From Major Surprises to LIV’s Woes: Golf’s Wild Ride in 2026

Man, 2026. What a year for golf. It felt like a damn rollercoaster, didn’t it? We saw some rookies step up, some established guys stumble, and a whole lot of drama that had us all glued to the screen. Let’s break it down. From young guns making a statement to the ongoing saga of LIV Golf, it’s been a wild ride. And honestly, some of it is just pure, unadulterated golf chaos.

Koivun’s Coming-Out Party: More Than Just a Win

So, Jackson Koivun. Kid wins the 3M Open. Not just any win, either. He outlasted some serious heavyweights, including Scottie Scheffler. Thirteen starts as a pro, and he’s already got a PGA Tour trophy. That’s insane. And you know what was even crazier? He made it look… almost easy. Sure, there was a clunky par down the stretch, but he held it together. He hit fairways, he hit greens, and he putted like a seasoned vet. Not the kind of guy who crumbles under pressure. He played like he owned the place. That’s the kind of poise you don’t see every day, especially from someone so new to the big leagues.

The way he handled himself was impressive. Seriously. With a lead going into Sunday, you’d expect some nerves. Especially with Scheffler breathing down his neck. But Koivun? Nah. He just kept doing his thing. Never gave anyone else an opening. Just cruised to the finish line. It wasn’t even a nail-biter. That’s the mark of a future star, for sure. You see a lot of talented kids come and go, but this kid… he’s got that something extra. That veteran calm, even though he’s barely out of his teens. It’s not just about hanging on for dear life; it’s about attacking and closing the deal. That’s what we saw. And it was damn cool to watch.

The PGA Tour’s Schedule Shake-Up: A Necessary Evil?

Now, let’s talk about the PGA Tour’s new two-track system kicking off in 2028. It’s going to change things. A lot. The idea is to have a Championship Series and a Challenger Series. Players on the Championship side won’t be able to just hop down to Challenger events. What does this mean for tournaments like the 3M Open? It’s unclear where it’ll land. But this kind of star-power injection we saw this year with Scheffler playing? That might be a thing of the past. Is that a disservice to the fans and the communities that host these events? Or is it just the price of doing business in this new Tour landscape?

As someone who covers this tournament in Minnesota every year, I can tell you the crowds this year were unreal. I’ve never seen anything like it. Usually, it’s solid, but Scottie Scheffler? He drew the whole damn course. Thursday through Sunday. It was fun. But you get it. The Tour schedule needed a serious overhaul. It was getting messy. This new system, while maybe tough on some events, makes the stakes clearer. Everything leading to somewhere. No more 40 one-off events that lead to a confusing postseason. It needed a facelift, and this is it. It’s a tough pill to swallow for some of these communities, sure. Losing the chance to see guys like Scottie or Jordan Spieth is a blow. But the Tour couldn’t keep running on fumes.

The schedule change was inevitable. The real question is whether these changes actually fix the core problem: people only care about a handful of golfers. Without the big names, how long will these smaller events survive? Are we just delaying the inevitable when the schedule has to be cut down even further? It’s a tough balance. You want to support the game, but you also want to see the best players competing. This new structure tries to address that, but it’s going to create some winners and losers, no doubt.

The Major Season: A Year of Surprises and Shenanigans

Okay, the majors. 2026. What a weird year. We’re used to seeing the usual suspects – Rory, Scottie, Bryson, Xander, Brooks – taking home the big trophies. But this year? Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai snuck in. And then there’s Wyndham Clark. Yeah, he’d won a major before, but c’mon. The guy who was busting up lockers at a U.S. Open wins that same damn tournament a year later? Unbelievable. And to top it off, he gets heckled by his own fans. What is that?

My biggest takeaway? It was just… unpredictable. After Rory repeated at Augusta, we got three straight surprises. Before the PGA Championship, eight of the last nine majors went to Rory, Scottie, Bryson, or Xander. The only real outliers since 2021 were J.J. Spaun and Brian Harman. Then BAM! Aaron Rai, Ryan Fox, and Wyndham Clark. Clark, after being in the wilderness, wins his second U.S. Open. It’s wild how fast things change. We went from “Can Rory win another Masters?” to “How many green jackets will he snag?” Now, the real question for 2027 is: which of the big names who are stuck on two majors are going to finally break through? Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Xander, Bryson, Jordan Spieth… they’ve all been on pause. Who adds to their tally next year? It’s a damn good question.

And let’s be honest, a lot of the drama wasn’t even about the golf itself. It was the sideshows. Rory chasing a repeat. The fan abuse directed at Clark. Bryson’s penalty theatrics. When it came down to the actual play, only the Open Championship had a truly dramatic finish on the final hole. The rest? Kind of fizzled out.

Memorable Moments: Penalties, Crowds, and Pure Chaos

So, what was the most memorable moment? It’s tough to pick just one. Garrick Higgo’s whole situation at the PGA Championship – showing up late, getting a penalty, the whole explanation – that was something. And the way fans treated Clark at Shinnecock Hills? Appalling. But honestly, beyond Rory’s second green jacket, what we’ll probably remember in ten years is Bryson DeChambeau’s bizarre Friday night at Royal Birkdale during the Open. That was peak golf absurdity.

Bryson’s penalty saga. That’s the one. You know it’s big when your non-golf-fan friends start texting you about it. The whole kerfuffle around that ruling nearly blew up my phone. He took officials back out, threatened to withdraw, reportedly even tried to get Trump involved to get the penalty overturned. It was insane. That’s what the 2026 Open will be remembered for. Honorable mentions, though? Scottie finishing second at Augusta and then absolutely ripping the course apart for not having equal conditions in the first two rounds. And Haotong Li’s final-round 80, where he spent 30 minutes in the bushes at No. 13. Pure comedy gold.

Buying Stock for 2027: Who’s Next?

Alright, looking ahead to 2027. Whose major stock are you buying?

• Sam Burns: This guy is right there. He was one shot off the 54-hole lead at the Masters. Finished just behind Clark at the U.S. Open. Was the 54-hole leader at the Open Championship. He’s close. More importantly, he handles these situations with grace. Sometimes you need those near misses before you finally cash in.
• Cam Young: Held the lead on Sunday at the Masters. Then he put on a clinic on Sunday at the Open to almost steal it. He’s taken a massive leap in the last year. Won at Wyndham, nabbed a Players Championship, and rolled over the field at Doral. The majors are coming for him.
• Scottie Scheffler: Yeah, I know he didn’t win a major in 2026. But you’d be a fool to bet against him. He played damn good major golf. It’s hard to imagine him getting shut out again next year. He’s still the guy to beat.

LIV Golf: Is It Officially on Life Support?

Now, the elephant in the room. LIV Golf. What’s the most troubling news this week? The Asian Tour bailing as a feeder program, or the reports that the season-ending team event in Michigan might not even happen? Honestly, it’s hard to keep track of all the crap coming out of LIV these days. Rumors about tournaments, their future, who’s suing them… it’s a mess. The Michigan thing isn’t official yet, so maybe it’s not curtains. But losing the Asian Tour? That’s a big hit. You notice how quickly Rory endorsed that move? Yeah, that wasn’t by accident.

Sure, funding might dry up this year, but that doesn’t mean some deep-pocketed investor won’t swoop in to save them for future years. But right now? The whole damn thing is starting to leak oil. If that Michigan event gets canceled, it feels like the final nail in the coffin. A league that’s been struggling to keep the music playing for months. But the Asian Tour hooking up with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour? That might be even bigger. Rumor was LIV’s pitch to investors included 10 Asian Tour events and 10 LIV events. That option is gone. Without the Asian Tour as a feeder, the OWGR points LIV fought so hard for are probably in serious danger, even if they survive. Things aren’t good at LIV HQ. It feels like we’re preparing to give the league its last rites after the Indianapolis event. Put a fork in it. The league is pretty much in zombie mode right now. Dead in most meaningful ways.

It’s tough to watch, honestly. You want competition, you want options. But this… this is just sad. It’s a cautionary tale of what happens when ambition outstrips execution. And the golf world is watching, waiting for the final curtain call.

Want to stay up-to-date on all the golf drama? Keep checking back for more unfiltered takes. We’ll be here, dissecting every shot, every controversy, and every ridiculous LIV announcement. Because someone has to.