Saucon Valley’s Old and Grace Courses will host the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur, with players competing for the Tiger Woods Trophy beginning Monday with the first of two rounds of stroke play.
After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 64 players, who will advance to four days of match play. From there, it’s simple: survive and advance. Win or go home. The championship concludes with Saturday’s 36-hole final.
A Loaded Field
The field is absolutely stacked.
Among the biggest names are Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, who enters his senior year of high school this fall, and Miles Russell, the 17-year-old Florida State commit who finished inside the top 40 at last month’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Woods is making his third consecutive U.S. Junior appearance, while Russell reached the quarterfinals a year ago.
You may remember that Charlie caddied for Russell when he earned his spot in the U.S. Open through final qualifying in Florida. Medalist that day, Giuseppe Puebla, will also make his U.S. Junior debut this week.
Defending champion Hamilton Coleman, who heads to Georgia next month, returns looking to defend his title. He’ll soon be roommates with 2025 U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell in Athens.
Samar Sandhu arrives after caddying for his twin sister, Savera, in last week’s U.S. Girls’ Junior. Older brother Sihan, meanwhile, will tee it up on the PGA TOUR this week at the 3M Open.
Tyler Mawhinney, who won the 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball alongside Will Hartman, joins Coleman as the only current USGA champions in the field.
Several local players are also worth watching, including Charlie Barrickman, who recently qualified for next month’s U.S. Amateur at Merion, and nearby Nazareth native Dane Mohap.
Why You Should Go
One of the best parts about the U.S. Junior is how spectator-friendly it is.
Admission is free. There are virtually no grandstands and very few ropes, allowing fans to walk alongside the players, listen to player-caddie conversations, and experience championship golf up close.
About Saucon Valley
Founded in 1920 during the heyday of Bethlehem Steel, Saucon Valley Country Club has grown into one of America’s finest golf clubs.
Charles Schwab and Eugene Grace envisioned the club as a recreational outlet for Bethlehem Steel employees and local business leaders, and legendary architect Herbert Strong was selected to design the original Old Course.
The Old Course is a demanding par 71 measuring 7,082 yards. Its doglegs, subtle greens, and the ever-present Saucon Creek create a stern but rewarding championship test.
The course has previously hosted eight USGA championships, including:
- 1951 U.S. Amateur
- 1983 U.S. Junior Amateur
- 1987 U.S. Senior Amateur
- 1992 U.S. Senior Open
- 2000 U.S. Senior Open
- 2009 U.S. Women’s Open
- 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur
- 2022 U.S. Senior Open
The Grace Course, a par 70 measuring 6,954 yards, will make its USGA championship debut this week. Named after longtime Bethlehem Steel president Eugene Grace, the course was designed by William and David Gordon and opened in 1957.
Beyond its three championship courses, Saucon Valley also features a six-hole short course, tennis and squash facilities, pickleball courts, a fitness center, four swimming pools, fly fishing, and a full kids’ club.
The USGA has already committed to bringing several future championships back to Saucon Valley, including:
- 2032 U.S. Senior Open
- 2038 U.S. Women’s Amateur
- 2042 U.S. Senior Open
- 2051 U.S. Amateur
How to Watch
GolfChannel.com will stream quarterfinal highlights and semifinal matches from 4:00–6:00 p.m. ET on Friday.
Golf Channel will air the same coverage from 8:00–10:00 p.m. ET Friday.
The final 18 holes of Saturday’s 36-hole championship match will air live on Golf Channel from 3:00–5:00 p.m. ET.
For more information, visit:
https://championships.usga.org/usjunioramateur
Earlier today Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland squared off in a sudden death playoff to see who is the Travelers Champion. With Hovland and Scheffler both looking at makable birdie putts there was air that this could go some distance. Unfortunately, Hovland drained his and Scottie two putted, how dare he? I love a playoff and was hoping it would go on forever. It didn’t so I decided to search the greatest playoffs in the history of golf. Here they are:
1. 1913 U.S. Open (The Country Club, Brookline) Francis Ouimet def. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray
If you love golf movies or golf history you know this story. Widely considered the greatest match ever played. The 20 year old amateur Francis Ouimet took down Two British legends who had both won the U.S. Open in the past. After 72 holes the three were even ,and at the time the Playoff was a full 18 the next day. Through rainy conditions, the heavy underdog and his 10 year-old caddy finished one under with a firm 5 stroke lead. The match was an amazing story that catapulted golfs popularity in America. Amateurs everywhere owe Ouimet a debt of Gratitude.
2. 2000 PGA Championship (Valhalla) Tiger Woods def. Bob May
3. 2008 U.S. Open (Torrey Pines) Tiger Woods def. Rocco Mediate
Woods played on a torn ACL and stress fractures, forcing an 18-hole playoff with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole, then winning on the first sudden-death hole. It epitomizes resilience and is often called one of the most compelling major finishes ever, blending physical drama with elite competition.
4. 1987 Masters Larry Mize def. Greg Norman (and Seve Ballesteros)
5. 1950 U.S. Open (Merion) Ben Hogan def. Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio
Final Thoughts:
Now there’s a lot we missed that maybe could of made it. But we chose these five based on the history, who was involved and what the event was. Obviously majors take precedent. We would love to hear what your favorite playoffs are, sound off in the insta comments
It’s a great week to be a golf fan.
The LPGA is at Riviera for the Women’s U.S. Open, and the TOUR is headed to Jack’s place, Muirfield Village, where Scottie Scheffler will look to three-peat.
He would be the first golfer since Tiger to do so at Muirfield, and the first since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic to win 3 TOUR events in a row.
The reason why he’s won at Muirfield twice in a row is because the course places a ton of emphasis on approach play, and there is no better player in the world over the last few years in that category than Scottie Scheffler.
Muirfield also penalizes missed fairways more than any other course on TOUR.
Not because it’s narrow, but because the rough is thick, which makes approach shots into the small, firm greens particularly difficult.
This course was designed by the ultimate ball-striker, Jack Nicklaus, so we will be looking to target elite iron players this week.
Who’s In The Field?
Scottie Scheffler leads a loaded field this week. It’s a signature event, and pretty much all of the top players on TOUR will be there, including 9 of the top 10.
Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland are the two biggest names who are OUT this week.
Here are the key stats for The Memorial Tournament:
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Build cards around elite approach players first. SG: Approach has the strongest correlation with SG: Total here at 0.612, well ahead of off-the-tee. Bettors should prioritize players gaining heavily with irons, especially those strong from 150–225+ yards, because Muirfield Village produces a lot of mid/long-iron approaches.
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Don’t overpay for pure bombers. Driving distance shows only a 0.061 correlation with total performance, while driving accuracy is more meaningful at 0.306. The course is long at 7,449 yards, but it also narrows fairways, suppresses driving distance, and penalizes missed fairways more than average. Favor “long enough and accurate” over reckless distance.
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Difficulty increases the value of bogey avoidance, short game, and putting floors. Scoring is tough at +1.38, GIR is only 55.5%, and penalty strokes are elevated. With SG: Putting at 0.506 and Around-the-Green at 0.455, this is not just a ball-striking event; players who can survive missed greens and avoid doubles should be upgraded for matchup, top-20, and cut-line markets.
The Details
Previous Winners
How To Watch
Featured Groups:
Weekly Bets: 50th Memorial Tournament
We’ve partnered with Keith Stewart at Read The Line to share his weekly golf betting picks with the Caddyshanks crew. If you’re the type who enjoys breaking down matchups, spotting trends, and hunting for value, you’ll feel right at home in the RTL community. Use code CADDYSHANKS2026 for 20% OFF.
Keith Stewart’s Picks
Si Woo Kim (+2200 BetMGM)
In his last eight starts at The Memorial, Si Woo Kim has GAINED with the putter six times! Probably Kim’s best career putting course, he is on an incredible heater T2G in 2026. Ranked third on the PGA TOUR, Si Woo is gaining an average of 1. 5 strokes per round over 53 measured rounds this year. Only Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick have been better. Fresh off gaining eight strokes with his flatstick at the CJ Cup, Kim can more than contend on a course that has been very good to him throughout his career.
Ben Griffin (+3900 DraftKings)
We all saw Ben Griffin come close to defending his title at the Charles Schwab. Walking the practice tee at Muirfield Village, Griffin looks really good. Ben is a player perfectly suited for Jack’s place. Well-rounded T2G and an excellent putter on super smooth surfaces, Griffin finished runner-up to Scottie Scheffler last year. Gaining more than 11 strokes on the field at The Memorial in 2025, this is a perfect example of form colliding with a confidence-producing venue.
Caddyshanks Picks
Scottie Scheffler (+310 Draftkings)
The “bet Scottie every week no matter what” strategy hasn’t worked out well so far this year, but he could turn that around easily this week.
Justin Thomas (+40000 Draftkings)
We tried our hand with betting JT last week and it didn’t work out for us, but he’s finding his form again and the win is going to come. Muirfield Village tends to let the cream rise to the top, we like JT to be hanging around come Sunday.
Sepp Straka (+6000 Draftkings)
Sepp has back-to-back Top 5’s at The Memorial, and the number on him this week is too good to resist, considering he’s in good form and has proven he can contend here.
A mix of courtroom golf drama, rollback panic that may or may not matter, Anthony Kim doing Anthony Kim things, and Jim Furyk trying to rebuild the U.S. Ryder Cup machine before Ireland.
→ Tiger’s Prescription Records Are Staying Behind Closed Doors
Tiger Woods will have to turn over prescription records as part of the investigation into his March traffic crash, but the public won’t get to see them. A Florida judge ruled the records can be shared with a limited group tied to the case, not dumped into the public-records circus. So yes, the legal drama continues — just with fewer documents for everyone to screenshot. (defector.com)
→ Cameron Young Is Playing the Future Ball and Still Nuking It
Cameron Young is using a ball that would likely conform to the coming rollback rules, and the big punchline is that it has basically made zero difference. It was built to help him control spin, not necessarily to prepare for the rollback, and he’s still averaging the same 302.7 yards off the tee. If the plan was to scare bombers into submission, this probably isn’t the example the USGA wanted. (Golf Channel)
→ Anthony Kim Is Back in the Top 200 and Still Doesn’t Care What You Think
Anthony Kim shot a final-round 62 at LIV Golf Virginia, finished T6, helped win a team playoff, and climbed back into the OWGR top 200 for the first time in 14 years. Then he reminded everyone he is not exactly losing sleep over public opinion. The comeback is getting real — and AK is still very much AK. (Golf)
→ Jim Furyk Wants to Fix Team USA Before Team USA Breaks Again
Jim Furyk is already looking at how the U.S. Ryder Cup team gets built for 2027, and he sounds ready to mess with the formula. With money now warping basically everything in pro golf, Furyk doesn’t think earnings are the clean measuring stick they used to be. Expect simulations, tweaks, and probably the same six captain’s picks — because Team USA needs more than vibes if it wants to win in Ireland. (golfdigest.com)
I won’t lie, I’m pretty excited for this one.
First off, Trump National Doral Golf Club – aka The Blue Monster – can be an absolute brute. It stretches over 7,700 yards, and those closing, water-lined holes are one of the toughest finishing stretches we see anywhere in pro golf.
Tiger Woods once put it plainly, talking about the 18th:
“It’s one of the toughest par 4s you’ll ever play if it’s into the wind.”
Good news if you like carnage – wind might be a factor on Saturday, with gusts up to 20mph. Unfortunately, it may thunderstorm on Sunday, but it’s Florida so that could change by the time you’re reading this.
Additionally, there’s some real history here.
The Blue Monster has crowned winners like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Nick Faldo, Ben Crenshaw, and of course, Tiger Woods. Always nice when a course brings a little pedigree with it.
It’s a Signature Event, so a strong field is expected, but this one will be missing a few stars; Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, and Patrick Cantlay are all sitting it out.
In fairness, it makes sense. The schedule right now is a bit of a gauntlet – Signature Event (Cadillac), Signature Event (Truist), then straight into a major at the PGA Championship. Not exactly a light stretch, and this week is clearly where some guys are choosing to take a breather.
Someone at the PGA TOUR should do a better job with the schedule.
The Details
Previous Winners
How To Watch
Featured Groups
PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+
Weekly Bets: The Cadillac Championship
We’ve partnered with Keith Stewart at Read The Line to share his weekly golf betting picks with the Caddyshanks crew. If you’re the type who enjoys breaking down matchups, spotting trends, and hunting for value, you’ll feel right at home in the RTL community.
Keith Stewart’s Picks
Collin Morikawa (+2000 bet365)
The first player I looked for on property at Trump National Doral was Collin Morikawa. Since returning from his PLAYERS WD, Morikawa has finished T7 and T4. Is Collin healthy? Not only did he swing beautifully, but his driver speed looked fast, much quicker than in his last two starts. If you need one player to hit a 200-yard approach, I’m picking Morikawa. If Morikawa was contending with injury concerns, imagine how confident he will be swinging, not that he feels good!
Keegan Bradley (+6500 Caesars)
Keegan Bradley is one of the best mid- to long-iron players in the field. With the number of approaches around 200 yards during each round, Doral is playing right into the best part of Bradley’s game. A Southeast Florida resident, I don’t worry about the Bermudagrass or the short game. Twelfth at the RBC Heritage, Keegan has two top 8 finishes on the Blue Course in four starts. Bradley’s ball striking is solid in the wind, which is another characteristic I’m focusing on this week.
Caddyshanks Picks
Sam Burns (+3100 Draftkings)
Sam Burns has played quite well over the last 9 months, particularly with his approach play and putter, but he’s also got the length necessary to beat it around Doral.
Hideki Matsuyama (+3100 Draftkings)
If you’ve been reading this newsletter for awhile, you know I love betting Hideki, and you know it rarely ever works out for me, but we will always have that final round 62 to win the Genesis Invitational. He hasn’t won yet this year, but he will. He’s top 20 in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, Approach and Around-the-Green.
Scottie Scheffler (+310 Draftkings)
Admittedly, the “bet Scottie every week no matter what” strategy hasn’t played out very well this season, but he’s averaging 5.1 birdies per round so far for the year – the best mark on TOUR. The wins are coming.
That’s all folks – see you next week for the Truist Championship.
