The 2026 PGA Professional Championship, set for April 26–29 at the renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, represents more than a premier competition for club professionals. It also serves as a powerful reminder of golf’s evolving landscape and the growing influence of African Americans in the sport.
As 312 PGA of America Golf Professionals from all 41 PGA Sections gather along Oregon’s breathtaking coastline, they will compete not only for a national title but also for one of 20 coveted spots on the Corebridge Financial Team, earning the opportunity to play in the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.
Defending Champion Tyler Collet (Vero Beach, Fla.), one of 14 past champions in the field, will be competing in his seventh PGA Professional Championship. The 30-year-old recorded an historic victory in 2025, shooting 15-under-par 272 to win by 10 shots at PGA Golf Club. Collet, a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at John’s Island Club, set the Championship record for largest margin of victory and became the second South Florida PGA Member to win the Walter Hagen Cup…