Three-Way Tie at the Top of the SAS Championship After Difficult Second Round
Tim O’Neal, Vijay Singh and Freddie Jacobson are tied for first at the SAS Championship at 6-under 138 going into the final round. Their 36-hole total is the highest leading score on the PGA Tour Champions this season. Retief Goosen, the opening-round leader, shot a 79 with no birdies and fell into a tie for 29th.
O’Neal, Singh and Jacobson are level at 138 after a rainy, chilly, breezy Saturday at Prestonwood CC in Cary. That figure is the season’s highest 36-hole leading total on PGA Tour Champions; the prior best was 136. Retief Goosen, first after round one, carded 79 without a birdie and dropped to T29.
Singh, 63, owns five PGA Tour Champions victories and seeks his first since 2023. A Sunday win would place him seventh among the tour’s oldest champions. O’Neal, 54, has one senior title, from 2024, and has never held or shared a final-round lead on this circuit.
The final round may draw extra attention because a 63-year-old Hall of Famer could become one of the tour’s oldest winners, while O’Neal could capture a rare lead. That may resonate with older fans and recreational golfers who follow age-defying performances. For the SAS Championship and Cary, a close finish could lift local and broadcast interest. Any broader societal effect is likely limited, though it may reinforce visibility for senior sports.