Zach Johnson Leads After Round 1 of Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf
- Zach Johnson took the first-round lead at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic presented by Vensure on Friday, April 24, 2026, scoring 15 points in the Modified Stableford format at...
- The 50-year-old rookie on PGA TOUR Champions birdied the par-5 18th hole to secure a one-point advantage over Thongchai Jaidee, who finished at +14.
- Johnson, a two-time winner at TPC Sugarloaf during his PGA TOUR career (2004 and 2007), entered the week ranked No.
Zach Johnson took the first-round lead at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic presented by Vensure on Friday, April 24, 2026, scoring 15 points in the Modified Stableford format at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia.
The 50-year-old rookie on PGA TOUR Champions birdied the par-5 18th hole to secure a one-point advantage over Thongchai Jaidee, who finished at +14. Johnson’s round included multiple birdies and pars under the Modified Stableford scoring system, which awards 2 points for a birdie, 0 for par, -1 for a bogey, and -3 for a double bogey or worse.
Johnson, a two-time winner at TPC Sugarloaf during his PGA TOUR career (2004 and 2007), entered the week ranked No. 2 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings. This marked his first time leading or co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions, improving on his previous best 18-hole position of T2 at the Hoag Classic earlier in the season.
Having turned 50 on February 24, 2026, Johnson has finished in the top 10 in each of his four starts since becoming eligible for PGA TOUR Champions. His recent results include a T3 at the Cologuard Classic, a T2 at the Hoag Classic, and a T8 at the Senior PGA Championship, following his debut win at the 2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational.
Thongchai Jaidee, the 56-year-old Thai professional seeking his third PGA TOUR Champions title, trailed Johnson by one point. Jaidee, who entered the week with best finishes of fifth at the Cologuard Classic and previous wins at the 2022 American Family Insurance Championship and 2023 PURE Insurance Championship, remains in contention heading into Saturday’s second round.
The Mitsubishi Electric Classic is the seventh event of the 2026 PGA TOUR Champions season. Stewart Cink is the only multiple winner so far this year with three victories. Johnson aims to become the second player to win multiple times in 2026, leveraging his familiarity with TPC Sugarloaf where he captured two BellSouth Classic titles during his PGA TOUR tenure.