Thomas Bjorn drained a 35-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to capture the Stifel Charity Classic on Sunday, securing his first individual PGA Tour Champions victory.
The 54-year-old Dane finished regulation with a 4-under 67 at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, matching Cameron Percy at 12-under 201. Percy had charged up the leaderboard with a final-round 64, birdieing three of his last four holes to force the playoff.
When they returned to the par-4 18th for the playoff, Bjorn’s long putt found the center of the cup. Percy, playing from a slightly closer position, saw his birdie attempt speed past the left edge.
This isn’t Bjorn’s first taste of success on the senior circuit this year. He teamed with Darren Clarke to win the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison, Wisconsin back in June. But this victory adds to an already impressive career that includes 15 European Tour titles and captaining Europe’s victorious 2018 Ryder Cup team in France.
For Percy, the Australian veteran came agonizingly close to claiming his first senior tour triumph. Germany’s Alex Cejka finished just one stroke shy of the playoff after three-putting the 18th for a closing bogey, settling for solo third after a final-round 69.
