🗓🏌🏽♂️July 2026: the Must-See Competitions on the PGA TOUR🏆
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
🇺🇸🏌🏽♂️John Deere Classic, July 2-5, TPC Deere Run Silvis, Illinois • USA
The John Deere Classic is one of the PGA Tour’s most community-oriented events and has been a fixture on the schedule since 1971. Originally known as the Quad Cities Open, the tournament became the John Deere Classic in 1999 when agricultural giant John Deere became title sponsor. The event is especially respected for its charitable impact, consistently ranking among the PGA Tour leaders in money raised for local causes across Illinois and Iowa.
The tournament is played at TPC Deere Run, a course designed by legendary architect D. A. Weibring, himself a three-time winner of the tournament. Opened in 2000, the course was built on reclaimed mining land overlooking the Rock River and is known for its dramatic elevation changes, risk-reward finishing holes, and birdie-friendly setup.
The champion receives a traditional crystal trophy featuring the John Deere logo and agricultural imagery symbolizing the region’s farming heritage and the tournament’s strong connection to Midwestern America.
💰 Purse: $8,800,000
💯 FedExCup: 500 pts
Previous winner (2025): 🇺🇸 Brian Campbell ($1,512,000) captured his first PGA Tour victory after years grinding through mini-tours and the Korn Ferry Tour.
🏴🏌🏽♂️Genesis Scottish Open, July 9-12, The Renaissance Club, North Berwick • Scotland
The Genesis Scottish Open is one of the oldest national open championships in golf, dating back to 1972. Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, it serves as the premier preparation event for The Open Championship and regularly attracts one of the strongest international fields outside the majors.
The tournament is hosted at The Renaissance Club, designed by renowned American architect Tom Doak. Opened in 2008 along Scotland’s famous Golf Coast, the layout blends modern minimalist architecture with traditional Scottish links characteristics, including firm fairways, deep bunkering, coastal winds, and strategic angles of play.
One of the event’s defining features is its location beside some of the most historic golf land in the world, neighboring legendary venues such as Muirfield and North Berwick Golf Club.
💰 Purse: $9,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 500 pts
Previous winner (2025): 🇺🇸 Chris Gotterup ($1,575,000) outlasted a world-class field in difficult wind conditions and earned one of the biggest titles of his young professional career.
🇺🇸🏌🏽♂️ISCO Championship, July 9-12, Hurstbourne Country Club Louisville, Kentucky • USA
The ISCO Championship traces its origins to the Barbasol Championship, first played in 2015 as an alternate-field PGA Tour event opposite major championships.
The championship golf course at Hurstbourne Country Club was originally designed by the legendary architect Pete Dye and his brother, Roy Dye. The course opened in 1967. Over the years, it has undergone updates to modernize the layout while preserving the signature Dye character, including a significant renovation project led by acclaimed golf course architect Keith Foster.
A fun fact about the event is that several first-time PGA Tour winners have emerged through alternate-field tournaments like this one, making the competition especially meaningful for younger professionals and Korn Ferry Tour graduates trying to establish themselves.
The tournament trophy reflects Kentucky heritage and incorporates equestrian-inspired design elements honoring the state’s deep horse-racing culture.
💰 Purse: $4,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 300 pts
Previous winner (2025): 🇺🇸 William Mouw’s 2025 victory ($720,000) was particularly notable because it marked his first PGA Tour title after a strong collegiate career at Pepperdine University.
🏴🏌🏽♂️The Open Championship, July 16-19, Royal Birkdale Golf Club Southport • England
The Open Championship is the oldest major championship in golf. First played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club, it is organized by The R&A and is widely known simply as “The Open.”
The 2026 edition returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club, one of the most admired links courses in championship golf. The course was originally laid out by George Lowe and later refined by architect Fred Hawtree. Royal Birkdale is famous for its towering dunes, narrow fairways, and exceptional natural amphitheater holes that create spectacular spectator viewing.
The champion golfer of the year receives the iconic Claret Jug, officially called the Golf Champion Trophy. First presented in 1873, it symbolizes golfing immortality and is one of the most recognizable trophies in all of sports.
Royal Birkdale has produced many legendary Open moments, including victories by Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, and Jordan Spieth. Spieth’s dramatic 2017 victory included one of the most famous recovery shots in modern major championship history after his wild drive on the 13th hole.
💰 Purse: $ TBC ($17,000,000 in 2025)
💯 FedExCup: 750 pts
Previous winner (2025): 🇺🇸 Scottie Scheffler ($3,100,000).
🇩🇴🏌🏽♂️Corales Puntacana Championship, July16-19, Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course) • Dominican Republic
The Corales Puntacana Championship became a PGA Tour event in 2018 and quickly developed a reputation as one of the most scenic tournaments on the schedule. Played in the Dominican Republic, it helped expand the PGA Tour’s presence in the Caribbean and Latin America.
The spectacular Corales Golf Course was designed by world-renowned architect Tom Fazio. The oceanside course features six holes directly along the Caribbean Sea and is famous for its dramatic closing stretch known as the “Devil’s Elbow,” where strong coastal winds regularly influence the outcome.
The tournament trophy incorporates Caribbean imagery and reflects the turquoise waters and cliffside beauty of Punta Cana.
💰 Purse: $4,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 300 pts
Previous winner (2025): 🇿🇦 Garrick Higgo ($720,000).
🇺🇸🏌🏽♂️3M Open, July 23-26, TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota • USA
The 3M Open became an official PGA Tour event in 2019 after evolving from a long-running PGA Tour Champions tournament. Sponsored by multinational company 3M, the event has become one of the key summer tournaments leading into the FedExCup Playoffs.
The championship is played at TPC Twin Cities, originally designed by legendary architect Arnold Palmer with later updates by Tom Lehman. The course is known for extensive water hazards, wide landing areas, and dramatic finishing holes capable of producing late leaderboard changes.
Kurt Kitayama’s 2025 victory showcased his resilience and shot-making ability under pressure. Kitayama built his career through international tours before becoming a PGA Tour winner.
💰 Purse: $8,800,000
💯 FedExCup: 500 pts
Previous winner (2025): 🇺🇸 Kurt Kitayama ($1,512,000).
🇺🇸🏌🏽♂️Rocket Classic, July 30- August 2, Detroit Golf Club, Michigan • USA
The Rocket Classic debuted in 2019 and marked the PGA Tour’s return to the city of Detroit for the first time in decades. Sponsored by Rocket Mortgage, the tournament has become known for its strong community impact and charitable initiatives throughout Detroit.
The event takes place at historic Detroit Golf Club, whose North Course was designed by legendary architect Donald Ross. Founded in 1899, the club features classic Ross design traits including subtle green contours, strategic bunkering, and emphasis on shot placement rather than overwhelming length.
A unique aspect of the tournament is its deep connection to Detroit culture, with the event frequently celebrating the city’s automotive history, music legacy, and community revitalization efforts.
Aldrich Potgieter’s 2025 victory drew major attention because the young South African is regarded as one of the biggest hitters in professional golf. Formerly one of the top-ranked amateurs in the world, Potgieter became known for extraordinary driving distance and explosive scoring ability at a very young age.
💰 Purse: $10,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 500 pts
Previous winner (2025): 🇿🇦 Aldrich Potgieter ($1,728,000).
