Wyndham Championship 2026 preview picks analysis

Brooks Koepka, Keegan Bradley, Tony Finau, Andrew Novak, Lucas Glover, Matt Wallace, Jason Day and Billy Horschel all have one thing in common - with the PGA Tour season nearing its conclusion, they are all outside the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings who will make it to the end-of-season playoffs.

And unless they can force their way in they can forget about playing in the tour’s Signature Events in 2027.

The Wyndham Championship represents the last-chance saloon for many as Cameron Young defends his title. It is a special tournament for the American. After a series of near-misses he finally won his first tournament here 12 months ago.

It is not just some of the field who face an uncertain future. Wyndham’s sponsorship at Sedgefield Country Club runs out this year and the PGA Tour has yet to find a new backer. Of course, much on the PGA Tour is in flux. The Tour has yet to announce all the details of its new two-tier tournament system due to begin in 2028. Some existing tournaments may have new dates, some new events may replace current events and some will be scrapped.

When asked, tournament CEO Mark Brazil said he and Bobby Long, chairman of the tournament’s foundation, have been actively trying to obtain a title sponsor and protect the event’s future. "I would say most of that will be sorted out … after our tournament," Brazil said. "Bobby and I have been working pretty hard at this. I think we’re making some progress."

Young will be defending his title and will be joined by Koepka and Si Woo Kim, who claimed his first Tour victory at Sedgefield in 2016.

Koepka has nine PGA Tour wins. He won the US Open in 2017 and 2018 and added PGA Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2023 and represented the United States in the Ryder Cup four times and in the Presidents Cup once. He also has seven international wins. But all of that counts for nothing. He is probably going to have to win this week to scrape into the top 70 and there have been few signs this season that he is capable of doing so. From tee to green his game is as good as ever but his putting laves much to be desired.

Brooks Koepka

(Image Credit: Rolex/Thomas Lovelock)

Young, ranked third in both the world rankings and FedEx Cup standings, and Kim, ranked 18th, both contended at the recent Open Championship.

The tournament also has received a commitment from Alex Fitzpatrick, who earned his Tour exemption by winning the Zurich Classic with his brother Matt and going on to produce a string of fine performances on the PGA Tour.

Although he does not need to play at Sedgefield to protect his status for the FedEx playoffs or his 2027 playing privileges, Young said he was excited for his first experience as a defending champion and the opportunity to play near his alma mater, Wake Forest. "I’m just looking forward to the week," said Young. "I’ve played well there the last two years. I’m looking forward to this last stretch of golf and looking forward to putting my head down and finishing strong during the final five weeks."

Young shot 64 to pass 18 players at Royal Birkdale to finish at nine-under-par 271, just one shot behind winner Ryan Fox.

Alex Smalley, who tied for second in the PGA Championship and was one of the Tour’s hottest players in April and May, has an opportunity to join a list of recent first-time Tour winners in Greensboro, including Webb Simpson, Kim, JT Poston and Young, who have used a Wyndham victory as a springboard to greater success. He also finished tied for second at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, tied for third at the Charles Schwab Challenge and tied for seventh at the Cadillac Championship.

Since winning at Sedgefield, Young won the Cadillac Championship and the Players Championship, the Tour’s flagship tournament.

PGA champion Aaron Rai has also chosen to play as he tunes up for the playoffs.

Rai won the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, shooting a final round 65 to take a three-stroke win over Smalley and Jon Rahm. He became the first English-born player to win the PGA since Jim Barnes in 1919. In addition to his PGA Championship win, Rai’s best finishes this year are fifth at the OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic and tied for 11th at the US Open.

Rai captured his first PGA Tour win at Sedgefield in 2024, but with five international victories already to his credit, he was far from a rookie. He battled through 72 holes in just three days after the opening round was delayed until Friday due to the remnants of Hurricane Debby. He closed with a bogey-free 64 finishing almost in the dark. Rai will make his fifth-consecutive Wyndham Championship appearance; he finished tied for fifth last year after winning in 2024.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Davis Love, in 2016 by Si Woo Kim, in 2017 by Henrik Stenson, in 2018 by Brandt Snedeker, in 2018 by JT Poston, in 2020 by Jim Herman, in 2021 by Kevin Kisner, in 2022 by Tom Kim, in 2023 by Lucas Glover, in 2024 by Aaron Rai and last year by Cameron Young.

The Course:

Sedgefield Country Club was designed by the legendary Donald Ross. It is a par 70 measuring 7,127 yards. The tournament record winning score is 258, achieved by Stenson and Poston, so get ready to see some very low scores. In 2018, Snedeker shot a 59 on his way to a second victory here.

Form Guide:

Cameron Young will start the week as a warm favourite given his superb form in 2026.

Prize Money:

Total prize money is $8.2m with around $1.5m and 500 FedEx Cup points going to the winner.

How to Watch:

Thursday, August 6, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm; Friday, August 7, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm; Saturday, August 8, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm; Sunday, August 9, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm.