Turkish Airlines Open 2026 preview, picks & analysis

Young French golf star Martin Couvra will be chomping at the bit to defend his Turkish Airlines Open title this week. He won it in sensational fashion last year after a stunning seven-under final round of 64 at Regnum Carya. The 22-year-old triumphed with a 17-under total thanks to an astonishing nine birdies in the final round, helping him to fend off China’s Haotong Li and Spain’s Jorge Campillo in what was only his 15th DP World Tour start.

Couvra only graduated from the HotelPlanner Tour at the end of 2024 but quickly adapted to life on the DP World Tour, posting three top-10 finishes prior to a tied fifth at the Hainan Classic

Victory in Turkey marked the second pro title of Couvra's career but his first since making the step up to the paid ranks after winning the Challenge de Espana in September 2023. He would go on to be named Rookie of the Year in 2025.

The Frenchman said: "It was amazing to win in my first year on the DP World Tour - it's just a dream. I wake up in the morning wanting to win some tournaments, and to win early in my DP World Tour career is fantastic, so I'm really happy about that.

"Naturally, it was really difficult to keep calm and in good shape to close out this round, but I was really happy with all of the discussions with my caddie today, it was just amazing. I think tonight is going to be fun with all of the French players!"

Many pundits believe that Couvra is destined for big things within the game. His swing is reminiscent of Rory McIlroy and he attacks the golf course in the same manner as the Northern Irishman. He is utterly fearless. It doesn’t always pay off, of course, but when it does he is capable of making birdies for fun.

But he will not need me to tell him that he is going to have to be at his very best if he is to make a successful title defence.

Among those standing in his way are DP World Tour winners David Puig, Jayden Schaper, Nacho Elvira, Dan Bradbury, Freddy Schott and Jordan Gumberg.

In addtion, Francesco Molinari and Paul Waring will be hoping they have something to say about the outcome.

Molinari became the first player from Italy to win a major when he triumphed at the 147th Open Championship in 2018. The six-time DP World Tour winner has also represented Europe in three victorious Ryder Cup teams, in 2010, 2012 and 2018 - where he secured the winning point at Le Golf National in Paris. He has been in the doldrums since losing the 2019 Masters to Tiger Woods but is once again working with long-time coach Denis Pugh and there have been some encouraging signs of late.

Two-time DP World Tour winner Waring claimed his maiden Rolex Series title at the 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on his way to earning dual membership with the PGA Tour, and the Englishman will be joined by compatriot Andy Sullivan.

Sullivan has made an outstanding start to the campaign and is riding high in the Race to Dubai after a runner-up finish at the prestigious Dubai Desert Classic in January.

I am expecting big things from Puig. He is one of the group of LIV golfers who has paid his outstanding fines and is now clear to play on the DP World Tour. He won the Australian PGA Championship in November and followed it with tied third at the Dubai Invitational and tied seventh at the Dubai Desert Classic. 

Puig had a successful junior career and played for Spain in the Junior World Cup, where he won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2019. He also represented Europe in the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup and finished third at the 2021 European Amateur.

In 2019, the Spaniard enrolled at Arizona State University. Playing in just his fifth collegiate stroke play tournament, he won the 2021 Southwestern Invitational by a record nine-strokes, and then defended his title in 2022. He also played in the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2020 and 2021, and was named Catalan Player of the Year in 2021.

Puig turned professional in September 2022 and joined LIV and the Asian Tour. He was the youngest player on the 2023 LIV Golf roster. 

In October 2023, he recorded his first win as a professional, at the International Series Singapore tournament on the Asian Tour, where he led wire-to-wire and won by five strokes. Puig won his second Asian Tour title in February 2024, at the Malaysian Open, shooting 62-62 in the final two rounds. The win earned Puig an exemption into the 2024 Open. The following month, he shot a final-round 60 to tie for first at the International Series Macau, losing in a playoff to John Catlin.

Prior to winning the Australian PGA with a score of 266, he committed himself to full membership for the 2026 DP World Tour and is continuing to balance life with LIV Golf.

Tournament Winners:

Last year was the first time it had been played since 2019, when it was won by Tyrrell Hatton. Martin Couvra won in 2025.

The Course:

National Golf Club is located in Belek. It is a par 72 measuring 7,287 yards. It is heavily tree-lined and also features water hazards and plenty of well-placed bunkers.

Form Guide:

Spanish golfer David Puig is one of the most gifted young golfers on the planet and is surely only going to benefit from playing more DP World Tour events.

Prize Money:

Total prize money is $2.75m, with 3,500 Race to Dubai points to the winner.

How to Watch:

Thursday, April 30 Friday, May 1, Sky Sports Golf, 11am; Saturday, May 2, 11.30am; Sunday, May 3, 11am.

To Win:

David Puig. Class act

Each Way:

Jayden Schaper. Has that winning habit

Each Way:

Francesco Molinari. Returning back to strong form

Five to Follow:

David Puig. Certain to win again soon

Jayden Schaper. Big hitter

Francesco Molinari. Former Open champion has played well lately

Martin Couvra. Has every shot in the book

Dan Bradbury. Hugely underrated

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Guido Migliozzi. Struggling 

Pablo Larrazabal. Desperate for a big finish

Leon Acikalan. Local hope

Brandon Robinson Thompson. Looking for big breakthrough

Ugo Coussaud. Underperforming