TUCSON, Ariz. — Sunday was a good day for Tucsonians to double dip some sports. The hometown Arizona Wildcats, a favorite by many to win the NCAA Tournament, don’t tip off til 4:50 p.m. local time. That gave those so inclined to first watch attend pro golf at the final round of the Cologuard Classic.
There’s been unusually hot weather in these parts all week, including Sunday when it climbed to a steamy 99 but the tournament drew a decent contingent of fans, many of them wearing the UofA’s red and blue, at La Paloma Country Club.
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Then it was up the tour’s stalwarts to put on a show, with Padraig Harringon, Steven Alker, Stewart Cink and newcomer Zach Johnson all within three shots of the lead on the back nine on Sunday.
Steven Alker plays a tee shot on the first hole during the final round of the 2026 Cologuard Classic at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona.
Alker, the tournament’s defending champion, tied for low round of the week with a 62 on Saturday. On Sunday, he was in a dogfight late with Harrington, the two tied at 14 under. On the 13th hole, the most difficult on the golf course this week, Harrington pulled ahead by a shot after he snuck a putt in the left side of the cup to get to 15 under.
On the 16th, Alker hit his second shot on the par 5 into bunker but got up-and-down for birdie to get to 15 under and reclaim a share of the lead.
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On the 16th, Harrington belted his drive some 360 yards, but flew the green with his second and then miscalculated slighty on a bump-and-run chip attempt, leaving him a 25-footer for birdie. He would miss that putt but he wouldn’t miss a chance on the next hole, rolling in a birdie putt for a 2 on the par-3 17th hole to get to 16 under.
Alker had one last chance to tie for the lead on 18 but his birdie putt stayed left. He would sign for a 6-under 65. After going bogey-free and 15 under over his Saturday and Sunday rounds, he could then only wait to see if Harrington would open the door for him.
Which he did. Harrington once again sailed a green with a second shot, coming to a rest between two sprinkler heads and a TV mirophone. Harrington then overcooked his chip and watched it quickly roll left of the cup to leave him about a six footer for par and the win.
And he would miss, his ball catching a little piece of the cup but staying out. That sent Harrington and Alker, tied at 15 under, back to the 18th tee for a playoff. It was one year ago that Alker defeated Jason Caron in a Cologuard playoff, with Alker coming from six shots back to force OT. This year, he was nine shots off the lead after 18 holes before forcing a playoff once again at La Paloma.
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Alker won it on the first playoff hole in 2025 and he did it again here in 2026. After stuffing his second shot to four feet, Alker would make birdie to beat Harrington’s par to win the Cologuard Classic.
Alker has now won 11 times on the PGA Tour Champions and he wins this week in his 100th start on the circuit. He has 74 top 10s in those 100 starts. Alker has now won the Cologuard back-to-back and has three wins in his adopted home state of Arizona, as he also won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Cologuard Classic: Steven Alker beats Padraig Harrington in a playoff
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