The year 2026 promises to be different in golf, especially with the PGA Tour attempting to transform a model that has outlasted the sand wedge. This year begins with a curious coincidence: the Sentry, the tournament that has opened the PGA Tour season since 1999, was canceled due to water issues, including a dispute over water delivery to Kapalua. On what should have been the first official day of tournament week, Maui was under a flood warning on Monday.
The PGA Tour season will begin next week on a different island, with a less competitive field, amid concerns about the future of the Sony Open, which is in its final year of sponsorship. Despite the changes, one figure remains central: Scottie Scheffler, who began his final stint as world number one two weeks before the PGA Tour announced a deal with Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.
Scheffler and the Career Grand Slam
Four days after Rory McIlroy won the Masters, becoming the sixth player to achieve a career Grand Slam, Scheffler was asked, “Who’s next?” He replied, “Technically, I’ve only won one,” referring to his two Masters titles. “I’ve been playing some good golf and I’m not even close.” Now, however, he is. Scheffler won the PGA Championship (by five strokes) and the British Open (by four), and he looks better positioned to claim the final piece than McIlroy ever was.
His first opportunity will be at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, the only U.S. Open he hasn't qualified for in the last ten years. He's already had a close call, leading at the Country Club in 2022, but missed a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole and finished one stroke behind.
Koepka and the way forward
At the Saudi International last November, there was debate about whether Koepka would be part of LIV Golf or if he would explore a schedule of events on the European Tour alongside the four majors. Now that he is no longer with LIV, the focus is on his return to the PGA Tour. His PGA Tour membership expired when he joined the Saudi-funded league in 2022, and he was not among the LIV players named in the antitrust lawsuit against the tour.
The possibility of the PGA Tour reinstating him this season, before a year has passed since his last appearance at LIV, could set a precedent that divides loyalists, although his return would benefit the tour. The European Tour's schedule is not appealing in the weeks leading up to three of the majors.
The return of Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2010 to go from seven wins one year to none the next, a strange turn of events considering she suffered no significant injuries or personal dramas, aside from her engagement at the end of the year. She finished runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open, which dampened her momentum. Most concerning is the scarcity of opportunities to win after that.
Korda isn't the first female golf world number one to go from unbeatable to struggling, as happened with Lydia Ko, Yani Tseng, and Ariya Jutanugarn. While there seems to be no cause for alarm for the 27-year-old, her next victory will be crucial.
The PGA Tour schedule
When Brian Rolapp took over as CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, the key word was "scarcity," suggesting a shorter schedule to give more importance to tournaments. However, in the following months, the tour announced fall stops in Austin, Texas, and Asheville, North Carolina. The big question is where all this will lead.
The Future Competition Committee (FCC), led by Tiger Woods, faces the challenge of defining a new model for 2027 or whether there will be a transition year. Media rights, which are contractually valid until 2030, must also be considered. Will the PGA Tour wait until after the Super Bowl to begin?
The future of Spieth
This year could be pivotal for Jordan Spieth, who hasn't qualified for a U.S. team since the 2018 Ryder Cup. Following surgery on his left wrist in August 2024, Spieth came close to advancing to the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs, which would have qualified him for the $20 million events. He took all of the fall to get ready for 2026.
His next opportunity for a career major will be at the PGA Championship near Philadelphia, where his parents grew up. He has played in 50 consecutive majors, receiving a bye in 49 of them since the 2013 U.S. Open, but his place at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is not yet guaranteed.
What's going on with Tiger?
This question has become commonplace for the FCC president due to Woods' injuries and surgeries, especially after a year in which he didn't participate in any tournaments. Woods turned 50 on December 30, making him eligible for the PGA Tour Champions, where he can use a cart. However, he has never been keen on the idea of using a cart in actual competition.
Since his car accident in February 2021, Woods has not finished closer than 16 strokes to the winner in the 11 tournaments he has played. His focus is on the Masters in April, where he has never missed a cut as a professional. It is also crucial to know if he is interested in captaining Ireland for the Ryder Cup in 2027.
In summary, On The Fringe's analysis addresses the most relevant golf topics during the season.
