Stewart Cink Wins Safeway Open To Secure First PGA Tour Victory In 11 Years

Cink first won on the PGA Tour in 1997 and now has in seven wins total ] -21: S Cink; -19: H Higgs; -18: D Redman, C Reavie, K Streelman, B Stuard Selected others: -16: R Knox (Sco); -14: C Schwartzel (SA); -12: B Taylor (Eng) Full Ranking

Stewart Cink claimed a first win since 2009 with a two-shot win at the Safeway Open of the PGA Tour in California

The American carded eight birdies for a seven-under-par 65 to reach 21 under overall and the challenge of fellow countryman Harry Higgs to ward off.

Cink & # 39; s last victory at the 2009 Open Championship – 4,074 days earlier – and since then he has helped his wife Lisa treat cancer.

] "I certainly had a lot of emotions today," said the 47-year-old.

"Every now and then I have been overcome by a feeling of gratitude a few times and just feel how happy I am in the position I am in."

Cink had a son Reagan who acted as his caddy at Silverado Cou ntry Club in Napa and his wife ran every hole next to the pair.

"The last four or five holes of a PGA Tour event your name is at the top of the leaderboard but think about it, I've got my son caddying in front of me, my wife is now in almost five years of remission and she's just walking there by the side of the ropes, and with 47 I can compete at the highest level and now not only compete, but win, "added Cink.

Cink & # 39; s seventh PGA Tour victory – in the opening event of the 2020-21 season – came 23 years after his first. Success secures his Tour card after the point of his 50th birthday and also grants him access to the 2021 Masters in Augusta.

He made three birdies in his last four holes for the title of the 28-year-old Higgs, who has never won on the PGA Tour.

The leaders of the third round Brian Stuard, Cameron Percy and James Hahn all fell out of the fight, while Scotland's Russell Knox was two under for his final round and finished in the split ninth place of 16.

The second major of the year, the US Open, starts at Winged Foot in New York on Thursday.

The American Zach Johnson paid tribute to Cink after his victory The English Luke Donald was also quick to mark Cink & # 39; s Victory