Fred Couples, Miguel Angel Jiménez share 36-hole lead at Hoag Classic

Fred Couples and Miguel Angel Jiménez share the 36-hole lead at the Hoag Classic at 11-under, one stroke ahead of Freddie Jacobson. Couples and Jiménez each carded 7-under 64 in the second round at the venerable Newport Beach Country Club.

Things to know

• Each vying for their 15th win on PGA TOUR Champions, World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples and Charles Schwab No. 3 Miguel Angel Jiménez share the lead entering the final round of the Hoag Classic.
• A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame has held at least a share of the lead after 10 of the last 13 rounds at the Hoag Classic (including final rounds).

Fred Couples, 67-64 – 131 (-11)

• The 65-year-old seeks his 15th win on PGA TOUR Champions (157th start)
  • Last win: 2022 SAS Championship
  • Would move him into 18th on the PGA TOUR Champions all-time wins list
• At 65 years, 5 months, 20 days, would be the fourth-oldest age to win on PGA TOUR Champions
  • 1. Bernhard Langer (2024 Charles Schwab Cup Championship): 67 years, 2 months, 14 days
  • 2. Bernhard Langer (2023 U.S. Senior Open): 65 years, 10 months, 5 days
  • 3. Bernhard Langer (2023 Chubb Classic): 65 years, 5 months, 23 days
• This is his second time shooting his age or better on PGA TOUR Champions (65-year-old shot 64)
  • Previous instance: 2022 SAS Championship/final Round (63-year-old shot 60)
  • This is his first 18-hole score of 64 or better since the 2022 SAS Championship (final Round)
• Looks to become the first three-time winner of the Hoag Classic (11th appearance)
  • Previous wins: 2010, 2014
  • His two wins at the Hoag Classic are tied for the most at this event with Jay Haas, Hale Irwin and Ernie Els
• A win on Sunday would be the sixth victory by a World Golf Hall of Fame member in the last seven editions of the Hoag Classic
  • Hoag Classic wins by WGHOF members in the last six editions (entering Sunday): 2024: Padraig Harrington; 2023: Ernie Els; 2022: Retief Goosen; 2020: Ernie Els; 2018: Vijay Singh
  • No tournament was held in 2021
  • The 2019 Hoag Classic was won by Kirk Triplett
• This is his 14th time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions (7-for-13)
• Making his third start of the 2025 season, his best finish is T4 (Chubb Classic)

Miguel Angel Jiménez, 67-64 – 131 (-11)

• The 61-year-old seeks his 15th win on PGA TOUR Champions (188th start)
  • Last win: 2025 Trophy Hassan II
  • Would move him into 18th on the PGA TOUR Champions all-time wins list
• Seeks his second win of the 2025 season (fourth start)
  • Previous win: Trophy Hassan II
  • Would become the first multiple winner of the 2025 season on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Note: this is the fifth event of the 2025 season
  • Entered the week No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings
• Making his seventh appearance at the Hoag Classic, he has finished in the top five in his last two starts at this event
  • Last two Hoag Classic finishes: third (2024); T4 (2023)
• This is his 20th time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions (8-for-19)
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the second time this season
  • Previous instance: Trophy Hassan II (won)
• A win on Sunday would be the 48th victory by a player in his 60s on PGA TOUR Champions

Other notes

• Rookie Freddie Jacobson sits in third at 10-under after shooting 67. The 50-year-old, who earned 2025 PGA TOUR Champions status by finishing second at Q-School (Final Stage) in December 2024, seeks his first win on the Champions Tour (fourth start).
  • Best finish: T10 (2024 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS)
• 66-year-old Michael Allen sits in fourth at 9-under after carding 68. He seeks his ninth win on PGA TOUR Champions (275th start).
  • Last win: 2016 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge (with partner Woody Austin)
• Charles Schwab Cup leader Ernie Els, a two-time Hoag Classic champion (2020, 2023), and Charles Schwab No. 2 Steven Alker, winner of the most recent PGA TOUR Champions event (Cologuard Classic), are T5 at 8-under along with Charles Schwab No. 5 Jason Caron, Stewart Cink and Y.E. Yang.
  • Caron is the lone player in the field without a bogey or worse after 36 holes.
• 18-hole leader Brendan Jones carded even-par 71 and sits T10 at 7-under.
• Two-time Hoag Classic champion (2007, 2016) and 71-year-old Jay Haas (T21) posted 4-under 67 to shoot his age or better for the second consecutive day and 28th time overall on PGA TOUR Champions.