The 2026 PGA TOUR Champions season tees off Thursday at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Hawaii. Preview the five biggest storylines for the season, including new markets, international expansion and a restructured playoff opener.

1. New events and international expansion: Portugal and Pennsylvania

The 2026 Champions Tour season ushers in a wave of firsts, highlighted by new international and domestic events, along with a notable change to the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs schedule.

International growth continues with the Portugal Invitational, a location that will be familiar to one Champions Tour player in particular. Becoming the fourth global destination in the 2026 schedule, the event will take place July 31 to Aug. 2 at The Els Club Vilamoura, designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els, who is also the tournament host.

The inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic will make its debut in Allentown, Pennsylvania, from Sept. 28-Oct. 4. The event will be held at Lehigh Country Club, a 1912 William S. Flynn design regarded as one of the top layouts in the state.

The season of firsts extends into the postseason, as the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs will begin at the Stifel Charity Classic in St. Louis, Oct. 19-25, for the first time in Champions Tour history. The top 72 players from the regular season will advance to the opening playoff event, with 54 moving on to the following week’s Simmons Bank Championship.

2. The 50th playing in Morocco

Kicking off the international events for 2026, PGA TOUR Champions returns to Morocco for the Trophy Hassan II, marking the 50th all-time playing of the event, a milestone that highlights the tournament’s rich history and Tour’s commitment to international play. Originally a DP World Tour event before making its Champions Tour debut in 2023, this iconic stop continues to be a favorite among players and fans alike, blending world-class golf with a storied international setting. The event has put forth a bevy of iconic winners, including PGA TOUR Champions stalwarts Vijay Singh, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez.

3. Will Stewart Cink continue to dominate?

Since fully committing to PGA TOUR Champions, Stewart Cink has been nothing short of dominant. A three-time winner in 2025 and four-time winner overall, Cink not only captured the Charles Schwab Cup but also established himself as a constant presence near the top of leaderboards throughout the year.

Much of Cink’s success can be attributed to his disciplined approach, consistent iron play and clear goal setting early in the season. With a full-time commitment to the Champions Tour in 2025, the eight-time PGA TOUR winner set his sights on winning the season-long Charles Schwab Cup. He accomplished that goal just months later, closing with a 2-under 67 in Phoenix to finish at 20-under 264 and holding off Steven Alker by two strokes.

As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Cink can maintain his standard or if new challengers are ready to emerge.

4. Could international success on Tour give way to yet another dramatic Skechers World Champions Cup?

International players not only dominated the 2025 season with eight of the top 10 in the final Charles Schwab Cup standings, but also we witnessed Team Europe run away with victory at the Skechers World Champions Cup supporting Shriners Children’s, held in December at Feather Sound Country Club.

The team-format event, which aired live on ESPN, was once again well received, highlighting player camaraderie, a successful new host site and a new champion in Team Europe.

For Team USA, the result served as a reminder of the increasingly competitive international landscape on PGA TOUR Champions. After capturing the title at the inaugural event in 2023 in Bradenton, Florida, and with the tournament not contested in 2024 due to damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the 2025 matchup was a clear indicator of the increasing competitiveness.

With the 2026 season on the horizon, how will Team USA respond?

2025 Charles Schwab Cup results: Eight of top 10 players are international

5. Newcomers and the looming Tiger Woods question

Turning 50 marks a rare reset in professional golf. Proven winners become rookies once again, earning the opportunity to write a new competitive chapter while testing themselves against many of golf’s all-time greats.

As PGA TOUR Champions welcomes the 2026 rookie class, intrigue centers on which newcomers could tee it up this season and their impact

Notable newcomers in 2026 include:

• Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest player in the game’s history, turned 50 on Dec. 30, 2025. An 82-time PGA TOUR winner, Woods has captured 15 major championships including five Masters titles. The World Golf Hall of Fame member last competed at The 2024 Open Championship.
• Zach Johnson, a 12-time PGA TOUR winner and U.S. Ryder Cup captain, turns 50 on Feb. 24. Johnson won two majors during his TOUR career, the 2007 Masters and The Open Championship in 2025, and represented the United States a combined nine times between Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup competitions.
• Rory Sabbatini, a six-time PGA TOUR winner, turns 50 on April 2. His victories include the WM Phoenix Open and The Genesis Invitational. The native South African represented the International Team at the 2007 Presidents Cup.
• Ben Crane, a five-time PGA TOUR winner, turns 50 on March 6. Crane’s PGA TOUR victories were highlighted by the Farmers Insurance Open, and he spent more than a decade as a consistent presence on TOUR leaderboards.
• Ryan Palmer, a four-time PGA TOUR winner, turns 50 on Sept. 19. Palmer last won on TOUR at the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The question surrounding Woods remains the most anticipated. He ruptured his left Achilles tendon in March of 2025 while training for a comeback,, and underwent L4-L5 disc replacement in the fall of 2025. Focused on rehabilitation, Woods and his son, Charlie, opted out of participating in their annual father-son appearance at the PNC Championship.

Most recently, Woods was seen hitting some chips and putts at the SoFi Center alongside his Jupiter Links teammates ahead of a TGL matchup. Still unable to compete, he showed his support as they faced New York Golf Club.

As the season approaches, the biggest question remains unanswered: Will Tiger Woods make his PGA TOUR Champions debut?