The 2026 PGA Tour season begins Thursday on the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Reigning U.S. Open champion JJ Spawn, Russell Henry, Collin Morikawa and defending champion Nick Taylor are among the many prime golfers enjoying this week at Waialae Nation Membership in Honolulu.
The season opens per week later than common resulting from Sentry being canceled resulting from Maui’s drought. The thrill on the West Coast continues till late February with 4 tournaments in California and one in Arizona.
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler and reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy are nonetheless the boys to beat, however there are many attention-grabbing storylines heading into the season.
5-time main champion Brooks Koepka is again after leaving the LIV Golf League on Dec. 23 and accepting a stiff monetary penalty to return to the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour additionally cleared the best way for LIV Golf captains Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith to return, however these golfers seem dedicated to staying put, a minimum of for now.
Right here, we introduce the highest tales of 2026, rookies to observe, and golfers seeking to make a comeback or win their first main in 2026.
The best way to watch the 2026 PGA Sony Open on ESPN
Can Scheffler full a profession grand slam?
McIlroy made headlines final season when he achieved a long-awaited victory on the Masters, turning into the sixth golfer to hitch golf’s most unique fraternity.
Now, Scheffler has added his two inexperienced jackets on the Masters to his wins on the 2025 PGA Championship and British Open Championship, and is simply shy of successful his seventh U.S. Open.
The world No. 1 turned one of many higher putters on tour final season utilizing a brand new claw grip, erasing maybe the one flaw in his recreation. He was testing out a brand new driver, the TaylorMade Qi4D, on the Hero World Problem within the Bahamas final month.
Scheffler is the overwhelming favourite to win the U.S. Open, which will probably be held June 18-21 at Sinek Hills Golf Membership in Southampton, New York, in addition to three different main tournaments.
What’s going to Rory do for an encore?
McIlroy’s playoff win over Justin Rose at Augusta Nationwide was the largest story of 2025. What’s going to Laurie do for an encore?
McIlroy will begin the season once more within the Center East, competing on this week’s Dubai Invitational and subsequent week’s Hero Dubai Desert Basic. He isn’t scheduled to play in the USA till the defending champion AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am on February 12-15.
Final season, the 36-year-old performed in Australia, Dubai, India, England and Eire. He’ll play in 16 PGA Tour occasions in 2025 and is anticipated to play in about the identical quantity this 12 months.
With yet one more main win, Lowry will equal England’s Nick Faldo’s six wins, essentially the most by a contemporary European golfer. One other Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour would equal Colin Montgomerie’s file of eight.
Can anybody tackle Scotty and Rory?
McIlroy and Scheffler have mixed for 23 championships all over the world over the previous two seasons. They clearly separated themselves from the pack on the PGA Tour. Is there anybody else able to tackle them this season?
Defending FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood has moved as much as No. 3 on this planet, however even he is aware of there’s nonetheless an enormous hole.
“I am not going to say that difficult the highest two gamers on this planet is one thing I am not centered on, one thing I am not all for,” Fleetwood stated in Dubai on Wednesday. “In fact you do, and also you wish to know the place you will get to, however it’s an extended street. It isn’t going to occur subsequent week or in just a few months.”
Will younger gamers like Ludwig Oberg, Viktor Hovland and Cameron Younger be capable of take the following step of their careers and grow to be extra constant gamers? Will Xander Schauffele, who gained his first two main championships in 2024, bounce again after a rib damage derailed most of his 2025 season?
“I believe it is an amazing alternative,” Fleetwood stated. “Scottie and Rory already really feel that manner, however trying again at this, these two are positively going to be up there among the many best gamers of all time. Being the following one proper now may change within the subsequent week or a month or no matter it’s. I believe it’s extremely, very cool and really particular. And I really like the truth that I am part of it.”
What would Brooks Koepka do?
Koepka’s return from the LIV Golf League and his reception from PGA Tour members will probably be one of many most-watched developments on tour.
The five-time main champion is undoubtedly among the finest golfers of his era. Nevertheless, his recreation appeared to wrestle at LIV Golf. Final season, he completed thirty first in factors. In 2024, he was unable to complete within the prime 25 in every of the 4 main tournaments, and final season he did not qualify for 3 of the 4 tournaments. He tied for twelfth place on the US Open.
Will he be capable of get again into form by enjoying extra typically? We’ll begin to discover out when he hits the bottom operating from January twenty ninth by February. 1st place on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open held at Torrey Pines outdoors San Diego. Koepka can also be scheduled to play within the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale subsequent week.
“I believe it is nice,” Rickie Fowler stated. “He is wished to play with us for fairly a while, so I am very joyful to get us again to the place we’re. I believe the gamers concerned on the board stage and the gamers concerned have finished an amazing job of determining find out how to make this occur.”
PGA Tour director Tiger Woods stated the tour strived to be truthful to everybody concerned. Koepka is eligible to compete within the full subject occasion and The Gamers, however might want to carry a $20 million purse to qualify for the eight signature occasions. He will not dethrone some other golfer. He will probably be added to the sphere.
“Sure, there are arguments on either side,” Woods stated. “You are not going to please everybody, I do know that. However the entire thought is to make the tour higher than it was. With Brooks becoming a member of the tour, that is what we have finished. It is a greater place to play. Now the gamers have fairness. The truth that they personal the tour places more cash of their pockets if Brooks performs. This can be a win for everybody.”
What’s going to the way forward for the PGA Tour appear to be?
Woods and different members of the Future Competitions Committee are waiting for 2027 and 2028 as PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolup pushes his imaginative and prescient of “equivalence, shortage and ease” as a approach to reinvent the tour. In different phrases, the 2026 season often is the final time golf followers will be capable of watch 38 occasions in the course of the FedExCup season.
Though this modification might not happen till 2028, future PGA Tour schedules are anticipated to start out later (after the Tremendous Bowl), finish earlier (earlier than the NFL Opening Day), and have fewer occasions and extra off weeks. The aim is to restart the tour within the U.S.’s largest market whereas enjoying its most iconic programs, officers stated.
“There will probably be some eggs that can spill, some will shatter, some will break, however I believe in the long run we’ll find yourself with a a lot better product for everybody concerned than what we’ve now,” Woods stated finally month’s Hero World Problem.
The 2 tournaments in Hawaii, like different long-running tournaments, look like vulnerable to cancellation resulting from logistics prices.
Golfers who can win their first main in 2026
tommy fleetwood
Fleetwood not carries the burden of by no means successful on the PGA Tour since successful final season’s Tour Championship. He had eight top-10 finishes and 15 top-25 finishes in 19 begins final season, enjoying in addition to any participant aside from Scheffler. Fleetwood completed within the prime 4 in every of three FedEx Cup playoff occasions.
“I’ve had a number of nice outcomes, however I believe the massive story just isn’t successful on the PGA Tour,” Fleetwood stated. “I type of bought by that, however I nonetheless felt like I wasn’t doing something. The query is, what was totally different? Like, like I used to be in nice form and enjoying nice, however I by no means felt like I used to be doing something totally different. I used to be simply enjoying. That is what occurs once you’re enjoying very well. You are enjoying the best way you recognize you possibly can play, that is the important thing.”
Ludwig Oberg
The free-swinging Swede has six top-10s and 11 top-25s and earned his second PGA Tour win finally season’s Genesis Invitational. His iron play wasn’t nearly as good because it was in his rookie season, however he is too good to not flip it round. Oberg completed second and seventh in his first two begins on the Masters.
russell henry
Henry, 36, is enjoying one of the best golf of his profession. Final season, he earned his fifth PGA Tour win on the Arnold Palmer Invitational and completed within the prime 15 in complete, tee-to-green, strategy and strokes gained across the inexperienced. He completed within the prime 10 in every of the previous two U.S. Opens and British Opens.
Cameron Younger
Younger’s skilled profession gave the impression to be on the rocks till he lastly gained on tour on the Wyndham Championship on August third. He has completed within the prime 11 in every of his previous 5 begins in 2025. He is had a superb run within the majors, with six top-10s in his previous 15 begins at majors, together with a tie for fourth on the 2025 U.S. Open.
“It is excessive,” Younger stated of his confidence. “I really feel like I am in a superb place. I’ve checked some profession packing containers during the last six or seven months. And for me, it is only a matter of constructing on the proof I’ve had to this point that my golf is sweet sufficient to perform the whole lot I wish to do in golf. So yeah, I am actually excited for the season to start out and I am hoping to proceed a number of the momentum that I had on the finish of final season.”
Viktor Hovland
Hovland, simply 28 years previous, has already gained seven occasions on tour, together with final 12 months’s Valspar Championship. He is at all times tinkering along with his swing, however few individuals hit the ball in addition to he does. He has 5 top-10 finishes in his previous 13 begins within the majors. He completed third on the 2025 US Open.
Candidate for return
jordan spies
The 2-time main champion was working his manner again from left wrist surgical procedure final season. He confirmed indicators of vitality, ending tied for fourth on the WM Phoenix Open and tied for 14th on the Masters. He performed in 19 video games and had eight top-25 finishes and 4 top-10 finishes. Spieth has solely gained twice up to now eight seasons and hasn’t gained since April 2022. It is time for him to elevate the trophy once more.
Max Homa
Homa was ranked No. 5 on this planet in April 2023 and seemed like one of many recreation’s subsequent superstars. Nevertheless, he has struggled for a lot of the previous two seasons and missed the reduce in 9 of his 24 begins in 2025. At the moment ranked a hundred and fortieth on this planet, maybe a reunion along with his former swing coach Mark Blackburn will assist flip issues round. Homa has to this point solely certified for the Masters.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler controversially wanted sponsor exemptions to play in six marquee occasions final season, however helped him attain the British Open and in the end the FedEx Cup playoffs. He tied for sixth within the FedEx St. Jude Championship and tied for seventh within the BMW Championship. Fowler certified for all eight main occasions and the Gamers Championship this season.
nick dunlap
In 2024, Dunlap turned the primary beginner in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour with American Specific. After turning skilled, he gained the Barracuda Championship once more as a rookie that very same 12 months. Nevertheless, final season was a catastrophe as Dunlap missed 12 of 25 video games. His world rating dropped to 174th.
Luke Clanton
The previous Florida State College star was a two-time tour runner-up on the 2024 John Deere Basic and RSM Basic whereas in faculty, however his first full season as a professional did not go so properly. He completed within the prime 25 twice in 18 begins, however missed the reduce seven occasions. He is one of many longest hitters on tour off the tee (312.6 yards) and is constant along with his irons, however he wants to repair his placing and work across the greens to compete.
Recovering
tiger woods
The 15-time main champion underwent his seventh hip surgical procedure on October tenth. This time, it was to switch a disc in her decrease again that was inflicting ache and mobility points. He stated in early December that he simply began chipping and placing. After Tuesday’s TGL recreation, he stated he is getting higher at hitting his brief irons. Will Tiger make it in time for the Masters on April ninth?
“I’m transitioning to brief irons, in order that’s about it,” Woods stated. “I would like slightly bit extra time to have the ability to play right here. With my velocity proper now, I may in all probability play the Stinger Gap, simply rolling it off the tee. However no, I am progressing, which is nice. I am getting there and getting stronger. It is simply a kind of issues the place it takes a really very long time for the bones to heal and for the bones to harden.”
Justin Thomas
The 2-time PGA Championship winner underwent microdiscectomy in mid-November to right a disc downside that was inflicting hip ache. Like Woods, JT stated he solely lately began chipping and placing once more.
sahis segara
Segala seemed like he would make an enormous breakthrough in 2025, however torticollis and neck accidents pressured him to overlook most of Could and all of June. He’s enjoying in Hawaii this week and is wholesome. The 28-year-old, ranked a hundred and twentieth on this planet, is presently not competing in any main occasions or main tournaments. He has a number of work to do.
Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris, the 2021 PGA Tour Rookie of the 12 months, has battled a decrease again damage for a lot of the previous three seasons. He underwent a second surgical procedure in Could to restore two herniated discs and missed the remainder of the season. One of many world’s greatest ball strikers when wholesome, Zalatoris confirmed promise with a fifteenth place end on the Nedbank Golf Problem in South Africa in early December.
billy horschel
Horschel, an eight-time PGA Tour winner, underwent surgical procedure on his proper hip in Could, which triggered him to overlook the rest of the FedEx Cup season and out of competition for a spot on the Ryder Cup crew. He returned and competed in two occasions within the fall: the Hero World Problem and the Grant Thornton Invitational. “Mr. TGL” seemed wholesome in his first few matches within the Indoor Golf League.
Rookie of be aware
Johnny Keefer
A former Baylor star, Kiefer led the circuit in 2025 with top-five finishes (six), top-10s (9) and top-25s (15) and was named Korn Ferry Tour Participant of the 12 months and Rookie of the 12 months. He broke KFT’s single-season scoring common file (67.95).
Christ Lamprecht
In 2023, the previous Georgia Tech golfer gained the beginner championship and competed as a low beginner on the British Open. The 6ft 8in South African led KFT in driving distance (331.1 yards) final season.
marco cash
Penge, 27, has three wins on the DP World Tour and tied for twenty eighth finally season’s PGA Championship. He completed second to McIlroy within the Race to Dubai and earned his PGA Tour card. He lately switched from Mizuno golf equipment to PXG.
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
Nygaard Petersen, 26, tied for third on the DP World Tour Championship and earned his PGA Tour card. The All-American from Oklahoma State College gained the Crown Australian Open in December over LIV Golf’s Cameron Smith on the 72nd gap.
Neil Shipley
Shipley is technically a first-year member and isn’t eligible for the Rookie of the 12 months award. He began 10 video games in the course of the 2024 season after turning into solely the second golfer up to now 25 years to earn Low Beginner honors on the Masters and the U.S. Open that very same 12 months.
