26 things that will happen in golf in 2026

As we head into a new year, it seems like the ideal time to have a look at the things I would like to see happen in the world of golf during 2026.

Another Major For Rory

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Having completed the Career Grand Slam by winning The Masters, I really want to see Rory McIlroy add to his tally and the tournament that he will feel owes him a victory is the US Open. It is being played at Shinnecock Hills in 2026. The last time it was played there the Northern Irishman had a nightmare. Having finished second in agonising circumstances in 2023 and 2024, he will be determined to finally go one better this time. And I believe that he will.

A First Major For Charley Hull

Hull is one of the most naturally gifted golfers of her generation but even she would probably admit that she has failed to live up to her huge potential. She has come close to winning both the Women’s Open and US Women’s Open. It would be a tragedy if she were to finish her career without winning a major.

Penge Making His Mark

Marco Penge enjoyed a quite extraordinary year in 2025. Having had to hole a six-foot putt to keep his DP World Tour card in 2024, he was then suspended for betting infringements. It didn’t look good for him. But against all the odds, he won three times on the DP World Tour in 2025 and was desperately unlucky to miss out on a Ryder Cup place. He ended the season second only to Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, earning himself a coveted PGA Tour card in the process. He hits the ball a mile, is utterly fearless - and American galleries will love him.

Fabulous Fleetwood

Having finally landed his first PGA Tour title, at the season-ending Tour Championship no less, Fleetwood is bursting with confidence. He had an astonishing Ryder Cup, won again in India and has clearly taken his game to a different level. Look out for him adding more PGA Tour titles and challenging for The Open at Royal Birkdale.

Sharp Schauffele

Having enjoyed a career-defining year in 2024, Schauffele missed part of the 2025 season through injury and when he returned he struggled horribly. He only made the US Ryder Cup team on the back of his 2024 form. Schauffele is one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour among his peers. He is also one of the hardest workers in the game and will be looking to climb the heights again in 2026.

Where There’s a Will

You have to feel some sympathy for Will Zalatoris. Having missed a huge part of 2024 because of injury, the American had to go under the knife again in 2025. He has suffered career-threatening back pain and has now undergone fusion surgery that he hopes will save his career. Still only 29, he has finished second at The Masters, US Open and US PGA and will be playing using a medical exemption in 2026. He is a real talent and deserves to enjoy a slice or two of good luck.

Three in a Row?

There is a clamour for Luke Donald to lead Europe into the 2027 Ryder Cup. He masterminded stunning victories in Rome and New York and the players clearly love him. No doubt he will be putting us out of our misery sooner rather than later. Personally, I think he will step aside and that the job will go to Francesco Molinari.

The Wonder of Woad

Lottie Woad made a sensational start to her professional career. Having already won the Irish Open and nearly claiming the Evian as an amateur, the English golfer won on her first start in the paid ranks at the Scottish Open. She has already climbed into the top 10 in the world rankings and I expect her to have a huge year on the LPGA Tour.

Supporting The Cause

Rory McIlroy has urged Europe’s best players to spend more time supporting the DP World Tour. As somebody who regularly returns to home shores he speaks from a position of strength. There are those who now regard the DP World Tour as a feeder for the PGA Tour. It is up to the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre and Ludvig Aberg to follow McIlroy’s example.

Luke Here

Identifying the next big thing is no easy task but I believe that in Luke Clanton the PGA Tour could have a generational talent. He achieved wondrous things as an amateur and although his progress has stalled somewhat there is not the slightest doubt in my mind that the young American could be golf’s next superstar. 

Accessible Tee Times

Sit with any group of club golfers and one of the things they will consistently complain about is their inability to be able to book the tee times they want at their own golf club. Is it really too much to ask that golf clubs get their act together and start using booking systems that are fit for purpose?

Flying Scotsman

Robert MacIntyre has made stellar progress over the past couple of years. In 2024 he won the Canadian Open and followed it with a dramatic and emotional success at the Scottish Open and in 2025 he very nearly won the US Open, played a key role for Europe in the Ryder Cup and then came home and claimed the Dunhill Links Championship. He is now firmly established as one of the best golfers on the planet and I fully expect that process to continue in 2026.

Coming Home

I believe that 2026 will be the year when we see several high-profile LIV golfers deciding that the time is right to return to the PGA Tour. Many of their contracts are due for renewal and with the huge sums now available on the PGA Tour, along with world ranking points, might the likes of Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau opt to come home?

Affordable Golf

Most of us are feeling the pinch and many of you are unhappy with the annual subscriptions you are asked to pay. Increases often happen without explanation and/or justification. Is it too much to hope that 2026 will see golf clubs taking into account the fact that most of their members are financially stretched before imposing inflation-busting subscription increases?

Legal Battles

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were only able to play for Europe in the Ryder Cup after appealing against the fines and suspensions imposed upon them by the DP World Tour after they joined LIV Golf. Unbelievably, those appeals have yet to be heard and there is no indication as to when that might happen. Make no mistake, this is MASSIVE for European golf. If they lose their appeals, what happens next? All logic dictates that they would no longer be available for the Ryder Cup. This is something that cannot be brushed under the carpet.

Target Golf

Against all the odds, I have managed to reduce my handicap during the past 12 months. I have actually surprised myself by playing some proper golf in 2025. And even at my advanced age, there are still things I want to achieve in this game. A further handicap reduction may be beyond me but I hope to maintain the standard I have reached. I will be continuing to spend time at the driving range and will still work hard on my short game. Watch this space...

Away Days

I have two golf breaks in the diary for 2026. No matter what you may believe, it is still possible to find bargains. I am taking a party of 16 on an overnight break that includes two rounds of golf, dinner, bed and breakfast - all for less than £150 a head! 

Captain’s Innings

This is an entirely selfish one. In January I become Seniors Captain at Dunston Hall Golf Club on the outskirts of Norwich. It is a real honour to serve as captain at a golf club that has a wonderful seniors section. I have my fingers crossed for a successful 12 months, culminating in what I hope will be a record-braking charity day in September. More than anything else, however, I hope for a happy and healthy year for each and every member of the section.

New Courses

We should all be looking to add new courses to our list. As Senior Captain at my golf club in 2026 I already know that I will be playing in 20 team matches - 10 at home and 10 away. I played 16 matches in 2025, teeing it up at six courses for the first time. Next year’s schedule means I already know that I will be playing at least two courses for the first time - and I cannot wait.

Peace in Our Time?

There was meant to be a peace deal in place at the end of December 2023, something that would heal the rift in men’s professional golf and bring together the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf. It didn’t happen and there is little optimism that it is going to happen any time soon. But I live in hope that there may yet be some kind of breakthrough. I am not holding my breath.

Websites

In this day and age it surely cannot be too much to expect that golf clubs are able to produce websites that are fit for purpose, can it? Too many look like they have been built as an afterthought, that the clubs who run them have only set them up because they feel that they have no choice. Building an all-singing, all-dancing website in 2026 is NOT rocket science.

It’s Good to Talk 

Regular readers of my missives will know that one of my real bugbears is the inability of golf clubs to communicate with their members. There have been some signs that things are slowly starting to improve. Let’s hope the this continues in 2026.

McIlroy Potting The Eight Ball

Rory McIlroy won the Race to Dubai for a seventh time in 2025. He needs one more to equal the incredible record of Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie. Can anybody stop him from doing so in 2026? I don’t think so. And then he can set his sights on a record-braking ninth title in 2027.

A Tiger Comeback

He is 50, his body is battered but every true golf fan would surely love to see Tiger Woods being able to play a 72-hole tournament pain-free and perhaps even contend. Who knows? The Champions Tour may be made for him!

An End to Joining Fees

We all know that club golf is continuing to enjoy a boom, with unprecedented demand. But nobody will ever convince me that joining fees can be justified, so let’s see them consigned to the dustbin please.

Another Year of Great Weather

If you played regularly during 2025 then you do not need me to tell you that the weather was fantastic. It meant that greenkeepers faced some huge challenges as we all faced baked fairways and rock-hard greens. I have to say that, speaking from personal experience, the greens staff at the courses I played did an outstanding job.