By Doug Milne
As increased winds mixed with even stronger player determination to win the 2026 Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO title, Sunday’s final round turned into quite the shootout that came down to the very last hole.
After his second-round 9-under 63 to step out to a 3-stroke lead, David Toms got off to a rocky start Sunday that included double bogeys at Nos. 4 and 6. Mixed in were front-nine birdies at 1,4, and 5.
A birdie at the last and a champion once again — David Toms captures the 2026 Chubb Classic in dramatic style
Uncharacteristic of one of the game’s most accurate ball strikers, Toms found 10-of-14 fairways off the tee and just 10-of-18 greens in regulation. En route to his second-round 9-under 63, the LSU Tiger was a perfect 14-of-14 off the tee and missed only one green in regulation.
“I pulled my back on the second hole today with a 7-iron from the middle of the fairway,” said Toms. “After I hit my tee shot on No. 6, I honestly thought I was going to pack it in. There were a lot of spasms…something I’ve had before. But I started walking and just trying to stretch a little bit, and it got better.”
Following a bogey at No. 9, Toms made the turn at 2-over 37, carrying a 1-shot lead at 12-under par. Tied with Boo Weekley, Michael Wright, and defending Chubb Classic champion Justin Leonard through 53 holes, a final-hole birdie separated Toms from the pack.
“I did suck it up and hit a good one at 18, putting the approach right up around the green in two,” Toms said. “That was the key to victory for me today.”
With scores of 67-63-73, Toms claimed his fifth career PGA TOUR Champions win at 13-under 203.
“It just shows it’s pretty difficult to do that out here,” Toms said. “You can never take it for granted. In three-round tournaments, guys are shooting low every day. The only reason I didn’t shoot 5- or 6-under today was because of the wind. It made it tough for everybody. I’ve been fortunate to win a few times, and this is obviously a good way to start the year.”
Today’s win marks Toms’ sixth top 10 finish in 10 Chubb Classic starts. Prior to this week, the LSU Tigers’ closest brush with victory, T2, came in 2018.
In 2018, Toms claimed his first of four Champions Tour crowns at the U.S. Senior Open Championship. His most recent win before this week came at the 2023 Cologuard Classic. Between 1997 and 2011, Toms won 13 titles on the PGA TOUR.
Beginning the final round seven off the lead, Boo Weekley got in with his second-consecutive 5-under 67, good for a share of second place at 12-under 204.
Weekley was making his 56th start on the PGA TOUR Champions and still in search of his first title.
With his youngest son, Charlie on caddie duty this week – a first for the duo on the PGA TOUR Champions – first-round co-leader Michael Wright followed his opening-round 7-under 65 with scores of 68-71 to join those at 12-under 204 and T2.
Following last year’s T12 finish in his first Chubb Classic start, the Aussie went on to secure six top 10 finishes in his second season on the PGA TOUR Champions.
In his bid to become the fourth player to successfully defend his Chubb Classic title, and first since Bernhard Langer in 2022-23, Justin Leonard played the week in 66-68-70 to also finish T2 at 12-under 204.
Making his PGA TOUR Champions debut this week, local resident George McNeill improved with every round, shooting 70-69-68 to finish T5 at 9-under 207.
“I played nice and hit some good shots….hit a few loose ones, too,” McNeill said. “Putting was tough most of the day today, just because of the wind. The greens were drying out and getting a little quick and firm.”
McNeill comes to the PGA TOUR Champions with two PGA TOUR titles to his credit.
“It was a ton of fun out here, but still very competitive,” McNeill said. There are a lot of great players out here, as can be seen from the leaderboard. But, just getting my feet wet here in Naples where I was born is almost like a storybook start for me. A win would’ve been fantastic. But, just to get started back in competitive golf and back in competition was awesome.”
Photo Credit: Cubb Classic
