As the name of the tournament implies, the PGA TOUR is headed back to Austin for the first time in a few years. This week’s brand-new event will tee off at the Omni Barton Creek Fazio Canyons Golf Course, which is just west of downtown Austin. The inaugural event is the second-to-last tournament in the 2026 PGA TOUR season and will offer players another chance to earn critical points to move up in the FedExCup Fall standings. The event will begin Thursday, November 12, and conclude Sunday, November 15, weather permitting.
Let’s start the week with a look at the format, history and course for the new Austin Championship.
Austin Championship Format
As has been the case for the last two events, 120 players start the week in the field, with the top 65 (and ties) making the cut after Round 2. All four rounds will be played at the Fazio Canyons Golf Course, which is located at the Omni Barton Creek (more below).
This is the seventh of the eight FedExCup Fall tournaments. Winners of fall events earn the same benefits as regular-season events, including a two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR, 500 FedExCup points, and spots in THE PLAYERS, The Sentry, and the major championships that invite PGA TOUR winners.
At the end of The RSM Classic in just two weeks, the top 100 players in the final FedExCup standings will earn full status for the 2027 season. Players ranked No. 101-125 will generally have conditional status, while those who finish between Nos. 51-60 will earn entry into the first two Signature Events of 2027 through the Aon Next 10.
Plenty is at stake throughout the fall on the PGA TOUR, including this week’s return to Austin.
Tournament History
While this is a brand-new event, the PGA TOUR has a strong history in the Austin area. The city hosted the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament from 2016 until 2023, when Sam Burns won the final edition of that Match Play event. That tournament was held at Austin Country Club, a different venue from this week’s course.
The new tournament was originally launched as the Good Good Championship, but Good Good stepped away from the sponsorship after backlash from a promotional video with then-partner Callaway. Compliance Solutions stepped in as the presenting sponsor just a week ago.
Since it comes at a critical spot in the schedule and gives players a chance to build up for next week’s season finale, the event has a stronger field than the last few weeks, with a distinctively Texas flavor. Many players who play from Texas or have ties to the state are in the field this week. The field also has a great mix of veterans looking to keep a spot on the PGA TOUR and rising young stars.
Like the last few weeks, the event will have a $6 million purse, with $1.08 million as the winner’s share. Be sure to check back for this week’s full field and odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
A Closer Look at the Course
The Omni Barton Creek Fazio Canyons Golf Course is a new layout for the PGA TOUR and just underwent renovations to the course and driving range to host this event. It is a par-72 layout that measures 7,451yards. It’s one of the most popular designs by famous golf architect Tom Fazio. Fazio played a key role in the redesign of Quail Hollow Golf Club, which is a regular PGA TOUR stop, and he designed Conway Farms Golf Club, which hosted the BMW Championship three times, most recently in 2017.
This week’s course is lined with red oak and sycamore trees that create a great walk through the woods of Austin’s Hill Country. Short Springs Branch provides some strategic water hazards in lower elevations. The course is full of risk/reward opportunities that will give players the opportunity to be more aggressive and go low, but it’s difficult to predict exactly how the course will play since this is its first time hosting a professional tournament.
Reading the reviews from those who have played the course, it looks like the layout features dramatic elevation changes on almost every hole, plenty of forced carries over creeks and ravines, and a front nine that plays much easier than the back nine.
The course has Bermuda greens and fairways, which is a change from the Paspalum that the players have faced in the last few weeks. Other Texas courses may be better comps for this course than the two courses in Mexico, although current form will still be important to consider.
As you make your fantasy golf and betting selections this week for an unknown course, emphasize Strokes Gained: Approach and Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green to find ball-strikers who can set themselves up for birdies. Players who have had success in Texas, especially at the nearby TPC San Antonio or at the WGC-Match Play in Austin, could also get a boost in familiar settings.
As you get ready for this week’s tournament, be sure to fill out your DFS fantasy golf lineups and betting cards with help from DraftKings Network! We’ll have ongoing coverage throughout the week to help you enjoy this week’s tournament.
