Having held a five-shot lead at one stage of the back nine, the Englishman needed a birdie on the final hole to edge out a charging Darren Fichardt and overhaul Jeev Milkha Singh’s 17-under-par clubhouse lead for an emotional first win on the Legends Tour. A pinpoint approach and two putts on the par-five 18th ensured the Nottingham man was able to claim a first Legends Tour title at the 40th time of asking,
Two-time champion Peter Baker ended up fourth on -15 after a creditable defence of his title. A group of four players tied for fifth place on -13, including 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell, Ryder Cup star Stephen Gallacher, recent Legends Tour winner Andrew Marshall and Q-School graduate Craig Farrelly.
Welsh duo Jamie Donaldson and Mark Mouland – at very different ends of their Legends Tour careers – rounded off the top-10 in the final event of a dramatic season that has seen no less than eight first-time winners.
Owen has been a hugely consistent player since his first full season in 2023 and after a number of near misses, this long-overdue victory was clearly a great relief for the former British Masters champion.
“We all come out here to win,” said Owen. “I just felt calm. I’d like to say it was fun, and for 16 holes it was probably the best I’ve ever played. The course is challenging in its own way and there’s trouble that can catch you out everywhere. But I played really solid, and I made some putts. I’m just glad I didn’t need to hole that last one. That was a relief. I knew Darren was charging, but I was definitely happy that I could just finish it off.
“My kids don’t really like golf but I hope they’re proud. It’s been a tough year but this is nice and hopefully we can move forward. I’ve still got the drive and the will to come out next year with the same determination, and I want to win more. I keep saying it’s all about winning. I know I’ve got the game, but I’ve got to show it. There’s a lot of good players coming through every year now. I only joined three years ago and it’s got so much tougher in those three years.
“I would have been disappointed in my career if I hadn’t come out and played well. I didn’t get over the line with a PGA Tour win so this helps and I can at least feel like it’s worth all the hard work coming back from injury and divorce and everything. I’ll be ready for next year now, I get US Senior Open and the combined tournament with the Champions Tour in Portugal. So plenty to look forward to.”
Starting the day one off the lead at -11 Owen made a dream start, reeling off four consecutive birdies to quickly take control of the tournament. With precision iron-play and assured putting, he added further birdies at holes six, nine, 10, 13 and 14 to reach -20 and the tournament seemed over.
But after a four-putt on 15 and another bogey on 17, Owen’s lead evaporated as Fichardt and Singh found the late birdies needed to turn the event on its head. With Singh birdieing two of the last three to get in the clubhouse at -17, Owen stood on the 18th tee tied for the lead, with playing partner Fichardt just one back.
Both men found the fairway and hit superb approaches – which meant that Fichardt needed to hole his eagle putt to force Owen to hole his. It agonisingly slipped by and Owen was afforded the luxury of two putts for the tournament.
For Fichardt, there was the consolation of securing a top-10 finish in the Order of Merit and the Barry Lane Rookie of the Year award. The South African only turned 50 in May and has played just eight events on the Legends Tour, mixing seniors golf with the main DP World Tour where he’s played 17 times and even claimed a T5 at the BMW PGA Championship.
He claimed victory at the Vattanac Legends Championship Legacy Edition in Cambodia, lost to Bo Van Pelt in a play-off at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship and was also second in his first Legends Tour event, the OFX Irish Legends.
“I saw Barry’s wife before I teed off and she explained to me about the Barry Lane Rookie of the Year award,” said Fichardt. “It’s a very special thing and I told her it would be amazing for me to win it. I knew Barry really well and he was an amazing guy. It’s a great initiative and I’m very, very proud to have won the trophy.”
“Greg played so well today,” Fichardt added. “I was just trying to secure second really but then suddenly it got interesting after he four-putted. I managed to get close but just overread the putt on 18. I’m very happy for Greg, though.
“I did the Desert Swing at the start of the year on the main Tour and everything needed a lot of work. So I took a bit of time off and then by the time I turned 50, everything just came together. I think playing Legends Tour really boosted my confidence – being the oldest guy playing the DP World Tour is not always nice. But then I come out here and I’m the youngest. So, there’s quite a shift. I’m very proud of the season I’ve had.”
With Owen claiming the MCB Mauritius Legends, Scott Hend already having sewn up the Order of Merit and Fichardt claiming the Barry Lane Rookie of the Year, the race for a top-10 or top 20 finish in the Order of Merit – to secure a Tour card for next year – was still holding attention for many players with so much at stake for 2026.
Top-10 in the 2025 Order of Merit are guaranteed the full playing schedule, with the added bonus of automatic entry into all three Senior Majors – the Senior Open, the Senior US Open and the Senior PGA Championship – as well as a lucrative co-sanctioned PGA Tour Champions event in Portugal.
Owen’s win catapulted him into the top-10, and there was real drama on the bubble as Adilson da Silva was edged out into 11th place by Andrew Marshall and David Drysdale who both managed decisive birdies on holes 17 and 18 to book the full complement of playing opportunities for next season.
Those in the top-20 meanwhile, will have full Legends Tour playing rights plus entry into the Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship. Click here for the final Order of Merit Rankings.
The Legends Tour returns in 2026 with Qualifying School taking place in January and the first event of the new season – the Staysure Marbella Legends.
