2026 PGA Tour In North Carolina:
Asheville Gets First PGA Event Since 1942
As Bold North State Continues Golf Growth
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(updated Sept. 14, 2026)
In 2024, North Carolina hosted the U.S. Open in Pinehurst. In 2025, the golf world revisited the Bold North State for the PGA Championship in Charlotte.
While there are no major golf championships on the in-state calendar this year, North Carolina is in the process of hosting three PGA Tour events here in 2026: the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte (May), the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro (August) and the brand-new Biltmore Championship Asheville at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden (this week), which is nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Biltmore Championship, Asheville’s first PGA Tour event since 1942, combines the memory of legendary golfer Ben Hogan (a multi-time winner of the city’s previous event) with the fingerprints of living legend Jack Nicklaus (Walnut Cove’s designer) and a $5 million purse that has attracted a very competitive field, including three participants from next week’s Presidents Cup event in Illinois.
As part of a four-year agreement, Biltmore Estate and Explore Asheville are serving as the co-title sponsors for the PGA Tour’s return to Asheville. This week’s inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville has competitive rounds scheduled for Thursday-Sunday, with television, radio and streaming coverage (see below) on all four days.
Among the top 70 golfers in the latest Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), 10 plan to compete this week at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove: Jacob Bridgeman (#29), JT Poston (#38), Marco Penge (#53), Corey Conners (#54), Nico Echavarria (#60), Michael Kim (#64), Jackson Koivun (#65; pictured above), Ryo Hisatsune (#66), Johnny Keefer (#68) and Pierceson Coody (#70).
Poston, a 33-year-old native of Hickory (an hour-plus drive from Asheville), starred at Hickory High School and Western Carolina University in nearby Cullowhee before joining the professional ranks in 2015.
Bridgeman, Koivun and Hisatsune all were captain’s picks for next week’s Presidents Cup, an event that matches the United States against an International Team that draws its competitors from everywhere except the USA and Europe.
Bridgeman, who made the 30-player field at last month’s Tour Championship, is a 26-year-old former Clemson star who joined the professional golf circuit in 2022. Koivun, a college superstar at Auburn, turned 21 years old in May and turned pro in June. Hisatsune, from Japan, will compete for the International Team.
Among the other most recognizable names in the Asheville field this week are Tony Finau, Lucas Glover, Billy Horschel and Webb Simpson. Justin Thomas originally was scheduled to play, but he withdrew from the event on Sunday.
The Biltmore Championship Asheville’s $5 million purse includes $900,000 for the winner.
Top 2026 Biltmore Championship Participants
(Official World Golf Ranking)
#29—Jacob Bridgeman, USA
#38—JT Poston, USA (Hickory native; played at Hickory HS, Western Carolina University)
#53—Marco Penge, England
#54—Corey Conners, Canada
#60—Nico Echavarria, Colombia
#64—Michael Kim, USA
#65—Jackson Koivun, USA
#66—Ryo Hisatsune, Japan
#68—Johnny Keefer, USA
#70—Pierceson Coody, USA
Other NC Notables
Tom Hoge, USA (Statesville native)
Webb Simpson, USA (Raleigh native; former star at Broughton HS, Wake Forest University)
Kevin Streelman, USA (former Duke star)
Brendon Todd, USA (former star at Green Hope HS in Cary)
How To Watch: Television
Thursday—Golf Channel (3-6 p.m.)
Friday—Golf Channel (3-6 p.m.)
Saturday—Golf Channel (1-4 p.m.)
Sunday—Golf Channel (1-4 p.m.)
How To Watch: Streaming
Thursday—PGA Tour Live on ESPN App/ESPN+ (7 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Friday—PGA Tour Live on ESPN App/ESPN+ (7 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Saturday—PGA Tour Live on ESPN App/ESPN+ (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Sunday—PGA Tour Live on ESPN App/ESPN+ (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
How To Listen: PGA Tour Radio
Thursday—SiriusXM or PGATour.com (noon-6 p.m.)
Friday—SiriusXM or PGATour.com (noon-6 p.m.)
Saturday—SiriusXM or PGATour.com (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Sunday—SiriusXM or PGATour.com (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
