Freddie Jacobson and Søren Kjeldsen fired a 12-under 59 to seize the AmFam lead, but a pack of dangerous teams is already chasing.
Freddie Jacobson and Søren Kjeldsen didn’t ease into the American Family Insurance Championship. They kicked the door open.
The duo ripped through Friday’s opening best-ball round with a 12-under 59, grabbing the early lead in the PGA TOUR Champions team event and putting themselves in position to chase their first wins on the senior circuit.
With a $3 million purse on the line and $600,000 going to the winning team, the weekend in Madison already has some serious juice.
Jacobson, 51, is making his 34th PGA TOUR Champions start and still hunting win No. 1. He’s been close, including a T2 finish at the 2025 Hoag Classic, and entered this week No. 12 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
This is also the second time he’s led or co-led after Round 1 on PGA TOUR Champions.
Kjeldsen, also 51, is in a similar spot. He’s winless in 27 starts but has twice finished runner-up, including at last year’s American Family Insurance Championship with Alex Cejka.
He came in ranked No. 14 in the Schwab Cup race and now has another real shot.
But they’re not exactly alone.
Rory Sabbatini and Brian Gay opened with an 11-under 60, including a blistering 28 on their first nine after starting on No. 10.
Sabbatini, a rookie who turned 50 in April, is making just his sixth PGA TOUR Champions start. Gay is still chasing his first win in his 82nd.
Richard Green and Mark Hensby also posted 60, while Bernhard Langer and Steven Alker lurk at 10-under after a 61. That’s dangerous company.
Even deeper, Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson, Nos. 1 and 2 in the Schwab Cup standings, are sitting at 6-under alongside tournament host Steve Stricker and Mario Tiziani.
The leaders went low. The hunters are loaded. This thing’s already cooking.
Join Our Roundtable Community For Free!
Share your takes, connect with our Roundtable writers, and talk sports with fellow fans. Download the free Roundtable App today and stay closer to the conversation.
