2026 Predictions
The year in majors and key Cup events has this one shaping up to be a wild season in golf.
Fred Ridley will suggest sweeping qualification changes for The Masters. During his annual press conference, the Chairman hints at only inviting tournament winners from events featuring at least 100 players and a 36-hole cut. The PGA Tour’s Future Competition Committee responds by demanding “Name, Image and Likeness” fees for its Masters qualifiers, plus memberships for the Strategic Sports Group’s most esteemed benefactors. Several members report that it’s the first time they’ve ever seen Chairman Ridley laugh.
Bryson DeChambeau blames “the” decision to go for Augusta National’s 15th green on “Gen 1” of an AI chatbot he coded in his spare time. He loses a three-stroke Masters lead with four holes to go after going for the green from 230 yards out. He defers all post-round questions to the same “generative pre-trained transformer” that told him to go for the green, “just like Seve Ballesteros successfully did in 1986.” DeChambeau says he trained his chatbot during table tennis “boot camp” breaks where he’s trying to become the next Marty Reisman.
Rory McIlroy wins his second Masters in as many years. Following a closing 65, he’s sitting in player scoring when DeChambeau can’t birdie the 18th hole to force a playoff.
Tiger Woods tells a backed media center at the Cologuard Classic that’s he’s still waiting for the phone call about captaining the 2027 Ryder Cup team. But the PGA of America is in extended “talks” with Nick Saban about the job after Ryder Cup Captain’s Committee member Justin Thomas suggested the former Alabama coach is the “ideal leader” for 2027’s matches at Adare Manor.
The Chevron Championship moves to Houston’s Memorial Park, and the season-opening major’s status is questioned. Players are annoyed to find plenty of tee shots landing in divots from the Houston Open a few weeks before. An overall “second fiddle” vibe from playing the same course within weeks of a PGA Tour event all but guarantees an inevitable return to Rancho Mirage by 2028.
The shortest-ever PGA of America press conference takes place prior to the PGA at Aronimink. It’s reported that CEO Derek Sprague and President Don Rea spent the off-season working with word-minimalist extraordinaire Kerry Haigh, resulting in only one-word answers during the three-minute session.
Justin Rose wins the PGA at Aronimink despite facing an onslaught of ageist and anti-Brit verbal abuse. The 2010 winner of the AT&T National at the Philadelphia course holds off final round playing partner Keegan Bradley, who never discourages fans from taunting his opponent. Rose cites his Ryder Cup experience as the reason he survived the Philly fans. A week later and after much international scrutiny of PGA of America officials who were hunkered down in the clubhouse, CEO Derek Sprague sends Rose an apology email.
The PGA of America backs down on its anti-rollback stance, meaning all men’s and women’s majors will adopt 2028’s “Model Local Rule” for golf balls. After two 59’s are posted at Aronimink, the PGA caves. Key to the decision is a deal made by the R&A and USGA to ensure that all PGA of America members continue to receive free personalized golf balls despite the organization’s support of the rollback.
The PGA Tour announces it will not adopt new equipment testing rules in 2028 without compensation for members. New leadership in the organization peddles familiar nonsense about flawed Shotlink data and asks President Donald Trump to sign an executive order preventing players from losing 10 yards of carry in two years.
LIV Golf finally gets Official World Golf Ranking points. And it still won’t make the golf worth watching.
The final groups at Riviera’s U.S. Women’s Open will have more people inside the ropes than outside. As proven at the 1983 PGA, 1995 PGA, and 1998 U.S. Senior Open, LA’s a one-golf-event-a-year town. But the peaceful vibe fails to discourage Yuka Saso, who wins her third U.S. Women’s Open.
USA wins the Curtis Cup at Bel-Air despite having to bunk up in UCLA’s oldest dorm. With a shortage of hotel rooms caused by the World Cup—forcing governing body officials to also lodge at venerable Dykstra Hall—the Americans shrug off the dorm experience because they get to watch USA’s World Cup team practice at Wallis Annenburg Stadium which sits just a soft, cutting five-wood away from Bel-Air’s first green.
Wyndham Clark gets his own locker room at Shinnecock. The 2023 U.S. Open champion learns upon signing in that the USGA has placed an executive trailer in player parking lot just for him. The goal is clear: to protect the club’s historic Stanford White clubhouse. After Clark misses the weekend, the USGA confirms that the trailer’s specially-padded walls sustained only minor damage.
There will be a play stoppage at Shinnecock. The U.S. Open pauses during Saturday’s third round to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of past championships at the Southampton masterpiece. A ceremonial flyover features Canadian water-dropping “super scoopers” misting all in attendance from 3000 feet above. When play resumes, Scottie Scheffler seeks to lock up the career grand slam only to watch Sam Burns birdie the final two for his first major. After Burns leaves player scoring, Greg Norman mysteriously appears and welcomes Burns “to the club.”