CARY, N.C. — Jerry Kelly secured victory at the SAS Championship on Sunday, posting a remarkable 5-under 67 to clinch his first PGA Tour Champions title in two years. The turning point came when Padraig Harrington narrowly missed an 8-foot par putt that could have forced a playoff, sealing the deal for Kelly.

Kelly maintained a clean scorecard, finishing the tournament without a single bogey. He held a two-shot advantage as he entered the back nine at Prestonwood Country Club. However, he faced a setback when he failed to birdie the par-5 17th hole and struggled on the 18th, where he three-putted from 40 feet, sending his first attempt about 10 feet past the hole.

Ultimately, Kelly finished the tournament at 13-under 203 and was on the verge of a playoff until Harrington, who had begun the final round with a three-shot lead, made an impressive pitch shot to set up a birdie on the 17th. The two players were tied for the lead, but Harrington’s attempt on the 18th saw him go long from the fairway, leading to a chip that carried a little too far and an unlucky lip-out on his par putt. He recorded a score of 71 for the day.

With this victory, Kelly marked his 12th win on the 50-and-older circuit, with his last triumph dating back to the Shaw Charity Classic in August 2022. Throughout the year, he had been battling a wrist injury and rheumatoid arthritis, which made this victory even more special. “It’s been a long time coming,” Kelly remarked after the win. “You start to wonder if you’ll ever do it again when injuries start to accumulate.”

The SAS Championship served as the final event before the commencement of the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs, which are set to kick off next week for the top 72 players. Despite a final round score of 75, Woody Austin tied for 17th place, allowing him to move two spots up to No. 71 in the standings, with Lee Janzen sitting at No. 72. As the postseason approaches, Ernie Els is positioned as the No. 1 seed.