For players, the tournament begins an important final stretch of the season. For spectators, it provides a first look at how a Jack Nicklaus-designed mountain course will stand up to a full PGA Tour field.

That combination makes the Biltmore Championship one of the most interesting new events on the autumn golf calendar.

For more previews and recaps throughout the season, visit our Golf Tournament Updates & Insight hub.

2026 Biltmore Championship at a glance

The PGA Tour lists the championship setup at 7,249 yards and par 71, with a $5 million purse and $900,000 for the winner.

Tournament-week information can change, so players, spectators, and viewers should also check the official Biltmore Championship website for the latest updates.

Why the first Biltmore Championship matters

There are two stories running through the inaugural tournament.

The first is local. Asheville has not hosted a PGA Tour event since the Asheville Land of the Sky Open in 1942, giving this event a genuine sense of return rather than simply another addition to the schedule. Biltmore Estate and Explore Asheville are co-title sponsors under a four-year agreement.

The second is competitive.

The tournament begins the FedExCup Fall, an eight-event stretch that plays an important role in determining PGA Tour eligibility and opportunities for the following season.

Players ranked 51st and lower carry their FedExCup points into the fall, while finishing inside the final top 100 is significant for full playing status in 2027. Players who finish between 51st and 60th can also earn access to two Signature Events the following season through the Aon Next 10.

That changes the character of the week.

For some golfers, Asheville represents a chance to win a PGA Tour title. For others, every made cut and every position gained could influence where they are able to play next season.

That should make the closing holes on Sunday particularly meaningful.

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove: a new test for the PGA Tour

One of the biggest unknowns is how the golf course will respond to a modern PGA Tour field.

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove opened in 2005 and was designed by Jack Nicklaus. The front nine moves through more open terrain that was once farmland, before the course transitions into streams, native woodland and mountain laurel on the second nine.

For the Biltmore Championship, the PGA Tour lists a tournament setup of 7,249 yards, slightly longer than the 7,167-yard maximum shown in the club's standard course information.

From a golfer's point of view, the contrast between the two nines is particularly interesting.

Open terrain can expose ball flight to changing wind, while tighter, tree-lined mountain holes can place a greater premium on tee positioning. Add elevation changes, streams, and a Nicklaus design that asks questions about angles and approach positions, and Walnut Cove does not look like a course you can judge on yardage alone.

Although this is Walnut Cove's first event on the PGA Tour itself, the course does have professional tournament history. It formed part of the BMW Charity Pro-Am on the Nationwide Tour from 2005 to 2007, giving us some older competitive evidence of how individual holes can play.

That history is useful, but it comes from a different era, field and tournament setup. For the players competing this week, learning the modern championship setup during practice rounds will still be important.

That makes course management, approach play and positional driving three areas worth watching closely.

More detail on the layout is available through The Cliffs at Walnut Cove course information.

Holes that could shape the championship

Several holes give an early indication of Walnut Cove's character.

The opening hole is an uphill par four played from an elevated tee, immediately introducing players to the property's changes in elevation.

The seventh deserves particular attention. When Walnut Cove was used during the 2005 BMW Charity Pro-Am on the Nationwide Tour, the par four ranked as the toughest hole on the entire Tour that season, playing to an average of 4.449 strokes. The setup will not be identical in 2026, but that history reinforces the challenge created by its bunkering, water, and demands from the tee.

Later in the round, the par-three 11th takes players deeper into the wooded side of the property, while the 18th provides another demanding par-four test on the standard layout.

Tournament tees, hole locations and individual yardages can change during the week, so historical numbers should not be treated as a prediction of how the course will play in 2026.

More revealing will be where players choose to attack and where they are prepared to accept par. On a venue most of the field has not faced in PGA Tour competition, those decisions could be just as important as outright distance.

2026 Biltmore Championship field and players to watch

Field update — 14 September: Justin Thomas has withdrawn from the Biltmore Championship, with Cameron Champ entering the field as his replacement.

The original 132-player field included a mixture of established PGA Tour winners, emerging players and golfers preparing for the Presidents Cup the following week.

Jacob Bridgeman is one of the more interesting fits for the week. His 2026 numbers show a player gaining strokes overall while combining solid driving with one of the strongest putting performances on Tour. If Walnut Cove places a premium on converting chances when they arrive, that strength on the greens could become particularly valuable.

J.T. Poston brings a different storyline. The North Carolina native played college golf at Western Carolina University and should attract plenty of local support. He has also been relatively accurate from the tee this season, a useful trait if Walnut Cove's tighter sections reward position rather than maximum distance.

Jackson Koivun arrives with significant momentum. The 21-year-old turned professional earlier in the summer before winning the 2026 3M Open and is also set to represent the United States at the Presidents Cup.

The announced International Team players in the Asheville field included Corey Conners, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Nico Echavarria, Ryo Hisatsune and Nick Taylor, adding another storyline ahead of the following week's Presidents Cup.

With player commitments able to change during tournament week, the final field should still be checked before Thursday's opening round.

A significant week in the FedExCup standings

The biggest names in the field are not necessarily the only players worth following.

FedExCup Fall golf often becomes particularly interesting around the Tour status line. Players close to the top-100 boundary are competing not simply for prize money but for greater certainty about where they will be playing in 2027.

The Biltmore Championship winner receives 500 FedExCup points, meaning one exceptional week can substantially change a player's position.

That is one reason Asheville should remain compelling even without the concentration of stars found at a major championship.

For a player fighting for next season's status, a six-foot putt late on Sunday can carry enormous pressure.

2026 Biltmore Championship tee times: when will they be announced? 

Opening-round groupings and tee times are normally finalised during tournament week and can still be affected by withdrawals, alternates and other late field changes.

The confirmed Thursday and Friday tee times were not available at the time of this update. They should be checked through the official Biltmore Championship and PGA Tour channels before play begins on Thursday, 17 September.

This section will be updated with the confirmed opening-round groups and starting times once they are announced.

How to watch the 2026 Biltmore Championship

Competition begins on Thursday, 17 September, with the final round scheduled for Sunday, 20 September.

United States

Coverage is scheduled across:

• Golf Channel

• PGA Tour LIVE on ESPN+

• SiriusXM

• PGA Tour World Feed

Golf Channel's opening-round coverage is currently scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday.

United Kingdom

Sky Sports Golf is carrying coverage of the Biltmore Championship in the UK. Viewers should check the current Sky Sports Golf schedule before each round, as broadcast times can change during tournament week.

Streaming and broadcast schedules can be adjusted around tee times and weather, so it is worth checking listings on the day you plan to watch.

Going to the tournament? What spectators should know

For anyone attending in person, a little advance planning should make the day considerably easier.

The official fan guide currently lists gate opening times of 7:00 a.m. Thursday, 6:30 a.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Parking is separate from tournament admission and requires its own advance parking pass.

Saturday grounds tickets are currently listed as sold out, although verified resale tickets may become available. The tournament also allows two children aged 15 or younger into the grounds free with each ticketed adult.

The venue operates a PGA Tour-style bag policy. Small opaque bags up to 6 × 6 × 6 inches and clear bags up to 12 × 6 × 12 inches are permitted. The tournament is also operating as a cashless venue.

Anyone attending should check the official Biltmore Championship fan guide before travelling, particularly for the latest parking, ticket and prohibited-item information.

What to wear to the Biltmore Championship

Comfort and adaptable layers make the most sense for a full day walking Walnut Cove. A breathable golf polo with a lightweight golf midlayer gives you flexibility as conditions change, while comfortable footwear and a cap are useful for several hours around the course.

Check the local forecast on the morning you attend before deciding on any additional outerwear.

What type of player could suit Walnut Cove?

There is no modern PGA Tour statistical profile for success at Walnut Cove, so comparisons with established Tour venues should be treated carefully.

The course does have older professional history from its time in the BMW Charity Pro-Am rotation on the Nationwide Tour, but the setup, equipment and standard of play have changed considerably since then. The physical characteristics of the course therefore provide a better starting point for assessing potential fits in 2026.

Players who control their approach shots could benefit if the elevation changes and unfamiliar green complexes make distance control difficult. Driving accuracy and intelligent positioning may also become more important on the tighter wooded holes, particularly if players cannot simply overpower them from the tee.

Scrambling is another area worth watching. Most of this week's field does not have years of competitive experience showing where the safest misses are around these greens, increasing the value of adaptability when approaches finish in difficult positions.

That does not mean distance will be irrelevant. At 7,249 yards, longer hitters will still have opportunities to shorten holes and attack with shorter clubs.

The key question may be whether raw distance or controlled aggression proves more valuable by Sunday afternoon.

What we'll be watching this week

Because this is the first edition of the Biltmore Championship Asheville, there is no defending champion or recent PGA Tour scoring pattern showing exactly which type of player should thrive.

Walnut Cove's older professional tournament history provides a few clues, but the 2026 championship will be a very different test.

Four questions stand out heading into Thursday:

1. How aggressively will players approach the Nicklaus layout?

2. Will accuracy and positioning matter more than outright distance?

3. Which players involved in the FedExCup status battle handle the pressure best?

4. Can one of the Presidents Cup-bound players carry momentum from Asheville into Medinah?

By Sunday evening, we should have a much clearer picture of which parts of Walnut Cove separate a PGA Tour field: whether that is approach control, positional driving, recovery play or simply the ability to take advantage of scoring opportunities.

That uncertainty, rather than a complete absence of competitive history, is what makes the inaugural Biltmore Championship particularly interesting.

2026 Biltmore Championship FAQs

When is the Biltmore Championship in Asheville?

The four competitive rounds are scheduled for 17–20 September 2026, from Thursday through Sunday.

Where is the Biltmore Championship being played?

The tournament is being held at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in the Asheville area of North Carolina.

What is the Biltmore Championship course par and yardage?

The PGA Tour lists the tournament course at 7,249 yards and par 71.

How much is the Biltmore Championship purse?

The total purse is $5 million, with $900,000 going to the winner.

How many FedExCup points does the winner receive?

The champion receives 500 FedExCup points.

Is Justin Thomas playing in the Biltmore Championship?

No. Thomas was included in the original field announcement but withdrew on 14 September 2026. Cameron Champ entered the field as his replacement.

Who is the defending Biltmore Championship champion?

There is no defending champion. 2026 is the inaugural edition of the Biltmore Championship Asheville.

How can I watch the Biltmore Championship?

US coverage is scheduled across Golf Channel and PGA Tour LIVE on ESPN+, with SiriusXM providing audio coverage. In the UK, the tournament is scheduled on Sky Sports Golf.

Where can I find the latest Biltmore Championship field and tee times?

Because player commitments and pairings can change during tournament week, check the official tournament website and the PGA Tour schedule for the latest information.

Where can I find ticket and spectator information?

The official Biltmore Championship fan guide contains the latest information on tickets, parking, gate times, bags, and other spectator policies.