Austin Championship Brings PGA Tour Back to Texas Hill Country
The PGA Tour returns to Austin for the first time since the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, launching the inaugural Austin Championship presented by Compliance Solutions. The penultimate event of the FedExCup Fall runs from November 12-15, 2026, offering a $6 million purse and 500 FedExCup points to the winner.
Players arriving at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa face a tight window to secure their playing privileges for the following season. According to the PGA Tour, the 120-man field is competing on the par-72, 7,451-yard Fazio Canyons Course for positioning inside the top 100 of the FedExCup standings to lock up 2027 Tour cards, alongside the Aon Next 10 spots numbered 51 through 60 that unlock entry into the first two Signature Events at Pebble Beach and Riviera.
Field Highlights and Local Contingent at Barton Creek
Two-time fall winner Austin Smotherman leads the starting list alongside rookie Jackson Koivun and 19-year-old Blades Brown, who are charting their journeys toward securing 2027 Tour cards, according to PGA Tour reporting. The field also features Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Brian Harman, Lucas Glover, and Matt Kuchar.
Five former University of Texas golfers join the draw just a short drive from campus. The Longhorn alumni competing in the event include Pierceson Coody, Doug Ghim, Beau Hossler, Christiaan Maas, and Tommy Morrison, with Maas and Morrison securing their spots via sponsor exemptions.
Players Vie for Priority Ranking Points in Texas Hill Country
The event marks the seventh of eight tournaments in the FedExCup Fall schedule, as players look to improve their Priority Ranking categories before the new season begins. While fully exempt members maintain guaranteed entry into all full-field events, conditional categories depend on the points accrued during these late-season stops.
Competition gets underway on November 12 over 72 holes of stroke play on the Fazio Canyons layout. Four open qualifying spots remain available to round out the initial 120-player field before play commences in the Texas Hill Country.
Worth a look