What to Watch in Golf This September as the 2026 Season Winds Down
The majors are finished and the FedExCup has been decided, but September is hardly an afterthought on the 2026 golf calendar. Instead, attention shifts toward late-season storylines, major European tournaments and players looking to finish the year strong.
International team golf also changes the competitive dynamic, while players further down the PGA Tour standings begin fighting for their futures. With the Solheim Cup, Presidents Cup and continuing LPGA action, September still offers golf fans plenty to follow.
The In-Form Players Worth Watching This September
Scottie Scheffler leads the September watchlist after winning the Tour Championship and his second FedExCup. His next challenge is carrying that form into the Presidents Cup, where individual momentum must translate into match-play points for the United States.
Rory McIlroy is another name to follow as attention moves to Europe. The Northern Irishman is set for the Amgen Irish Open at Doonbeg before the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, giving him two prominent opportunities to build late-season momentum.
Nelly Korda also enters the spotlight as the United States prepares to defend the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. Her performances will be particularly important as the Americans attempt to turn individual quality into successful partnerships against Europe.
September brings different courses, formats and pressures, so recent results only tell part of the story. Course suitability and consistency also matter, while todays Golf odds show how sportsbooks are pricing the leading contenders across current tournaments.
Europe’s Biggest Tournaments Take Center Stage
September is a key phase of the DP World Tour’s Back 9, with three consecutive events testing players’ late-season form as the Race to Dubai steadily gathers pace.
Amgen Irish Open
The Amgen Irish Open runs from September 10–13 and heads to Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg for the first time. Its coastal setting immediately makes conditions part of the story.
Links golf can change character quickly when the wind arrives. Ball flight, creativity around the greens and patience become particularly valuable, giving fans a chance to see which players can adapt after spending much of the summer facing very different challenges.
BMW PGA Championship
Wentworth takes center stage from September 17–20 with the BMW PGA Championship, a major late-season event. The Rolex Series tournament has 8,000 Race to Dubai points available, making strong performances particularly valuable.
A strong field should also make it a useful measure of late-season form. Players arriving from Ireland have only days to reset for a different course and another high-profile test.
FedEx Open de France
The European run continues from September 24–27 when the FedEx Open de France returns to Le Golf National following a year away while the Albatros course underwent renovations.
The demanding venue provides another contrast and carries the DP World Tour storyline through September. Three significant championships in three weeks should reveal who is building momentum toward the closing stages of the Race to Dubai.
Team Golf Brings a Different Kind of Pressure
Two international competitions bring a different test in September. Match play puts greater emphasis on partnerships, momentum and captains finding the right combinations.
The Solheim Cup Returns to Europe
Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands hosts the Solheim Cup from September 11–13, with the United States defending the trophy it reclaimed in 2024 after a seven-year wait. Europe, meanwhile, has strong home support behind its attempt to take it back.
Pairings will be fascinating. A golfer can arrive in outstanding individual form without necessarily being the perfect partner for someone else. Communication, complementary playing styles and the ability to respond to pressure can matter just as much as recent scoring averages.
The Presidents Cup Heads to Medinah
The men’s team spotlight shifts to Medinah Country Club from September 24–27. The United States has dominated the Presidents Cup historically, winning the last 10 editions, leaving the International Team searching for a formula capable of disrupting that pattern.
Medinah brings an added sense of occasion after hosting several memorable team golf events. Captain’s picks and partnerships will be worth watching closely, particularly as stars such as Scheffler shift from chasing individual titles to contributing points within a team.
September Opens an Important New PGA Tour Chapter
September also marks a reset for the PGA Tour after the FedExCup Playoffs conclude. The Biltmore Championship Asheville, played September 17–20 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, opens the FedExCup Fall and shifts attention toward players with very different goals.
The revised structure makes that stretch particularly significant. Fully exempt status is now limited to the top 100, increasing the pressure on golfers trying to secure their position and access for 2027. That makes every late-season FedExCup point more valuable.
That creates compelling stakes away from the month’s headline events. A player fighting around the crucial points threshold may not attract the attention of a Presidents Cup star, yet one excellent week could dramatically improve his outlook for next season.
Fields, form and individual circumstances will continue changing throughout the fall. Following the latest PGA Tour news and trends can provide additional context around tournament previews, player performances and the developing stories behind those standings.
The LPGA Season Keeps Moving After Team Golf
The Solheim Cup may provide September’s biggest women’s team-golf spectacle, but the LPGA schedule quickly returns to individual competition later in the month.
The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship follows from September 25–27 at Pinnacle Country Club. Solheim Cup participants will have little time to move past the emotional intensity of representing their teams before returning to the familiar pursuit of their own score.
Players who missed the Solheim Cup present another interesting angle. Different preparation and additional recovery time could become advantages against rivals coming off an exhausting week. They will also have more time to prepare specifically for Pinnacle Country Club.
Watching who carries momentum from Bernardus, and who benefits from arriving fresher, gives the late-September event an extra layer of intrigue. The quick turnaround could make recovery especially important. Players must also readjust quickly to individual stroke play.
September Still Has Plenty Left to Reveal
September may arrive after golf’s majors and the FedExCup, but the competitive questions keep coming. In-form stars must maintain their level, European events bring changing tests, and team golf asks players to succeed under unfamiliar pressures.
Elsewhere, PGA Tour professionals are competing for opportunities that could shape their 2027 seasons, while the LPGA moves quickly beyond the Solheim Cup. The biggest trophies of summer have been awarded, but there is still plenty to learn before 2026 is done.
*Content reflects information available as of 31/08/2026; subject to change.
