Phillips, Tidland, Friday, Tourinho take aim at 2026 PGA Championship slots

BANDON, Oregon (April 23, 2026) ー The 2026 PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex will be played at the iconic Bandon Dunes Golf Resort along Oregon’s stunning coastline Sunday through Wednesday.

The 58th PGA Professional Championship is set to deliver a standout chapter in the event’s nearly 60-year history, as the national championship for PGA of America Golf Professionals will be contested on the Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes courses for the first time.

Established in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship features a 312-player field consisting of PGA of America Golf Professionals from all 41 PGA Sections. The Champion and top 20 finishers earn a spot to compete in the 108th PGA Championship, taking place May 11-17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, as members of the Corebridge Financial Team.

Looking to earn one of those coveted 20 spots will be several of the top club professionals in Oklahoma, including Tracy Phillips, who advanced to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Phillips, who last week tied for 62nd in the Senior PGA Championship, will be joined by Chris Tidland of Stillwater Country Club, Shannon Friday of Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, Andre Tourinho of Southern Hills Country Club and Cameron Chhim, who qualified as an assistant at Southern Hills and is now the head professional at Kansas City Country Club. Also qualifying from the PGA South Central Section was Brad Simons of Big Creek (Ark.) Country 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.

“Last year was a great year,” said Collet. “I felt like I played great, however, I still felt like I had some in the tank. I still felt like I left a few out there, which is kind of hard to believe, but I know my game and that’s just kind of what I felt. Going forward to Bandon, it’s going to be a premium. The fairways are pretty big from what I’ve heard and from the homework that I’ve done. You’re going to have to hit greens and putt well. If you can handle some wind, you’re going to do really well, so I think it’s going to be a really good test.”

Like many in the field, Collet is thrilled with the opportunity to compete for the first time at Bandon.

“It’s always been a bucket list ever since 10-12 years ago when I really got in the game,” said Collet. “It’s going to be a special venue. Bandon Dunes is just such an iconic name in golf and venue. It’ll be really cool to get there and potentially have a chance to win a national championship there.”

The additional past champions in the field include: Alex Beach (2019), Rich Berberian Jr. (2016), Michael Block (2014), Matt Dobyns (2012 & 2015), Scott Hebert (2008), David Hutsell (2011), Jesse Mueller (2022), Ben Polland (2024), Jeff Roth (1993), Steve Schneiter (1995), Braden Shattuck (2023), Bob Sowards (2004) and Ryan Vermeer (2018).

Two-time (2022, ‘25) Rolex Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Sandra Changkija (Daytona Beach, Fla.) returns for her fourth PGA Professional Championship. She posted a T-35 finish in 2025 at PGA Golf Club, and is one of nine women in the field. She is also one of four playing at Bandon who will be part of the Corebridge Financial Team at the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June, alongside Joanna Coe, Kim Paez and Allie Knight.

Eight players in the field will represent the Pacific Northwest PGA Section: Jason Aichele (Meadow Springs Country Club), Derek Berg (PNW Golf Academy), Sabrina Bonanno (Sahalee Country Club), Brad Elzie (Meadow Springs Country Club), Bryce Fisher (Arrowhead Golf Club), Austin Hurt (Wing Point Golf & Country Club), Kyle Kelly (The Creek at Qualchan) and Liam Kendregan (Broadmoor Golf Club).

The Championship will award a $850,000 purse and $75,600 to the Champion. A 36-hole cut will take place Monday to the low 90 scorers and ties, and a 54-hole cut Tuesday to the low 70 scorers and ties.

All four rounds will be broadcast in primetime on Golf Channel. All times listed are Central.

Sunday, April 26 – Tuesday, April 28: 6-9 p.m.

Wednesday, April 29: 5-8 p.m.

For additional information on the PGA Professional Championship, visit here.