The PGA Tour moves to Austin, Texas, this week for the inaugural Austin Championship at the Fazio Canyons Course.
The tournament runs from November 12 to November 15 at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, featuring a $6 million purse. The event serves as the penultimate stop of the 2026 season, with players competing for 500 FedExCup points and a chance to secure status for 2027.
Ben James Leads the Betting Favorites
Ben James is the betting favorite at +1125, according to Golf. He has recorded five top-5 finishes in 13 starts this year. The 23-year-old recently lost in a playoff at the World Wide Technology Championship.
Jackson Koivun holds the second-place position in pre-tournament betting odds at +1800, Golf reports. Koivun is a member of the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team and the 3M Open champion. He is coming off a T21 finish in Mexico.
Ben James is a W/D from the Austin Championship https://t.co/pGyrpA12ti
Blades Brown sits fourth in the odds at +2350, PGA Tour. The 19-year-old won the World Wide Technology Championship. Brown made his PGA Tour debut at the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic and entered the week with the third-shortest odds at Hard Rock Bet.
Other notable players in the betting market include:
| Player | Odds to Win |
|---|---|
| Doug Ghim | +1600 to +2100 |
| Chris Kirk | +2800 to +2900 |
| Andrew Novak | +2600 to +3000 |
| Brian Harman | +3200 to +3400 |
Andrew Novak is listed at +3000. He recently won the VidantaWorld Mexico Open with a 25-under score. Austin Smotherman is the highest-ranked player in the field at #53. He won his last two fall starts and is priced at +3900 or +4500.
Jordan Smith is priced at +3000 to +3500. Pierceson Coody is at +3600 to +4000. Zach Bauchou sits between +3700 and +4000. Longshot options at 40-1 include Johnny Keefer and Zach Bauchou. Max Homa, David Ford, and Kris Ventura are priced at +5000.
The Fazio Canyons Course Presents Challenges
The Austin Championship uses the Fazio Canyons Course, a par 72 venue measuring 7,451 yards, Today’s Golfer reports. Tom Fazio designed the venue. He also designed Quail Hollow, Shadow Creek, and Sea Island.
Austin Championship OUT Ben James Michael Kim Ben Silverman IN Paul Peterson (alternate) David Skinns (alternate) Jimmy Stanger (alternate)
A seven-month renovation in 2022 cost approximately $5 million, Golf Betting System notes. The project began as a bunker update. It expanded to include new greens, tees, and irrigation systems, PGA Tour reports.
All four par 3s are long. Five of the par 4s exceed 440 yards. There are four par 5s. Fairways average 38 yards in width. They range from 25 to 55 yards at the 300-yard mark.
Many fairways are set at 45-degree angles. Some sections are narrow. Water is in play on six holes. The course includes angular treelines and steep drop-offs over canyons. Greens will roll at 12.5 feet on the Stimpmeter. Golfers must prioritize approach play from beyond 150 yards and Bermuda putting.
Players Fight for 2027 Exempt Status
This tournament is the second-to-last event on the 2026 PGA Tour schedule, Golf Channel reports. The season ends next week with the RSM Classic.
The top 100 players in the final FedExCup Fall standings earn full PGA Tour cards for 2027, Golf Channel reports. Matt Kuchar and Billy Horschel are competing to secure exempt status. Golfweek states Kuchar is 48 years old. The nine-time winner must win to ensure he plays on the PGA Tour in 2027.
2026 Austin Championship: How much does each golfer get in Texas? https://t.co/ShkZBjbtZd 📸 James Gilbert, Getty Images pic.twitter.com/mjgakTfHJV
Joel Dahmen, Lucas Glover, and Matt Kuchar are working to finish inside the top 100. This would allow them to remain exempt. Players ranked just outside the world’s top 50 can also gain world ranking points. These points assist their 2027 positioning.
Watch the Austin Championship Live
U.S. viewers can watch live coverage on the Golf Channel, Today’s Golfer reports. Sky Sports Golf and Main Event will broadcast the event in the UK, Today’s Golfer notes. Tee times will be released separately on the PGA Tour website.