CALGARY - Richard Green described winning his first-ever PGA Tour Champions tournament at the 2025 Rogers Charity Classic as 鈥渁n amazing feeling.鈥
Green sunk a short putt to birdie the par 5, finishing hole of Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club on Sunday to wrap up his round of 5-under 65 and finish the tournament at 18 under, one shot better than Ricardo Gonzales.
Afterwards, he was immediately congratulated by playing partner and current Charles Schwab Cup money list leader Miguel Angel Jimenez to make the accomplishment even better.
鈥淗e乌鸦传媒 had such a great, great career and a great year this year and to be leading the Schwab Cup the way he is is no surprise as to the quality of player he is,鈥 said the 54-year-old Australian, who won for the first time on the senior circuit in his 71st career start.
鈥淔or me to be able to compete with him and perform well and better than him today is very satisfying.鈥
Although Jimenez carded a disappointing round of 68 on the par 70, 7,092-yard layout to finish in third place at 16 under, the 61-year-old Spaniard made a point of being the first person to shake Green乌鸦传媒 hand.
鈥淗e actually said, 鈥榊ou deserve it,鈥欌 said Green, who had six birdies and just one bogey during his final round. 鈥淗e乌鸦传媒 been watching my career over the last few years and has seen me up there in contention a few times and that was very, very kind of him.鈥
Green had five runner-up finishes last year, including at the 2024 edition of the Rogers Charity Classic.
鈥淭hings turned out the way they did last year,鈥 said Green, who also had one runner-up outing in 2023. 鈥淚 had a great year and I really can鈥檛 complain, but to come out there and have the results that I did last year certainly helped me get this one and get it across the line.
"I think you鈥檝e got to have a couple of little knocks before you win and I鈥檓 pleased that I鈥檝e been able to bounce back from some sort of mediocre form at the start of the year this year, but I鈥檝e got things going again.鈥
Playing in the group in front of Green, Gonzales also birdied the final hole to end the three-day event in second spot at 17 under.
Gonzales finished his round of 5-under 65 on Sunday with four birdies in his final five holes to pull into a tie with Green. The 55-year-old Argentine then watched from the side of the 18th green as Green lagged his lengthy putt to within two feet before making no mistake to take home the title.
鈥淩icardo got close and Miguel nearly eagled to tie me,鈥 said Green, who admitted his tap-in par putt felt way longer than it actually was. 鈥淧robably, more than it should have, but I鈥檝e been feeling really good with the putter and these greens are so beautiful to putt on.
"You just feel really confident about getting the ball online and the ball rolling and staying online. I was happy to see it go in.鈥
Charlie Wi carded a round of 6-under 64 to finish the tournament in fourth at 15 under, while Mark Hensby, Steve Alker, Matt Gogel and Tommy Gainey all ended up in a tie for fifth one shot back of Wi.
Although he had a round of 1-over 71 on Sunday, Calgary乌鸦传媒 Wes Martin still finished as the top Canadian at 4 under, which put him in a four-way tie for 38th place.
鈥淚t乌鸦传媒 a little disappointing with the way it ended today,鈥 said Martin, who earned the right to play at his first-ever PGA Tour Champions event by carding an impressive round of 9-under 62 at the final tournament qualifier last Tuesday at Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River, Alta. 鈥淚 would have liked to shoot under par today.鈥
Martin乌鸦传媒 round featured four bogeys to go with one birdie and an eagle on the par 5, 11th hole.
鈥淚 had a perfect number into the green, hit utility, and then it was just a sidewinder putt that happened to go,鈥 said Martin, who estimated he drained the putt from about 25 feet out. 鈥淚t was finally something to cheer for, right?鈥
After shooting 70 and 69 in the first two rounds, Mike Weir of Bright乌鸦传媒 Grove, Ont., continued to improve with a 2-under 68 on Sunday to finish the event in a six-way tie for 42nd place at 3 under.
Gordon Burns of Holland Landing, Ont., and former Calgary resident Stephen Ames also shot 68 to finish at 2 under and even par, respectively.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2025.