The 2026 Tour is Already a Wild Ride—And Not Just Because of Scottie
After 35 years following this tour, I’ve seen enough January golf to know when something unusual is brewing. This year, we’re witnessing a genuine shift in the competitive landscape that goes well beyond Scottie Scheffler’s latest coronation.
Don’t get me wrong—Scheffler winning at the American Express is about as surprising as sunrise. The man has won 20 PGA Tour events already and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. But here’s what caught my eye this week, and what should catch yours:
“How many times is he going to win this year?” Running away and hiding from the field at the 2026 American Express, the world No. 1 claimed the 20th PGA Tour victory of his career, doing so early in the playing schedule.
While that question gets asked, it’s actually not the most interesting story developing on the PGA Tour right now.
The Real Plot Twist
Chris Gotterup is winning at a pace that deserves serious attention. I’ve covered enough young talent to recognize when a player enters a genuine hot streak versus simply having a good week. Gotterup just claimed his second victory of 2026 with that playoff win over Hideki Matsuyama at the WM Phoenix Open, and more impressively, he’s visited the winner’s circle three times in his last 10 PGA Tour starts.
In my experience, that’s the kind of consistency that separates flash-in-the-pan talent from genuine contenders. When a young American is winning every third start, that’s not luck—that’s a player who’s figured something out about his game and his temperament under pressure. I’ve caddied alongside plenty of talented golfers who couldn’t execute in the clutch. Gotterup appears to be executing.
What strikes me most about Gotterup’s emergence is the timing. We’re not even through January, and already the narrative of “it’s just Scottie’s tour to lose” feels incomplete. That’s healthy for the sport. Scheffler’s dominance is remarkable, but competitive balance keeps fans invested.
The Broader Tour Picture
Beyond the PGA Tour proper, we’re seeing some intriguing developments that speak to the fractured landscape professional golf has become. Patrick Reed is absolutely dominating the DP World Tour’s Middle East stretch with back-to-back victories, essentially securing his path back to full-time PGA Tour status in 2027. That’s a meaningful redemption arc, and Reed’s consistency should remind everyone that he’s still a formidable competitor when conditions suit his game.
Meanwhile, over in the LIV Golf camp, we’re watching Jon Rahm—a two-time major champion—search for his first victory since September 2024. Elvis Smylie won the Saudi event in Rahm’s league debut, and while Rahm remains consistent, that victory drought has to weigh on him.
The Spaniard has not entered the winner’s circle since September 2024 despite a run of consistency that produced the season-long individual title last year.
In my decades around professional golf, I’ve learned that what distinguishes truly elite players isn’t always raw talent—it’s the ability to convert that talent into trophies when opportunities arise.
Understanding the Power 18
The Power 18 ranking system provides a fascinating snapshot of where players stand at any given moment.
The Power 18 provides insight as to how golfers are currently performing with benefit given to their play over recent events. It is a wider lens than simply what happened at the last tournament to be played but more narrow than the Official World Golf Rankings.
This matters because it cuts through the noise. It’s not reactionary like results from a single week, yet it’s more responsive to current form than the traditional OWGR, which takes a longer historical view.
Scheffler remaining locked into the No. 1 spot for years tells you everything about the gap between him and the field. But the fact that someone like Gotterup can surge up these rankings through consistency—not one magical week—suggests the tour has genuine competitive depth despite Scheffler’s excellence.
What the Next Month Will Tell Us
With the first signature events looming and European stalwarts like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood entering the fold, we’re about to see whether Gotterup can sustain this level against a fuller, stronger field. That’s the real test. Anyone can get hot for a few weeks. The question is whether he can maintain it when the tour’s best are all competing at once.
Having covered 15 Masters and watched countless players experience breakout moments only to fade, I’ve learned not to overstate early-season form. But I’ve also learned to respect when a player’s fundamentals—his short game, his decision-making, his composure—all align at once. That’s where Gotterup appears to be right now.
The 2026 tour season is shaping up to be more competitive and more interesting than the scorecards alone might suggest. Scottie will win his share of events—probably more than his share. But the supporting cast is starting to show some genuine teeth, and that’s exactly what professional golf needs.
