5 burning questions for the 2026 PGA Tour season

Come in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they analyze the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @igalofu_com. This week, we preview the 2026 season, Scottie Scheffler’s opinion and who will win the first major in 2026.

After a few weeks off, the 2026 PGA Tour season begins Thursday with the Sony Open in Hawaii. Last week, we touched on this year’s bold predictions, so this week, we’re going into part two of our season preview. Scottie Scheffler has won the PGA Tour Player of the Year award for the past four years, so is Scheffler taking over the field in 2026?

Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): I will take the field. Scottie continues to get better, but in the end he won’t win everything. At least, I think.

Sean Zak, senior author (@Sean_Zak): It would be great not to see Scheffler win three times in 2026. That sounds like his floor! So who will beat that? Rory McIlroy may take the title, sure, but it will have to happen at the big events. If Jon Rahm were a PGA Tour golfer, it is possible I would feel differently, but I don’t. So I’ll take Scheffler against the field.

Jack Hirsh, equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): Yes, it’s hard to bet against Scheffler. Last year, we wondered how he would win season seven. How about six more wins and doubling his major to set up a potential Grand Slam on Long Island this summer? Depending on how I’m feeling on a given day, sometimes I think Rory McIlroy might be the best player ever, but he’s not playing every week like Scheffler is now. You can’t bet against that kind of continuous greatness.

If Scheffler doesn’t win, who will? Or who will be second to him?

Scrock: I’ll take Tommy Fleetwood. Now that the PGA Tour monkey is off his back, he has three wins, including a major, and a POTY.

Zak: I think Xander Schauffele is returning to world-beating form, so I’ll push my chips on him. His bottom was never really that down in 2025 despite working through some injury issues. He is raising it this year.

Hirsh: I’m on the Fleetwood hype train again, but I still don’t think (even if he wins the Masters the way I expect him to) he’ll get past McIlroy.

Last year, Ben Griffin started the season without a win but he won three times on the PGA Tour and earned a Ryder Cup pick. Who is your pick for breakout player in 2026?

Scrock: I want to say Luke Clanton, but the results since he turned pro have been tough. He still has a lot of potential, but for the best team player, I’m going to go a different route and pick Michael Thorbjornsen to win multiple times in 2026. I will also look at Marco Penge, who is one of the best golfers and just won three times in 2025 on the DP World Tour. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him stay hot and win once or twice in his new outing if the game stays in form.

Zak: Rasmus Hojgaard! I will plant my flag behind him as the better twin, with all due respect to Nico. He has won and entered numerous DP World Tour events; enough that you can expect him to do it on the PGA Tour. My guess is a win in the spring and maybe another in the fall.

Hirsh: Does Cameron Young count? I know he was hot at the end of the season, he ended up in the winner’s circle, and he was the LLVP (Least Valuable Player) for the Americans at the Ryder Cup, but I see him carrying that momentum to at least two more wins this season.

JJ Spaun made one of the most memorable putts of the season last year to win the US Open and capture his first major. Which underdog will win for the first time in 2026?

Scrock: I’ve already picked Fleetwood to win the grand prize, so we’ll stay there. All eyes will be on him at the Open, but I think he’ll do it at Shinnecock in June.

Zak: I will put my faith in Viktor Hovland and his endless hunt. The talent is there. Here’s hoping all goes well during the crucial weeks.

Hirsh: Fleetwood won the Masters. Ludvig Aberg is the Golf Champion of the Year. Do I stutter?

And the 2026 Rookie of the Year will be…?

Scrock: Give me Penge. I love the swing and the attitude. He wins twice.

Zak: We’ll keep the high Norwegian vibes and go with Kristoffer Reitan. DataGolf ranks him 39th in the world right now, which is 40 spots higher than I would have expected. You hit it hard and put it well. He can win on weeks when his weights are above average.

Hirsh: I like Penge a lot, too, but I’ll go with Johnny Keefer, KFT player of the year. He nearly won $1 million on that Tour last year and then finished T7 in the RSM at the end of the year. The sky’s the limit for the Baylor kid.

And your last bold wildcard prediction is…?

Scrock: Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler both return to the winner’s circle in 2026. Spieth will win at Pebble Beach in February, while Fowler does it at the RBC Heritage.

Zak: Sepp Straka, grand champion.

Hirsh: A trio of 40-somethings, Justin Rose, Gary Woodland, and Adam Scott, have won three times in total, and each has a T5 in a major.