Barron wins first PGA Champions major title

Doug Barron posted a 4-under 68 on Sunday to win the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Ala.

Barron turned in a bogey-free round with four birdies to secure his first title at a PGA Tour Champions major and his third victory overall. He finished at 17-under 271, two strokes ahead of New Zealand’s Steven Alker.

“It’s just an emotional day. Last four holes were really hard for me,” Barron told NBC Sports. “I had to leave the cart. I walked the front, then I rode a few holes on the back, and I just decided to walk. You know, all the people, I was a little ready to walk – I needed some energy.

“It was a great day, and I hit a lot of good shots coming down the stretch I thought. … I was excited about my play and I’m ready to keep it going.”

Alker logged the low round of the day with a stunning 9-under 63 at Greystone Golf and Country Club. He got off to a quick start, picking up an eagle at the par-5 second before collecting six birdies and six pars over his next 12 holes. Following a bogey at the par-5 15th, Alker got back on track, going birdie-par-birdie to polish off a strong performance.

“I woke up at 7 this morning and I hopped out of bed and I said, ‘Just go shoot 10 under,’” Alker said. “And I came up one shot (short). I thought if I could get to 10 under today, (then) the leaders had to do a little something.

“But that was kind of a number of a mine. 15 hurt me, just laying up there. But otherwise, yeah, it was a good day.”

Steve Stricker, a threetime champion of the event who won in both 2022 and 2023, fired a 3-under 69 and finished three shots behind Barron in a tie for third with Stewart Cink (66 on Sunday) and South Africa’s Ernie Els (71).