This golfing year may struggle to reach the tumultuous heights of 2025, but there’s still plenty to look forward to in the 12 months ahead.
Because of the drama and tension, Rory McIlroy’s career Grand Slam, which included victory at the Masters as well as Europe’s success at the Ryder Cup, made the past year one of the most extraordinary in living memory.
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Here’s my A-Z guide to what to watch for regarding the sites, players, and issues likely to make headlines in 2026.
Majors and Cups will dominate split play
Aronimink is hosting its first men’s major since 1962, when Gary Player won the US PGA Championship at the Pennsylvania course. Located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, this historic course hosts its second PGA in May.
The 2020 Women’s PGA there was won by Sei Young Kim and has hosted PGA Tour events twice in recent times; Keegan Bradley won the BMW championship in 2018 and Justin Rose was the AT&T champion in 2010.
Given the Englishman’s penchant for success on classic courses and the fact that he won the 2013 US Open at nearby Merion, Rose could be one of the players to watch in the second men’s major of the year.
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A significantly modified Royal Birkdale is the venue for this year’s Open Championship. The seventh hole has been converted to a short par three, the 14th becomes a par five again and there is a new short 15th on one of the most atmospheric and challenging courses on the open rotation.
There will be no Ryder Cup this year, but Cups will attract a lot of attention. The Solheim Cup is being held in the Netherlands for the first time and Anna Nordqvist’s Europeans are expected to make a strong effort to win back the trophy in September.
Great Britain and Ireland defend the Curtis Cup at the Bel Air Country Club in Los Angeles. Under the astute leadership of Catriona Matthew, GB&I are holders with a chance of claiming only their second away win.
Dean Robertson retains the captaincy of the GB&I men’s amateurs when they look to win back the Walker Cup at Lahinch in September.
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And expect American pros to rediscover their four-ball and four-ball prowess when Brandt Snedeker leads them against Geoff Ogilvy’s Internationals in the Presidents Cup at Medinah in September.
Men’s golf remains a game Split with no sign of rapprochement between the PGA Tour and the breakaway LIV Golf League. It is difficult to envisage a resolution in 2026.
Will Scheffler join the greats of the Grand Slam?
Scottie Scheffler completed third career Grand Slam by winning the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush (Getty Images)
THE Evian The championship always seemed to be the fifth of five major women’s tournaments, but Grace Kim’s dramatic playoff victory over Jeeno Thitikul last year put the French event on the map.
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A good European performance in July could help continue to improve the tournament standings.
If you’re looking for a young gun to take the game by storm, David Ford could be your man. The 23-year-old Georgia left-hander turned professional last year after dominating the PGA Tour college rankings following a record seven victories during his college career.
Following McIlroy’s exploit last April, we are back in the career Grandiose Slamming watch. Yes, Jordan Spieth just needs the PGA and Phil Mickelson the US Open, but the most likely to become the seventh slammer is Scottie Scheffler.
After his victories at the Open and PGA last year, the world number one only needs the US Open to join McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in golf’s most exclusive club.
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Houston, Texas remains a major venue, but the Chevron Championship is moving from Carlton Woods to the city’s Memorial Park course. The April major takes place a month after the Houston Men’s Open. Will this public space be restored in time to become a suitable venue for the world’s best female players?
It’s time to settle the Ryder Cup
Molinari brothers Edoardo and Francesco were part of Luke Donald’s team for his two Ryder Cup captaincy victories (Getty Images)
A Italian This position appears to be the most likely alternative if Luke Donald relinquishes the European Ryder Cup leadership, with Francesco and Edoardo Molinari providing a compelling captaincy combo.
A decision is likely by April, and Donald has not yet ruled out trying to lead Europe to a third consecutive victory.
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The continental captain will only do so if he can field his strongest squad, it all depends on the audience which will decide whether LIV stars such as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will remain members of the DP World Tour.
Early 2026 must give in Judgement day on this thorny issue as they appeal against sanctions for participating in LIV events without official permission from the tour.
streams Koepka continues this theme as the European Tour appears to be the most likely place for the five-time major winner to continue his career after leaving LIV.
English players to shine?
Woad (right) finished low amateur at the Evian Championship before turning professional this summer (Getty Images)
Lottie Woad must guard against second season syndrome after his explosive start to professional life. The 21-year-old Englishwoman only turned professional last summer and is already 11th in the world rankings. She is the most exciting emerging talent in British football.
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Every year, we question ourselves about Major breakthroughs and 2026 could be the year of Brits Tommy Fleetwood and Charley Hull. Fleetwood from Southport will relish a local Open at Birkdale but also the US Open at Shinnecock Hills where the current world number three was second to Koepka in 2018.
Hull said majors were her priority after finishing second at last year’s AIG Women’s Open, her fourth second-place finish at a major.
Nelly Korda is still world number two but has not won in 2025. She finished the year on a relatively high note by finishing third in the Tour Championship. If she can iron out her issues, she will be a worthy rival to Thitikul at the top of the rankings.
Scheffler is more than seven points ahead at the top of the men’s rankings. He’s been at the top since May 2023. And after six wins in 2025, it’s hard to imagine the American being toppled as world number one. A soon.
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Two P.S. for you; Marco Penge and John Parry venture onto the PGA Tour for the first time as members in 2026. Both Englishmen earned the right to the DP World Tour last year and the big-hitting Penge is a particularly exciting prospect.
Calm please! Perhaps like never before, authorities must take into account fan behavior at major events to ensure the Royal and Ancient game continues to be played with the decorum it deserves.
Rankings will also remain a hot topic. Officials are still not ready to admit LIV’s breakaway tournaments, but the Saudi-funded organization is expanding its roster to 57 players, increasing promotion spots in the league to three and expanding from 54 to 72 holes. Watch this space.
Is Woods’ influence deviating from its trajectory?
Woods’ last professional tournament was the 2024 Open Championship and last year he only played in his indoor TGL project (Getty Images)
Will Shinnecock Is Hills once again proving to be a major controversial location? The last two US Opens have been extraordinarily eventful.
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In 2004, the greens became so hard they were almost unplayable and in 2018 Mickelson resorted to a moving putt, preferring a two-stroke penalty rather than hitting his ball off the 13th green. What will the month of June bring to the venerable but capricious venue of Long Island?
Could Tiger Woods is on the field? Unfortunately, the big winner of 15 major tournaments is still recovering from his last back operation. His influence will surely be greater off the course – planning a revamped PGA Tour schedule and perhaps taking over as captain of the US Ryder Cup.
THE WE The Women’s Open will be a fascinating week at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, an ideal venue for the 2028 Olympic golf events.
Brendan Valdes is another young American left-hander worth keeping an eye on as he embarks on a full PGA Tour season for the first time. The 22-year-old enjoyed a stellar college career at Auburn where he collected a record 558 birdies and already has a top 10 finish on tour under his belt.
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AIG Women’s The Open returns to Royal Lytham and St Anne’s at the end of July, where Georgia Hall was champion in 2018. Could this be a precursor to Lancashire Links hosting the Men’s Open which was last held there 14 years ago? It is still unclear where the 2028 championship will take place.
X It has to be Xander Schauffele because, well, where else could I go? But the American must rediscover the form that brought him two major tournaments in 2024 and make last year’s injury-induced inconsistency a mere blip in a fine career to date.
Cameron Young showed at the Ryder Cup that he was built for the big moment. Ensconced in the world’s top 20 and now with a long-awaited tour victory under his belt, the New Yorker is expected to push for recognition in the top 10 in 2026.
And with the sad recent passing of Fuzzy Zoeller, Will Zalatoris must carry the banner at the end of the alphabet.
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Having returned from his latest back surgery at an event in South Africa late last year, many fans are desperate for a lasting recovery.
The popular 29-year-old says his latest comeback is a “rebirth” and is now hoping to add to the six major top 10s he has accumulated between 2020 and 2022.
