PGA Tour Season Overview: What to Expect in 2026
As the PGA Tour Future Competitions Committee navigates the future of professional golf, the upcoming 2026 season seems poised to retain many of its familiar elements, with a few noteworthy changes.
Season Kickoff
The 2026 Tour season will commence later than usual, starting a week later than the traditional schedule. The season opener will now take place at Waialae Country Club on Oahu for the Sony Open in Hawaii, replacing The Sentry at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course, which was canceled due to severe drought conditions on Maui.
West Coast Swing
The West Coast Swing will feature classic venues such as:
- The American Express
- Torrey Pines
- TPC Scottsdale
- Pebble Beach
- Spyglass Hill
- Riviera Country Club
Notably, the Mexico Open will now be part of the fall schedule, taking place from October 29 – November 1.
Florida Swing & Texas Two-Step
The Florida Swing remains unchanged, as does the Texas Two-Step featuring tournaments in Houston and San Antonio, leading up to the prestigious Masters Tournament.
New Signature Event
This upcoming season will see the introduction of the Cadillac Championship, scheduled for April 30 – May 3 at Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster near Miami. This means a consecutive series of signature events, including the Truist Championship, ahead of the PGA Championship, creating a busy six-week stretch that will encompass three signature events and two major tournaments.
Major Championships
- U.S. Open: Scheduled to take place at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Long Island, New York, where Brooks Koepka claimed victory in 2018.
- British Open: Returning to Royal Birkdale, where Jordan Spieth’s exceptional play led to his win in 2017. The dates have been adjusted to avoid overlapping with the Los Angeles Olympics.
The Corales Puntacana Championship will shift from its traditional March date to July, overlapping with the British Open. Meanwhile, the Rocket Classic will be rescheduled to take place after the Open.
FedEx Cup Playoffs
The format for the FedEx Cup Playoffs will remain consistent, with the exception that the BMW Championship will take the top 50 players to St. Louis’s Bellerive Country Club. Additionally, the Presidents Cup will occur at Medinah Country Club (No. 3) in Illinois in late September.
The Fall season is set to introduce new tournaments, including:
- Biltmore Championship in Asheville at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
- Good Good Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas
Overview of Playoff Structure
- Top 70 at the end of the regular season qualify for the playoffs.
- Top 50 after the FedEx St. Jude Championship gain entry to all eight signature events.
- Top 30 after the BMW Championship advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake, where all participants will start at even par, receiving a two-year Tour exemption and traditionally securing spots in the four major tournaments the following year.
Conclusion
While changes are on the horizon, the 2026 season of the PGA Tour is set to mirror many aspects of previous years, preserving the elements that fans and players love while incorporating fresh dynamics to enhance the viewer experience.
Stay tuned as we bring you more updates leading up to what promises to be an exciting golf season.
