2026 PGA Tourney Previews
2026 Austin Championship Free Picks feature four outright selections as the PGA Tour visits Fazio Canyons at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, November 12–15. I’m backing Andrew Novak +3000, Seamus Power +4500, Sudarshan Yellamaraju +6400 and Taylor Pendrith +10500.
This is a brand-new tournament with no previous winner or PGA Tour course history to lean on. The FedExCup Fall is also running out of room, and several players still need points to secure their playing status for 2027.
Senior Handicapper, CappersPicks.com
I’ve handicapped enough PGA tournaments to know that a course can look perfect for a golfer on paper and still give him fits for four days. That’s especially true when nobody has a meaningful Tour record on the layout.
I’m looking at recent ball-striking, scoring ability and the odds being offered. Four golfers made my card, and I’m not adding another just because he’s a familiar name.
Austin Championship Tournament Details
- Official Event: Austin Championship presented by Compliance Solutions
- Course: Fazio Canyons, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Dates: November 12–15, 2026
- Format: 72-hole individual stroke play
- Course Setup: Par 72, 7,451 yards
- Course Designer: Tom Fazio
- Defending Champion: None — inaugural event
- Field: 120 golfers
- Purse: $6 million
- Winner’s Share: $1.08 million
- FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
- Television: Golf Channel
The PGA Tour returns to Austin for the first time since the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship. This time, the players face four rounds of stroke play at a different course.
Fazio Canyons measures 7,451 yards and features four par 5s. Length can create opportunities, but it won’t help much if a golfer repeatedly leaves himself difficult approaches or spends the week scrambling for pars.
There’s no defending champion to compare against the field, either. That makes recent form and the ability to handle a demanding layout particularly important.
2026 Austin Championship PGA Preview
The Austin Championship is the seventh of eight FedExCup Fall tournaments. Only The RSM Classic remains after this week, and golfers outside the top 100 are running short of chances to improve their standing.
For players near that cutoff, a good finish can change their plans for next season.
That doesn’t automatically make them attractive outright bets. A golfer trying to secure his Tour card might be perfectly satisfied with a top-20 finish, while somebody backing him to win needs considerably more.
Blades Brown Arrives After His Mexico Victory
Blades Brown produced one of the most impressive finishes of the fall schedule last Sunday. The 19-year-old closed with a 63 at the World Wide Technology Championship, then defeated Ben James on the second playoff hole.
Brown became the fourth-youngest winner in PGA Tour history.
He’s immediately back in action at Austin, bringing confidence and the experience of winning under pressure. That’s a serious accomplishment for a teenager who has barely started his professional career.
I’m still cautious about paying a shorter price simply because somebody won seven days earlier. Consecutive victories are difficult, and this week’s course presents a completely different assignment.
Jackson Koivun and Doug Ghim Lead the Contenders
Jackson Koivun enters as one of the leading contenders after Ben James withdrew from the tournament. Koivun won the 3M Open earlier this season and has shown he belongs at this level.
His T21 in Mexico wasn’t spectacular, but he continued producing competitive scores.
Doug Ghim also deserves attention. He finished second at the Bank of Utah Championship and followed with a T6 at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open. His tee-to-green game gives him a reasonable chance on a course where positioning and approach play should matter.
Neither makes my four selections at the writer’s listed prices.
There’s no established PGA Tour history at Fazio Canyons. I’m giving more weight to what golfers have done recently than pretending a good result at some other Texas course tells me who’s winning Sunday.
Austin Smotherman and the FedExCup Fall Race
Austin Smotherman has already won twice this fall, capturing the Bank of Utah Championship and the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. His Bermuda victory came in a playoff against Seamus Power after severe weather shortened the event to 54 holes.
Those victories have secured Smotherman’s position for next season.
Other golfers have considerably more at stake. Players around the top-100 cutoff are competing for full 2027 Tour status, while those near positions 51–60 can improve their opportunities to enter the first two Signature Events next year.
That makes Austin an important tournament even for golfers who aren’t realistic outright favorites.
Fazio Canyons Course Breakdown and Betting Factors
Fazio Canyons was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1999. The course underwent a substantial renovation before hosting this inaugural PGA Tour event.
At 7,451 yards, it’s long enough to reward golfers who can generate distance without sacrificing accuracy. The four par 5s are particularly important because they provide scoring opportunities that shorter hitters may have to approach differently.
I’m looking for players who can reach advantageous positions off the tee and follow with controlled iron shots.
Driving Distance and Greens in Regulation
Long driving can shorten approach shots and make the par 5s more manageable. That’s one reason Yellamaraju and Pendrith interest me at their respective prices.
But there’s a limit to that argument.
A player who hits it 315 yards and repeatedly misses the green can give away the advantage he created off the tee. Driving distance matters most when it leads to better scoring chances.
I’ll also be watching approach play and greens in regulation rather than treating distance as a complete handicapping answer.
What We Don’t Know About This Course
There isn’t a reliable PGA Tour scoring history at Fazio Canyons. We don’t have previous tournament winners, established winning scores or years of comparable player results.
That uncertainty matters when deciding how much to bet.
A golfer can have excellent recent form and still struggle with the greens, preferred approach distances or changing conditions. I’m keeping that in mind when spreading my four selections across different price ranges.
2026 Austin Championship Best Bets
My four Austin Championship Free Picks are Novak, Power, Yellamaraju and Pendrith. Each brings a different argument, from recent winning form to long-distance scoring potential.
Here’s how I’m approaching them.
Andrew Novak +3000 — PGA Outright Pick
Andrew Novak won the VidantaWorld Mexico Open on November 1, finishing 25-under and beating the field by five strokes. He followed opening rounds of 67 and 61 with a third-round 62, putting himself in complete control before Sunday.
That wasn’t a lucky bounce or one hot putting stretch over a few holes. He produced three excellent rounds to build a substantial lead, then did enough to finish the job.
I’m interested in that kind of recent form.
Novak’s tee-to-green game gives him a reasonable foundation for Fazio Canyons, and his putting was exceptional during the Mexico victory. He led that tournament in strokes gained putting.
The question is whether he can carry enough of that performance into Austin.
Putting can change quickly from one course to another. A golfer who makes everything one week can suddenly struggle with ordinary birdie chances the next, and I won’t assume Novak’s putter stays that hot indefinitely.
At +3000, the implied break-even probability is 3.23%. I don’t need another five-shot victory to justify the bet, but I do need his approach game to keep him within striking distance.
He’s my preferred selection from the four.
Razor’s pick: Andrew Novak +3000.
Seamus Power +4500 — PGA Outright Pick
Seamus Power arrives after a runner-up finish at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, where he lost a playoff to Austin Smotherman. He also recorded a top-10 finish at the Biltmore Championship.
Those results tell me he’s playing well enough to compete against this level of field.
Power has been reaching greens consistently, and that should help him create birdie opportunities on Fazio Canyons’ four par 5s. I particularly like golfers who can take advantage of the easier scoring holes without constantly needing to recover shots elsewhere.
His Bermuda performance also showed he can remain competitive when conditions become difficult.
He didn’t win, though, and that’s an important distinction for an outright bet. A runner-up finish supports his form, but it doesn’t automatically make him the right selection at any number.
The +4500 price implies a 2.17% break-even probability.
I’m comfortable considering Power at that price because his recent results give him a credible route into contention. If his iron play stays sharp and he converts enough chances on the par 5s, he can make this interesting.
Razor’s pick: Seamus Power +4500.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju +6400 — PGA Darkhorse Pick
Sudarshan Yellamaraju has the power to attack this course. He’s among the Tour’s longer drivers, and that gives him opportunities on a 7,451-yard layout with four par 5s.
He also finished fifth at THE PLAYERS Championship earlier this season, demonstrating he can compete against considerably stronger fields than the one assembled in Austin.
That result gets my attention.
Yellamaraju finished T12 at last week’s World Wide Technology Championship after closing with a 66. It’s a better recent result than the writer’s earlier Mexico Open reference, and it gives him some momentum heading into Thursday.
I’m not expecting distance alone to carry him to victory.
His putter needs to cooperate, particularly if the leaders start making birdies in bunches. Strong driving and respectable iron play can put a golfer in position, but missed opportunities from 10 feet can ruin an outright ticket quickly.
At +6400, the implied break-even probability is 1.54%. That’s a reasonable threshold for a player who has already shown he can produce a high finish against elite competition.
I’ll keep the bet smaller than Novak or Power, but Yellamaraju belongs on my card.
Razor’s pick: Sudarshan Yellamaraju +6400.
Taylor Pendrith +10500 — PGA Longshot Pick
Taylor Pendrith brings plenty of distance to Fazio Canyons. His 313.2-yard driving average ranks 31st on Tour this season, and he’s also 35th in strokes gained off the tee.
That’s a useful combination for this course.
Pendrith ranks 34th in greens in regulation, so there’s more to his profile than simply hitting the ball a long way. He can create scoring chances when his driver and irons work together.
The problem is his recent overall form.
His putting has been a weakness, and that’s difficult to ignore when evaluating a player to win a four-round tournament. A long driver can reach plenty of greens and still finish 30th if he can’t convert birdie opportunities.
At +10500, the implied break-even probability is 0.94%.
A hypothetical $10 winning bet at that price produces $1,050 profit, plus the original $10 returned. That’s an attractive payout, but there’s a reason the number is so large.
I’m backing Pendrith’s course fit and power, with the understanding that his putter needs to improve considerably.
He’s my smallest outright selection.
Razor’s pick: Taylor Pendrith +10500.
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2026 Austin Championship Betting Odds
Jackson Koivun, Doug Ghim and Blades Brown are among the leading contenders heading into Thursday. Ben James originally appeared at +1125 on the November 9 board, but he subsequently withdrew and is excluded from the active-player tables below.
The following prices preserve the writer’s pre-tournament odds snapshot. They are comparison numbers, not guaranteed live prices at any sportsbook.
| Golfer | Outright Odds |
|---|---|
| Jackson Koivun | +1800 |
| Doug Ghim | +2100 |
| Blades Brown | +2350 |
| Chris Kirk | +2900 |
| Michael Kim | +3000 |
| Andrew Novak | +3000 |
| Brian Harman | +3400 |
| Jordan Smith | +3500 |
| Pierceson Coody | +3600 |
| Zach Bauchou | +3800 |
Austin Championship Mid-Tier Contenders
Power is my preferred selection in this range. His Bermuda runner-up finish and recent top-10 result give me more confidence than a golfer relying on one impressive round several weeks ago.
At +4500, I still need him to contend for the victory. A respectable finish won’t cash an outright ticket.
| Golfer | Outright Odds |
|---|---|
| John Keefer | +4100 |
| Stephan Jaeger | +4300 |
| Rico Hoey | +4300 |
| Marco Penge | +4300 |
| Kristoffer Ventura | +4300 |
| Seamus Power | +4500 |
| Austin Smotherman | +4500 |
| Ricky Castillo | +4600 |
| Eric Cole | +4600 |
| Ben Kohles | +4600 |
| Max Greyserman | +4700 |
| David Ford | +4700 |
| Christiaan Bezuidenhout | +4900 |
| Max Homa | +5100 |
| Mac Meissner | +5200 |
| Davis Thompson | +5500 |
| Daniel Berger | +5600 |
| Neal Shipley | +5700 |
| Trace Crowe | +5900 |
| Kevin Yu | +6000 |
2026 Austin Championship Darkhorse Bets
Yellamaraju is my selection from this group because his driving distance and recent scoring provide a reasonable argument at +6400. He’s not a proven winner at this level, and I’m not pretending otherwise.
His T12 in Mexico is encouraging, but the putter remains the concern.
| Golfer | Outright Odds |
|---|---|
| Miles Russell | +6200 |
| Sam Stevens | +6300 |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | +6400 |
| Sudarshan Yellamaraju | +6400 |
| Jackson Suber | +6600 |
| Billy Horschel | +6600 |
| Mackenzie Hughes | +6700 |
| Austin Eckroat | +6900 |
| Tommy Morrison | +6900 |
| Nick Taylor | +7000 |
| Zecheng Dou | +7000 |
| Luke Clanton | +7000 |
| Haotong Li | +7200 |
| Taylor Moore | +7400 |
| Kevin Roy | +7600 |
| Zac Blair | +8000 |
| Karl Vilips | +8000 |
| Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen | +8200 |
| Jesper Svensson | +8400 |
| Alvaro Ortiz | +8400 |
| Matt McCarty | +8400 |
| Matthieu Pavon | +8600 |
| John Parry | +8600 |
| Ben Silverman | +8800 |
| Sami Valimaki | +9000 |
| Adrien Dumont de Chassart | +9200 |
| Emiliano Grillo | +9400 |
| Cole Sherwood | +9400 |
| Max McGreevy | +9400 |
Austin Championship Longshot Odds
Pendrith is the golfer I’m backing from the longer prices. His driving distance and greens-in-regulation numbers give him a plausible path to a good week, but the putting statistics explain why he’s available at +10500.
I’m keeping that bet small. A big payout doesn’t improve the chances of winning.
| Golfer | Outright Odds |
|---|---|
| Isaiah Salinda | +10500 |
| Hayden Springer | +10500 |
| Taylor Pendrith | +10500 |
| Patrick Fishburn | +11000 |
| Chandler Phillips | +11000 |
| Chad Ramey | +11500 |
| Erik van Rooyen | +12000 |
| Gordon Sargent | +12500 |
| Patrick Rodgers | +12500 |
| William Mouw | +12500 |
| Lee Hodges | +13500 |
| Cameron Davis | +16000 |
| Lucas Glover | +16000 |
| Kevin Streelman | +16000 |
| Andrew Putnam | +16500 |
| Nick Dunlap | +17000 |
| Joel Dahmen | +17500 |
| Christiaan Maas | +17500 |
| A.J. Ewart | +17500 |
| Davis Riley | +18500 |
| John VanDerLaan | +18500 |
| Tom Hoge | +19000 |
| Takumi Kanaya | +19000 |
| Kensei Hirata | +21000 |
| Alejandro Tosti | +22000 |
| Peter Malnati | +25000 |
| Adrien Saddier | +25000 |
| Dylan Wu | +26000 |
| Chandler Blanchet | +26000 |
| Matt Kuchar | +27000 |
| Brice Garnett | +27500 |
| Justin Lower | +30000 |
| David Lipsky | +31000 |
| Danny Walker | +31000 |
| Joe Highsmith | +34000 |
| Pontus Nyholm | +34000 |
| Vince Whaley | +35000 |
| Emilio Gonzalez | +37000 |
| Mark Hubbard | +39000 |
| Adam Svensson | +40000 |
| Aaron Wise | +40000 |
| Jeffrey Kang | +41000 |
| Patton Kizzire | +45000 |
| Hank Lebioda | +46000 |
| C.T. Pan | +46000 |
| Davis Chatfield | +47500 |
| Rikuya Hoshino | +65000 |
| Rafael Campos | +65000 |
| Adam Schenk | +72500 |
| Marcelo Rozo | +100000 |
| Michael Thompson | +160000 |
| Christo Lamprecht | +180000 |
| Brendon Todd | +200000 |
| Nicholas Lindheim | +450000 |
| Casey Russell | +450000 |
Sportsbook Odds: Writer’s November 9, 2026 pre-tournament comparison. Some players have subsequently withdrawn, and prices may have changed substantially. Confirm that your selected golfer is in the final field and that the displayed odds are available before placing a bet.
Razor’s Austin Championship Betting Strategy
I’m not betting the same amount on all four golfers. Novak and Power have stronger recent results, while Yellamaraju and Pendrith are more speculative selections at longer prices.
Here’s a hypothetical $50 outright card showing how I’d divide the exposure.
| Golfer | Bet | Odds | Net Card Profit if Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Novak | $20 | +3000 | $570 |
| Seamus Power | $15 | +4500 | $640 |
| Sudarshan Yellamaraju | $10 | +6400 | $600 |
| Taylor Pendrith | $5 | +10500 | $480 |
Those net figures account for the entire $50 committed across the four selections, assuming one golfer wins at the listed odds. If none wins, the card loses $50.
That’s the exposure I’m willing to consider.
I’ll also look at head-to-head and finishing-position bets once the tournament gets underway. A golfer who looks capable of finishing inside the top 20 isn’t necessarily a strong outright selection, and those are different bets requiring different prices.
I don’t need four winners to make this card profitable. I need one of my selections to beat the field, and I need to avoid putting too much money into golfers whose winning chances are naturally small.
Best Sportsbooks for PGA Golf Betting
Outright odds can vary considerably between sportsbooks. A $10 winning bet at +10500 earns $1,050 profit, while the same bet at +8000 earns $800.
That’s a $250 difference for making the same selection.
MyBookie is my featured sportsbook option for checking PGA golf outrights and other available golf bets. Compare the current prices and review the applicable betting rules before committing your money.
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Five Things to Know About the Austin Championship
The inaugural Austin Championship offers an important opportunity for golfers competing for 2027 playing status. There are also several course and tournament details worth understanding before betting.
- First-Time PGA Tour Venue
Fazio Canyons is hosting its first PGA Tour event. There is no previous championship winner or Tour scoring history at this course. - Winner’s Prize Money
The champion receives $1.08 million from the $6 million purse. - FedExCup Points
The winner earns 500 points, providing an important opportunity to improve playing status for 2027. - Course Setup
The par-72 layout measures 7,451 yards and includes four par 5s. Driving distance and approach play are important considerations. - Fall Schedule
Austin is the seventh of eight FedExCup Fall tournaments. Only The RSM Classic remains after this week.
2026 Austin Championship FAQ
Where is the 2026 Austin Championship played?
The tournament takes place at Fazio Canyons Course at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, November 12–15, 2026.
Who is the defending Austin Championship winner?
There is no defending champion. The 2026 Austin Championship is the inaugural edition of the tournament.
How long is Fazio Canyons?
The course measures 7,451 yards and plays to a par 72. It was designed by Tom Fazio.
Who won the 2026 World Wide Technology Championship?
Blades Brown defeated Ben James on the second playoff hole after both finished regulation at 23-under. Brown was 19 years old when he earned his first PGA Tour victory.
Why isn’t Ben James listed among the active favorites?
James appeared as the early betting favorite on the original November 9 odds board but subsequently withdrew from the Austin Championship. The active-player tables exclude him.
How much does the Austin Championship winner earn?
The winner receives $1.08 million from the tournament’s $6 million purse, along with 500 FedExCup points.
Who are Razor Ray’s 2026 Austin Championship picks?
My four outright selections are Andrew Novak +3000, Seamus Power +4500, Sudarshan Yellamaraju +6400 and Taylor Pendrith +10500, using the writer’s supplied odds snapshot.
2026 Austin Championship Final Picks
My 2026 Austin Championship Free Picks card is Andrew Novak +3000, Seamus Power +4500, Sudarshan Yellamaraju +6400 and Taylor Pendrith +10500.
Novak brings the strongest recent winning performance after his five-shot victory at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open. Power has shown he can contend this fall, while Yellamaraju’s driving and recent T12 in Mexico make him interesting at a longer price.
Pendrith is my biggest longshot. His power fits the course, but his putting remains a legitimate concern.
I’m not chasing any of these golfers if the odds shorten enough to erase the value. There will always be another tournament, and I don’t need to force a bet just because somebody looks good on paper.
“
RAZOR RAY’S TAKE: Fazio Canyons is new territory for the PGA Tour, so anybody claiming to have this place completely figured out is selling you something. I like Novak’s recent winning form, Power’s consistency and the distance Yellamaraju and Pendrith bring. Four prices worth considering, and I’m leaving the rest of the board alone.
— Razor Ray Monohan, Cappers Picks
PGA Tour on X
Doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that views are gonna be immaculate this week @AustinChampTX 🤠 https://t.co/JBA9hXesmT
— PGA Tour (@PGATour) November 11, 2026
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