Stewart Cink Leads Schwab Cup Championship

PHOENIX — Stewart Cink shot an 8-under-par 63 Thursday at Phoenix Country Club to lead the Charles Schwab Cup Championship by one stroke.

Ernie Els opened with a 64, while Scottsdale resident Steve Allan stood third after a 65.

Cink entered the season finale defending both the tournament title and the season-long Charles Schwab Cup. He also led the season standings.

Tournament Play

Cink played his opening seven holes in 6 under and finished the front nine in 30. He added a back-nine 33.

The performance gave him the tournament’s outright first-round lead for the third consecutive year.

Els shot matching 32s on both nines. His 64 matched his lowest round of the season.

Allan also matched his season-low round, finishing two strokes behind Cink.

Zach Johnson, the only player who can deny Cink the season-long Cup, opened with a 2-under 69.

Johnson played his first seven holes in 4 under before covering the final 11 holes in 2 over. He finished tied for 20th.

Johnson needs at least an eighth-place finish, plus help from Cink, to win the Cup, according to the tour.

First-Round Leaderboard

Phoenix Country Club | Nov. 12, 2026 | Par 71

Position	Player	Score	To Par
1	Stewart Cink	63	−8
2	Ernie Els	64	−7
3	Steve Allan	65	−6
T4	Richard Green	66	−5
T4	Jerry Kelly	66	−5
T4	Søren Kjeldsen	66	−5
T7	Alex Cejka	67	−4
T7	Darren Fichardt	67	−4
T7	Ricardo Gonzalez	67	−4
T7	Scott Hend	67	−4
T7	Freddie Jacobson	67	−4
T7	Dicky Pride	67	−4
T7	David Toms	67	−4

Seven players tied for seventh, placing 13 golfers within the top 10 positions.

Weekend At Phoenix Country Club

The Charles Schwab Cup Championship continues through Sunday, Nov. 15. The tournament and season-long points competition award separate titles.

Gates open at 10 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to the tournament’s fan guide.

Spectators enter through the Phoenix Country Club clubhouse. The event uses cashless transactions, and organizers advise fans to stay hydrated.