What Happened to Stewart Cink?

Stewart Cink, born May 21, 1973, turned professional in 1995 after a successful collegiate career at Georgia Tech, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American. He quickly made his mark, winning three events on the Nike Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) in 1996 and earning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors in 1997 with a win at the Canon Greater Hartford Open. Cink consistently performed on the PGA Tour, achieving his highest world ranking of 5th in 2008. His career pinnacle came in 2009 when he won his first major title, the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry, defeating 59-year-old Tom Watson in a dramatic four-hole playoff.

A significant turning point in Cink's career and personal life occurred in May 2016 when his wife, Lisa Cink, was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. Stewart announced an indefinite leave from competitive golf to support her, a testament to their strong relationship since high school. Lisa underwent aggressive treatment and by December 2016, she was in remission. This period, while challenging, reportedly had a positive effect on Cink's perspective on golf.

Following his wife's recovery, Cink experienced a remarkable resurgence on the PGA Tour. In September 2020, he won the Safeway Open, his first PGA Tour victory in 11 years, with his son Reagan caddying for him. He followed this with another win at the RBC Heritage in April 2021, becoming one of only four players over 47 to win multiple times in a single PGA Tour season. His career earnings surpassed $40 million by 2021.

Cink transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions in 2024 and quickly found immense success. The 2025 season was a career year for him on the senior circuit, where he won three times, including the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship, and was recognized as the 2025 Charles Schwab Cup Champion, Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year) winner, and Arnold Palmer Award (season money winner). As of early 2026, Cink has continued his dominant form, winning the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in January and the Hoag Classic in March. Most notably, on April 20, 2026, he captured his first senior major championship, the Senior PGA Championship, with a commanding six-stroke victory. As of May 3, 2026, Cink is leading the Regions Tradition, aiming for his second consecutive senior major title and fourth win of the 2026 season. His continued excellence was further acknowledged with his appointment as a U.S. Vice Captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup on May 2, 2026.