Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn dominated the American Family Insurance Championship on Sunday, firing a 7-under 64 in better-ball play to secure a commanding four-stroke victory. The European Ryder Cup captains and teammates finished at an impressive 32-under 181 at TPC Wisconsin.
This year marked a significant change for the tournament, which is hosted by Steve Stricker. The event switched to a team format, making it the only team competition on the PGA Tour Champions schedule.
Clarke and Bjorn set the tone early with a blistering better-ball 59 in the opening round, then followed it up with an even more impressive 58 in Saturday’s scramble format.
For Clarke, the 56-year-old from Northern Ireland, this marks his fifth Champions tour victory. Bjorn, 54, from Denmark, claimed his first title on the senior circuit.
Stricker didn’t just host the event — he nearly won it. He and his brother-in-law Mario Tiziani shot a final-round 65 to finish in a four-way tie for second at 28 under. They shared runner-up honors with Alex Cejka and Soren Kjeldsen (who fired a scorching 59 on Sunday), Doug Barron and Dicky Pride (69), and the team of Steve Flesch and Paul Goydos (64).
Bernhard Langer and Steven Alker made a strong push with a final-round 63, finishing at 27 under. Last year’s individual champion Ernie Els, playing alongside Tim Herron, posted a 66 to end at 26 under.
