Cink grabs lead at PGA Tour Champions finale",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/defending-champ-stewart-cink-grabs-lead-at-pga-tour-champions-finale",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T03:39:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/11/13/defending-champ-stewart-cink-grabs-lead-at-pga-tour-champions-finale"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PGA Tour Champions finale sees Stewart Cink take the lead\n\nStewart Cink seized the top spot in the year-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Thursday in Phoenix, leading by one stroke after the first round. Cink, who is aiming for his second consecutive PGA Tour Champions season title, eagled his first hole and scored 6 under par through seven holes, ending the day at 8-under 63. Ernie Els of South Africa and Steve Allan of Australia are in second and third places, respectively, with Jerry Kelly, Richard Green, and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark tied for fourth. Zach Johnson, the only golfer with a chance to overtake Cink for the season crown, is tied for 20th. Cink, who won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship last year and has five victories this season, including two majors, was surprised by his strong start. He attributed his early success to executing shots well and sticking to his game plan, while also being lucky with a favorable first fairway miss. Els finished the day with eight birdies and one bogey, while Cink expressed that his early round felt strange despite the impressive score.",
  "summary": "Stewart Cink, who leads the season standings, eagled his first hole and was 6 under par through seven holes en route to an 8-under 63 at Phoenix Country Club.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}