Doug Barron claims first PGA TOUR Champions major with bogey-free finale at Regions Tradition

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Doug Barron won the Regions Tradition on Sunday for his third PGA TOUR Champions victory and first major title, shooting a 4-under 68 to hold off Steven Alker by two strokes.

Barron finished at 17-under 271 at Greystone in the first of five majors in the PGA TOUR Champions season. He ended a victory drought dating to the 2021 Rogers Charity Classic (formerly Shaw Charity Classic). Wins eluded him throughout his PGA TOUR career, where he didn’t finish higher than third in 238 events.

But there wasn't a lot of drama in this one as he outlasted some of the Tour's biggest names with a bogey-free round and a casual tap-in finish. Hall of Famers Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington ended up being the ones offering congratulatory hugs at the end. Barron called it “a dream come true to beat all these great players.”

“It was an emotional day because I didn't have my best stuff,” said Barron, adding he had slept well, but woke up at 4 a.m. "Between (Steve) Stricker and Padraig and Ernie, I really didn't know what to expect, because I figured someone would shoot 9-under.

“I made pars and I was stroking good. I got one of the best putting lessons from my coach back home, Jonathan Fly, last week and I got my putter going. I felt like I could make an 8-footer again. It was huge.”

Barron took a two-stroke lead to 18 and was able to play it safe on a hole where he made birdies three straight days, with the other contenders already done for the day.

Alker had a 63 to match the tournament record for Greystone. The Charles Schwab Cup points leader eagled the par-5 second hole and added eight birdies with only one bogey.

“I woke up at 7:03 this morning and I hopped out of bed and I said, ‘I’ve just got to shoot 10 under,'" Alker said. “And I came up one short.”

Els came into the day holding a share of the lead with Barron, who was playing with Els and Harrington. But they were nowhere near as steady. Els birdied the final hole for a 71 after making four bogeys. Harrington's closing 74 put him seven shots behind.

Stricker, Els and Stewart Cink were all three shots behind Barron. Stricker finished with a 69 a day after failing to make a single birdie on his way to a 73. He had five birdies and a couple of birdies to fall short in his bid for his third straight win at Greystone. Stricker was trying to match Jack Nicklaus' tournament-record four titles.

Like Alker, Cink managed an eagle on No. 2 and was 5 under through eight holes. He managed just one birdie the rest of the way, though.

Barron was coming off a tie for second at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic and one-upped that.