CALGARY – It was worth the wait for Richard Green, who finally broke through for his first win on PGA Tour Champions Sunday at the Rogers Charity Classic.
Green, who had finished runner-up at the 2024 edition of the event in Calgary, shot a final-round 65 to win by one over Ricardo Gonzalez and two over Miguel Angel Jimenez, the 36-hole leader.
“It’s an amazing feeling. One I’ll never forget,” Green said. “It’s relief and elation and joy and my family at home is going to be so happy.”
Green’s runner-up result at the Rogers Charity Classic last year was one of five second-place finishes in 2024 alone. He’s been a model of consistency over the last two seasons on the over-50 circuit, having notched 14 top-10s since 2024 (including 10 last year) and has 40 top-25s in his 71 starts on the PGA Tour Champions.
Alas, he continued to be a bridesmaid.
There was emotion on the 18th green Sunday in Calgary – a few moments prior to a footlong birdie putt to close it out where it looked as though he needed to compose himself – and then a cathartic release for the otherwise steady Australian.
He said the difference this week was a pivot to his mental approach to this finale. Green switched caddies earlier this year to Mitch Winzer, who had been Ernie Els’ long-time looper, and he said Winzer’s calming presence was what he needed to win
— as his emotions are often up-and-down.
“In the past I’ve thought about winning before teeing off and I’ve thought about what it would be like to stand up there and win. And today I changed that thought to what I wanted to achieve on the day and score I wanted to shoot, and I think that settled me down a little bit,” Green, who lost by two shots last year, said. “I was able to focus on my own game, which is exactly what you have to do. You can’t focus on what anybody else does, and to do what I needed to do out there today was a great feeling.”
Green was in the final group Sunday alongside Jimenez – who was hunting for his fifth PGA Tour Champions title of the season – and Tommy Gainey, who had just turned 50 earlier this week. He got off to an idyllic start, sitting 3 under through five holes. Green added one more birdie on the par-4 7th before making the turn.
Green was motoring along before a bogey on No. 11 – the lone mistake of his day (and just 24 hours after he made an eagle on the same hole, which played as the easiest hole of the week). The door was opened by Jimenez, however, who knocked his approach on the par-3 12th into the water en route to a double bogey and a three-shot swing after Green birdied the same hole.
In the group ahead was Gonzalez, who made four birdies in his final five holes to put together a hearty late-tournament climb.
In a of-course-that-could-happen-to-Green moment, Gonzalez’s approach on the par-4 17th hole flew off the camera tower behind the green and nearly rolled into the hole for an unthinkable eagle. It ended up missing by just a few inches, and Gonzalez two-putted on the last to post 17-under par.
“The birdie on 12 made me feel pretty good, but the guys are so good – they catch up,” Green said. “The last (few holes) there are opportunities to make birdie. Ricardo got close. Miguel nearly tied me (on the last). That stuff… you just have to focus on your own game and get it done.
“Miguel has had such a great career and great year this year to be leading the Schwab Cup the way he is, is no surprise. To be able to compete with him and perform well and better him today is very satisfying.”
Green hit a monstrous drive on the closing par five to give himself a great opportunity for a closing circle on the scorecard. He nestled his first putt to less than a foot, and it was all but over.
With a smile, Green said the short putt certainly felt a little longer than it had measured, given how much weight was on his shoulders as he looked for his first win on PGA Tour Champions.
Green’s putter was the key to his success all week long and when it came to having one final stroke – for the win – the putter was the key once more.
“Winning for me is like anybody – it’s a huge thing,” Green said. “I’ll enjoy it as long as it lasts.
“I came (to Canada) in the early 1990s to start my career and to get this win here makes it even more special.”
A long time coming, and worth the wait.
